- shopping
- (1564)
-
This free event showcases outdoor entertainment, including carolers, brass band concerts, choirs and European folklore dancing. The Distillery District is a historic area with brick-lined streets filled with cafes, restaurants, and shops, all housed in Victorian-era industrial buildings.
The entire district is decorated and lit up for the season, including a 45-foot White Spruce tree with 18,000 light ornaments, located in the main square. There are endless things to do for people of all ages. Kids can ride the Ferris wheel, visit the Reindeer Zoo, walk through a fairy tell forest maze, learn about Christmas traditions all over the world, and make ornaments and stocking stuffers. Adults can try a variety of specialty beers, mulled wines and Christmas cocktails, as well as shop for hundreds of unique and local handicraft products, as well as
Christmas merchandise and specialty baked goods. There is also plenty of “street” food to be had: hot chestnuts, grilled sausages, and warm pretzels with artisan mustard. This is the perfect place to get you in the mood for the Christmas holidays.
www.torontochristmasmarket.com
Distillery Historic District, Toronto, Canada
+1 416 364 1177
Google map: bit.ly/s4vwiP
* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti
For an unusual UK shopping encounter. A year- round magical Christmas experience in the picturesque Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds. Full of exquisite and imaginative decorations from around the world, we visited in the height of summer and it felt incredibly odd perusing various winter-themed decorations, baubles and Christmas nativity scenes, hidden amongst huge Christmas trees, listening to traditional hymns, while standing in just a t-shirt, shorts and sunglasses. Quite possibly the strangest Christmas shopping I'll ever do.
www.christmasshopbourton.com
High Street, Bourton on the Water, Gloucestershire GL54 2AP
+44(0)1451 822622
Google map: bit.ly/u2vx9q
Bombay Stores in Bradford is an Asian department store and a legendary local institution. Head there for all things bling and Bollywood; it has a big sari fabric department glittering with all the colours of the rainbow, rails of shimmering salwar kamiz and myraid other Asian style outfits, shoe departments with gorgeous sequined creations and curled-toe slippers, a jewelry department filled with elaborate gold and elegant silver designs, and loads more. Most fun bit is the Indian method of payment. Choose the item, an assistant gives you a little slip in a basket, you dutifully take the slip to the payment counter then pay and receive your item carefully wrapped. In this store it's easier to believe that you are in downtown Chennai than in the UK! Love it.
www.bombaystores.biz/
Bombay Buildings, Shearbridge Road. Bradford, BD7 1NX
+44(0)1274 729993
Google map: bit.ly/rEKjaD
Essaouira beach offers an amazing bohemian mix of experiences. Kick back and soak up the sun, or go surfing. Watch young Moroccan men play football and head-to-toe clad ladies supervise their children playing in the waves. Or ride by camel the length of the beach and gaze out at the ruined fort in the ocean that (allegedly) inspired Jimi Hendrix's 'Castles In The Sand'. When the sun gets too much head up into the (UNESCO heritage) town. Stop for fresh grilled fish by the harbour and then into the souks for mint tea and shopping, or walk the fortress ramparts and stop at the wood-carvers' workshops for aromatic Thuya wood items. Nowhere else on this planet offers such a unique beach experience.
Google map: bit.ly/sfYDBN
Christmas has finally arrived in Seville. It is not as sparkly or 'in your face' as a British Christmas scene but is definitely here, with flamenco-style villancicos (carols) are being played from the stands at the Feria del Belén.
It may seem excessive having a whole market dedicated to the nativity scene, but it is here where they do not do things by halves. The feria starts mid November until 23 December, and its 20-odd stands have a range of hand-crafted figurines, buildings, bridges, even a pyramid if you wish. Their nativity scene does not just include the stable and baby Jesus in a crib: it extends to the mountains, the farmlands, rivers, ponds and often proudly takes up a large table in Spanish families' houses.
This year (2011) the market takes place alongside the Archivos de Indias and the Cathedral. Other years it can be found at the Plaza de San Francisco next to the Ayuntamiento.
Google map: bit.ly/vG6xW6
* BecomingSevillana is our Been there local for Seville. You can read her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/seville-local-kim.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/BecomingSevillana.jsp
She also has her own blog: becomingsevillana.blogspot.com/
The store offers an exciting mix of vintage clothes and accessories (both for men and women) side-by-side contemporary designs, all for very affordable prices.
www.szputnyikshop.hu/
Budapest VII., Dohány utca 20
+ 36(0)6 1 321 3730
Google map: bit.ly/szwWQO
Right in the heart of the shopping district, the ‘Place to Eat’ at John Lewis in the St James Centre, is a great place for a bite to eat. It might be in the middle of a department store, but the food is good and the restaurant has stunning views out across the city if you can elbow your way to a window seat.
www.johnlewis.com
St James Centre, Edinburgh EH1 3SP
+44(0)131 556 9121
Google map: bit.ly/ux1yCS
* Rachel is our Been there local for Edinburgh. You can view her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/edinburgh-local-rachel-brown.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/RachelBrown
For a break from the more obvious tourist souvenirs, or if you have underestimated the brutality of the Prague winter, pay a trip to Model Praha Klobouky off Wenceslas Square and buy yourself a hat.
This delightful shop, tucked away on an arcade leading off Wenceslas Square, seems to hark back to a time where nice young ladies donned hats and gloves each day before leaving the house. Perhaps this is due to its impressive stock of TONAK hats – world renowned felt hats of the highest quality. TONAK is a Czech manufacturer with a legacy stretching back to the mid-19th century, which is borne out in all of its creations.
Model Praha stocks top hats, fedoras, ladies headwear (suitable for weddings and the races) and a small selection of fur.
The ladies who work here are charmingly patient, and speak enough English for everyone to get by without too much difficulty.
A great place to invest in a little piece of Czech fashion history, starting at a very reasonable 450 czk.
www.modelpraha.cz/eng/
Václavské náměstí 28, Praha 1
Nearest metro: Mustek or Muzeum
Mon-Fri 09.00-19.00, Sat & Sun 10.00-17.00
Google map: bit.ly/vto0Vg
* Helen is our Been there local for Prague. Her page is here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/prague-local-helen-ford.jsp and she has her own blog here: czechingin.wordpress.com/
Nestled on a very picturesque greater London high street is Mela Mela. Possibly my favorite shop in the world. It is a vintage clothes and accessories shop for women which stocks everything from wedding dresses to 1940s swimming costumes.
Stock is always changing and subsequently every time you enter minutes (and often hours disappear). The standard or stock probably exceeds some of it's central London cousins.
Just a great vintage shop, run by a fun team. Well worth a stop.
www.melamela.co.uk
74 High Street, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 8JD
+44 (0)20 8943 2432
Google map: bit.ly/tODzwX
Hardly worth crossing town for but handy to know if you're closer by and in search of organic produce, this tiny market (about seven vendors) is present every Thursday morning, not in the main Place St Jean but just on the corner of the cathedral opposite Vieux Lyon metro station.
Corner of Place St Jean / Avenue Adolphe Max, Vieux Lyon, 69005. Metro: Vieux Lyon.
Google map: bit.ly/rGwSRP
Toronto’s downtown core has an underground tunnel system that links over 50 buildings and office towers, five subway stations, six hotels, parking garages and major attractions in the city, all with underground passageways full of places to shop.
According to the Guinness World Records, PATH is the largest underground shopping complex linking 28 km (17 miles) with over 1,000 shops and services. Once a year, the PATH hosts the world’s largest underground sidewalk sale. The underground system also provides a great haven from the elements, with heating in winter and air conditioning in summer.
I love taking the PATH in the cold, winter months, where I can walk without a coat for miles at a time. I must admit, it can be a bit confusing getting around, but that’s all part of the fun.
Wandering around, not really knowing where I’m going on a lazy day, browsing shops, sitting in a café, it’s all great fun when the weather outside is dreadful.
To help you get around easier, each letter in the PATH is a different colour and represents a
direction: P is red and represents south, orange, A, directs pedestrians to the west, blue, T, directs them to the north, and the H is yellow and points to the east.
www.toronto.ca/path/pdf/path_brochure.pdf
* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti
Honest Ed’s is more than just a store – it’s a Toronto landmark that locals have shopped in at least once and where tourists must visit before they leave the city.
It is named after its founder, Ed Mirvish, who opened the store in 1948 and ran operations until his death in 2007. Running the length of an entire block, this building can be seen several metres away: the exterior is covered with thousands of huge red and yellow signs lit up like a theatre marquee, advertising the name of the store. There are also several slogans covering the exterior, with puns such as, “Our prices are for the birds – they’re cheap, cheap.”
The 160,000 square foot place sells all sorts of kitsch, as well as low-priced goods ranging from clothing, kitchenware, hardware, toys, furniture and appliances, grocery and pharmaceutical items.
The walls of the very modest interior are crammed with autographed photos of personalities such as Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Lauren Bacall, and many others. There are also posters and photos from old film and stage productions from theatres that Mirvish owned in Toronto and London.
Once you’re done looking and buying, the surrounding neighbourhood, called Mirvish Village, has unique boutiques, book stores, antique shops, cafes, and restaurants.
honesteds.sites.toronto.com/
581 Bloor Street West, Toronto, M6G 1K3
+1 416 537 1574
Nearest subway: Bathurst station
Google map: bit.ly/rYMHWq
Individual shops on every corner from shoes, clothes, unique stationary etc.
With the added advantage of picturesque outdoor street market, with quality leather in all shades of the rainbow and styles from briefcase to handbags.
Mercato nuovo smaller market next to statute of il porcellino - the saying goes if you touch it you will return again, which would be wonderful mixing sightseeing, great food and shopping.
Ponte Vecchio for the special present of jewellery and watches.
Plaza di San Lorenzo, 50122 Florence, Italy
+39 055 23320
Google map: bit.ly/trDkS7
I recommend the city of Stockholm, not only for its beauty but also for the mix of great shopping.
The Swedes are totally into fashion, H&M, hipster trends or uniform (black, black, black). But it is a city to be inspired of.
Most of all, I recommend Sodermalm, the south part of Stockholm with is total mix of affordable vintage, design furniture, catwalk brands and top end trainer shops and amazing cafes.
www.visitstockholm.com/en/
Google map: bit.ly/tWk8yD
It is a fantastic city and I always find what I am looking for. It has all the major chains, including a Harvey Nicks, where I can get that perfume that no-one else seems to sell anymore! But it has small independent shops hidden away in wonderful arcades or try the shop next to the art gallery for something a bit different. If you come for the weekend, there are wonderful restaurants, hotels and I am told, great nightlife. Give it a try.
www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk/cities/leeds/arcades/the-victoria-quarter.html
www.itchyleeds.co.uk/review.cfm/8/185939/Leeds-City-Guide/review/Fuji-Hiro
Google map: bit.ly/tNqSpV
Kuala Lumpur has a few big mega sales each year and not only are they huge, they have some of the best deals around. Big malls such as the Pavillion and One Utama are massive with most shops having 50% to 70% off in their stores every year during March, May and December. These dates are known to change though and I've been to KL in July/August for some amazing shopping!
Stay at the Parkroyal hotel in Bukit Bintang where you have about three big malls within walking distance.
Pavillion KL is a glitzy mall where you can get the latest and high end fashion. Sungei Wang Plaza is right opposite Parkroyal hotel and this is where you will find 500 retail outlets selling everything from food to clothes and score a bargain!
Behind Parkroyal hotel,there is a Low Yat Plaza which is THE malls for electronics and IT products. I have bought cameras and computer accessories from here at half the price!
At the end of a long shopping day, hang out at one of the big food courts in the mall for really good hawker food in a comfortable air conditioned surrounding. Lot 10 (Starhill Gallery) in Bukit Bintang is known for it's fantastic and tasty food court.
www.kuala-lumpur.ws/klshopping/ - Top 10 shopping malls
www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels/malaysia/kuala_lumpur/parkroyal/
Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
+60 3 2147 0088
Google map: bit.ly/ukkIUy
Last December I took my teenage niece to Krakow. For under £100 we had three nights in a clean, warm, twin room with our own bathroom. Even breakfast was included; it was pretty basic but who cared? We were surrounded by cheap and wonderful eateries and fun bars. Our hostel (better than hotels for meeting other young people) overlooked Rynek Główny, Europe’s largest medieval town square, with its massive underground museum (advance booking recommended) and a lovely Xmas market. Between us we bought loads of interesting presents: parents, boyfriend, grandparents, toddlers, school friends. There was some rubbishy tat, but not much, and Kay still had change from her Saturday job money. And on one day we went to Auschwitz. The tour was very informative and, of course, harrowing. It certainly put the commercial pressures of Christmas into perspective and, as Kay put it: “Made me so grateful to be born when I was, into the life I have.”
mhk.pl/oddzialy/podziemia_rynku (the Underground Museum)
www.hostelrynek7.pl/en_,hostel.php (Hostel Rynek7)
Get the bus out of the Port Authority building to Woodbury Mall about an hour out of NYC. All the top stores have outlets and if you thought Barneys, Century City et al were cheap wait till you see the fabulous prices at every store from Banana Republic, Gap, to Samsonite. It's not a cheap trip (probably £20 return) but if you have retail therapy on your mind it's a must do!
www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=7
498 Red Apple Court Central Valley, NY 10917, United States
+1 (845) 928-4000
Google map: bit.ly/sBxU1n
Having spent a considerable amount of time in Dubai, I can recommend this city for some serious retail therapy for so many reasons!
1. Dubai is home to the largest mall in the world. You can find over a whopping 1,000 stores in the mall and when you are tired of retail therapy, head to one of the many spas, cafes or restaurants (or check out the aquarium or ice rink) and then admire the views from the Burj Khalifa (yes, you guessed it, the tallest tower in the world - Dubai is very fond of superlatives).
2. Dubai is home to a large number of expats and the shops in the city reflect that. You can visit department stores like Bloomingdales and Galeries Lafayette in the same mall or head to the smaller shopping centres like Mercato (built to resemble a Venetian city - only in Dubai) where you can find smaller boutiques and one off shops such as Ivy which stocks clothing and accessories from places like London, Monaco, France and Italy.
3. Dubai isn't short of space. Located in the desert, the shops are all generously sized, and more importantly, wherever you go, never expect to queue for a fitting room (yes, even H&M and Forever 21 have a plentiful supply of them).
4. Finally, when you are done flexing your credit card (or, more likely, denting it beyond all recognition), jump in a cab and head down to one of the many beaches for some tanning and cocktails. Try ShoChos for their delectable ginger martinis.
www.thedubaimall.com/en
www.mercatoshoppingmall.com/index.php
www.sho-cho.com/
Want to buy something different, without the hassle, while enjoying a day by the sea?
Whitstable is the place; a unique little town on the north Kent coast, with bags of character - yet only a stone’s throw from London. Famous for its oysters, alleys and artists, Whitstable is worth a day out shopping or a whole weekend of retail therapy combined with seaside ambiance.
Apart from being beautiful to look at, it is full of interesting little shops (not the usual high street chains), where you can pick up gifts from pennies to hundreds of pounds.
If you are looking for a piece of local artwork, handmade jewellery or designer clothes you will find it here – without the pushing and shoving of the city! But if it’s just an unusual knick-knack, a kite, a delicious cheese or heavenly cupcake, Whitstable has that too.
Yes the chain stores are slowly moving in, but they have yet to make their mark. Whitstable strives to retain its character as a town that does not look like it could be just anywhere.
The beauty of the place is that you can combine the shopping with a wonderful meal at the numerous restaurants or just go for the good old seaside fish’n’chips. Blow away the cobwebs with a brisk walk along the beach, watch the boats in the harbour, have a break in the independent little coffee shops, or sit and watch the sunsets that the town is famous for.
It is such a beautiful place, that you may even find yourself staying over for a full weekend, and having another day to explore and maybe go for even more unusual retail therapy.
You will not be disappointed.
Whitstable is on the North Kent Coast. Easily accesible from London on the A2 / M2 and then the A299. It has a train station within walking distance of the town and beach.
Google map: bit.ly/rqDl8R
Is this your business?