Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet

Cheshire Oaks was the first and remains the UK’s largest Designer Outlet. With a quarter-million square feet of retail space and over 145 boutiques, restaurants and cafés, Cheshire Oaks isn’t merely the UK’s largest Designer Outlet. The Designer Outlet has a wide range of brands, offering something to suit every taste. Highlights range from athletic labels, like Nike and Adidas, and high-street favourites, like Marks & Spencer and Next, to a selection of iconic fashion brands, including Burberry, Polo, Michael Kors and Hugo Boss.

• Web:

  www.mcarthurglen.com/en/outlets/uk/designer-outlet-cheshire-oaks

• Address:

  Kinsey Road, Ellesmere Port

• Phone:

  +44 151 348 5600

Harvey Nichols

Harvey Nichols Manchester boasts the crème de la crème of what’s hot in fashion, food and beauty. With leading luxury fashion brands including Dolce and Gabbana, Christian Louboutin and Givenchy — there’s no other place in the city to shop for your new season wardrobe. Beauty addicts will love the offering spread across two floors of this luxurious store. Brands including Shu Uemura, Shiseido, Crème de la Mer and Bobbi Brown not only have amazing products to buy, they also offer treatments, make-up lessons and advice. Take a break from shopping and indulge at the Second Floor Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie for cocktails, a light lunch, afternoon tea or a gourmet meal. In addition, the Foodmarket offers a selection of the finest food produce from around the world, along with an extensively stocked Wineshop, perfect for gifts.

• Web:

  www.harveynichols.com/store/manchester

• Address:

  21 New Cathedral Street, Manchester

• Phone:

  +44 161 828 8888

Manchester Arndale

When it comes to shopping, it has to be Manchester Arndale. Find a huge selection of exciting shops from the leading high street names such as Apple, All Saints, Uniqlo, Next and River Island to lots of smaller, stylish specialists and food outlets — and all under one roof. Manchester Arndale is the Manchester city centre shopping centre. Located close to bus, tram and train networks it's easy to get to and, more importantly, easy to get home from when you've got mountains of shopping to carry home.

• Web:

  manchesterarndale.com

• E-mail:

  info@manchesterarndale.com

• Address:

  Market Street, Manchester

• Phone:

  +44 161 833 9851

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Sat 9am–8pm, Sun 11:30am–5:30pm

Manchester Craft & Design Centre

Manchester Craft and Design Centre is a unique organization comprising 16 retail/studio spaces, an excellent cafe and a rolling programme of exhibitions from leading national and international makers. Located in Manchester city centre's Northern Quarter, Manchester Craft and Design Centre is at the hub of a growing innovative and artistic community. It is one of the few places in the UK open to the public where contemporary goods are both individually produced and sold on the premises. Formerly the Smithfield Victorian fish market and crowned with a huge glass roof, the Centre now houses two floors of shops ranging from jewellery, ceramics and textiles to furniture and clothing design.

• Web:

  www.craftanddesign.com

• E-mail:

  contactus@craftanddesign.com

• Address:

  17 Oak Street, Manchester

• Phone:

  +44 161 832 4274

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Sat 10am–5:30pm, 2nd Sunday of the month 11am–5pm

Northern Quarter

If you are looking for the very latest street fashion, you should head for Oldham Street, the main street of the Northern Quarter. It houses shops like Arc Gallery Store, where many young designers and artists exhibit their wares. Northern Quarter also has many small record shops and interior design shops for people who have an eye for trends. Artisans work at the Manchester Craft and Design Centre in Oak Street. Afflecks on Church Street is also worth a visit if you are interested in design. Many of the leading young names in Manchester are brought together in this four-storey building.

• Web:

  www.northernquartermanchester.com

Royal Exchange Manchester

Once the hub of the world’s cotton trade, The Royal Exchange Manchester is now an eclectic collection of luxury retailers, premium high street brands and best in class independent boutique shops playing a key role in Manchester’s thriving shopping and lifestyle culture. Here, you’ll find established brands like Watches of Switzerland, Lululemon, Fjällräven, Molton Brown and more, along with smaller independent boutique shops including Jenny Jones Jewellers and Mint Velvet. Get a classic backpack and a new raincoat from the Swedish outdoor brand Fjallraven. Situated in the heart of the city looking out onto St Ann’s Square, The Royal Exchange Manchester is in close proximity to Manchester Arndale as well as luxury stores such as Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser, with many of Manchester’s hotels, restaurants and cafes nearby.

• Web:

  www.royalexchange.co.uk

• Address:

  St Anns Square, Manchester

• Phone:

  +44 161 833 9833

• More info:

  The building is also home to the much-loved Royal Exchange Theatre.