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FIND OUT MORERetail heaven
Manchester has many historic and cultural attractions, but if you're a shopoholic, you probably won't have time to see any of them. Welcome to retail heaven!
The city has quickly evolved into probably the best place to shop in the UK. Yes, there are more retail outlets in London, but the shopping experience is much more relaxed here. The shops are within walking distance of each-other, the streets are bustling but never too busy for comfort, and if you need help finding your way to your favourite shop, all you have to do is ask anyone - they'll point you to the right direction with a smile. This is shopping just the way we like it!
To help you plan your shopping day out, we highlight the city's main shopping areas.
Market Street and the Arndale Centre
Walking down Market Street from Piccadilly Gardens, you find department stores like Debenhams and Bhs, high street shops like Miss Selfridge and H&M, footwear like Clarks and Schuh, sports shops, record shops and the largest Boots in town. If you're after a good bargain, try Primark and TK Maxx for low-price clothes, shoes and accessories.
Market Street runs alongside the Arndale Centre - the city's largest covered shopping mall. Here you'll find an abundance of high street shops like Morgan, Topshop and Next.
Across the street from the Arndale, Market Street continues with one of the largest Marks and Spencer stores in Europe.
St Ann's Square
Named after its elegant, 18th century church, St Ann's Square is one of the city's most picturesque and vibrant plazas, surrounded by shops, cafes and the charming Royal Exchange Theatre.
Built from local pink sandstone, St Ann's church is a historic and architectural gem. A stylish building in the classical revival style, it is the only one of the city's 18th century churches still standing. The church tower is said to mark the exact centre of the city, and it was used by surveyors as a platform from which to measure distances to other locations. St Ann's often puts on free recitals and musical performances at lunchtime.
Another historic building in St Ann's Square is the Royal Exchange, which was once the headquarters of the global cotton industry and now houses Manchester's leading producing theatre company.
Opened in 1976, the Royal Exchange Theatre occupies the great central hall of the building, an impressive room under three huge domes of blue stained glass. The theatre has been hugely popular for its range and quality of productions, and the immediacy of its 360 degree seating auditorium.
Other attractions at St Ann's square include high street retail outlets like Gap, French Connection and Kurt Geiger, and a large Starbucks cafe. Visitors also find the Easy Internet Cafe here especially useful for checking their e-mail while they are away.
In addition to its permanent attractions, St Ann's Square hosts street fairs and festivals on a regular basis, especially in the summer, so there is never a dull moment at this buzzing part of the city.
New Cathedral Street and Exchange Square
Head to this area for more upscale shopping. New Cathedral Street is home to Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, where you can find high-end designer fashion at prices that unfortunately not everyone can afford. The good new is that window shopping it free, even here!
A short walk away is the fashionable Exchange Square and the city's latest covered shopping centre, the Triangle.
The Triangle
Another spectacular resurrection of an old favourite building in the wake of the 1996 bombing, The Triangle houses a state-of-the-art shopping mall.
The building is on the site of the former Corn & Produce Exchange, designed in 1903 to handle regional trade in agricultural produce. It survived heavy bombing during World War II and became a Mecca for young shoppers as a covered market hall specialising in alternative goods in the 1980s and 1890s.
Many Mancunians speak with nostalgia about the time when the Corn Exchange was a collection of small shops and stalls selling second-hand books, music, craft and jewellery, antiques, vegetarian food, tarot reading and general jumble. It was the perfect place to go browsing - you never knew what you might come across.
The IRA bombing in 1996 marked the end of the Corn Exchange. The blast shattered the glass roof dome and caused structural damages. The small traders moved out to enable the city to carry out necessary repairs to the building, but they never returned. Instead, in 2000, a refurbished building behind the historic faade opened its doors as The Triangle.
The exterior of the historic building has been faithfully preserved, but the interior marks a new era for the site and the city as a whole, with retail fashion outlets like Jigsaw, Karen Millen, and Muji.
King Street
Manchester's main shopping street for international designer fashion labels and high-street stores. Armani Collezioni/Emporio Armani, Max Mara, DKNY and Vivienne Westwood are here, and so are Warehouse, Kookai, Monsoon, Timberland and Body Shop.
Deansgate
The highlight on Deansgate is Kendals, which has been around for more than 150 years and is still one of the city's most prestigious shopping destinations. Now part of the House of Fraser chain, Kendals offers a wide variety of items under one roof, from clothing and cosmetics to furniture and electrical goods.
The Northern Quarter
This is the area that makes Manchester different from any other city in Europe. Home to alternative record shops and independent retailers, this is the place to visit if you want to discover talented new designers and get a taste of the city's pop culture.
Afflecks Palace
Manchester's alternative fashion market, Afflecks Palace is an instant hit with young shoppers looking for something different.
Affleck's Palace may be only a short walk away from the Arndale Centre and its high street shops, but it is as far away from mainstream as it gets. Opened in 1982 to provide a platform for fledging designers to sell their merchandise directly to the public, it is now the best destination in the city for affordable punk, retro and experimental fashion.
Admittedly, the clothes, shoes and accessories may not be to everyone's taste, but there are interesting finds here for the more conservative shopper, too. From handmade birthday cards to old records, posters, books and magazines, you are bound to find something to catch your fancy.
And, while you're here, why not get that tattoo you always wanted - a steal from around £35.
Unusual and a bit wacky, Afflecks Palace does not have any fancy decor, but it compensates with innovation and great value for money.
Manchester Craft and Design Centre
Set in a grand old Victorian building in the city's Northern Quarter, the Manchester Craft and Design Centre invites visitors to browse or buy goods that are individually produced on the premises.
The centre, which is conveniently located within a short walking distance from Piccadilly Gardens, is at the hub of a growing artistic community in the city.
The building is the former Smithfield Victorian fish market, restored to its old glory. It features a huge glass roof and houses two floors of workshops and studio showrooms selling jewellery, ceramics, textiles, furniture and clothing.
The craftspeople occupying the centre's 16 retail/studio spaces use a huge variety of materials including wood, metal, plastics, ceramics and textiles, and most of them exhibit at prestigious trade fairs around the country.
In a relaxed atmosphere you can watch craftspeople work, browse around, shop or have a light meal at the centre's cafe, which boasts a varied, cosmopolitan menu with plenty of vegetarian options.
A regularly changing programme of exhibitions from leading national and international craftspeople means there is always something new to see.
Manchester Markets
From flowers to fruit and from fish to flannels, you will be seriously spoilt for choice at Manchester's markets.
The markets offer a welcome alternative to the retail giants with their polished interiors, designer makes and infuriating price tags. They provide a place to meet and socialise, as well as the opportunity to buy unique, reasonably-priced products that are not available on the high street.
The dizzying range of goods on sale here is largely produced locally by people who live in the city and region. Often the trader is also the producer, which means that you are in expert hands.
So if you fancy a mini-urban adventure, then head to the markets detailed below and discover what makes this city so deliciously unique.
Farmers & Producers' Market
Farmers from across the North West gather to sell quality fresh produce, including meats, cheeses and farmed baked pies, along with tasty soups and freshly made beef burgers.
Piccadilly Gardens, second & fourth weekend (Fri & Sat) of every month, 10am - 6pm.
Flower Market
A floral treat, offering exotic arrangements, potted plants, cut flowers and bonsai trees.
Piccadilly Gardens, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10am - 6pm.
Fashion Market
The first dedicated fashion market in the North West houses the best up-and-coming designers from Manchester, giving them the opportunity to showcase their talent in a city centre location. Here you will find a dazzling range of affordable one-off pieces, including clothes, bags, hats and jewellery.
Tib Street, every Saturday, 10am - 5pm.
Fairly Traded Market
The stallholders sell fair trade products, including books, clothing, food and gifts, helping to promote fair and equitable trade throughout the world.
Piccadilly Gardens, first Saturday of every month, 9am - 5pm.