| Shopping is one of the great experiences in the | | | | the larger shopping areas are pedestrian-only. |
| UK. However, on the whole prices aren't cheap. | | | | Manchester's main shopping zone lies west of |
| Fortunately, discount sales are frequent, virtually a | | | | Piccadilly Gardens with traditional shopping outlets, |
| British institution. And if you're from outside the | | | | including Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, clustered |
| EU, you can get a VAT refund more easily in the | | | | around Market Street and the Arndale Centre on |
| UK than any other EU country. | | | | Corporation Street. Trendy boutiques and |
| Shopping In London | | | | designer outlets abound in posh King Street and |
| London is full of stylish shops and grand | | | | St Ann's Square. |
| department stores but for real shopping pleasure, | | | | Shopping In Leicester |
| you can't beat the city's many street and flea | | | | Leicester's shopping scene has acquired a new |
| markets. They're noisy, crowded and you have to | | | | spirit in recent years. The famous Leicester |
| bargain hard, but you can't beat them for sheer | | | | Market with seven hundred years of trading |
| shopping fun. Here are some of the most famous. | | | | history has been joined by walking streets and |
| Covent Garden is the grand dame of them all. | | | | vibrant shopping centers. |
| With a long and colourful past, this West End | | | | You have a great choice for shopping in Leicester. |
| mainstay is now made up of several markets. | | | | Leicester's two major indoor shopping centres - |
| Apple Market sells collectible nostalgia including | | | | the Haymarket and Shires Centre - are home to |
| ceramics, leather goods, toys, clothes, hats, and | | | | the major brand name outlets. Pedestrianised |
| jewelry. Jubilee Market specialises in antiques | | | | Gallowtree Gate houses the major chain stores |
| market on Mondays; the rest of the week it | | | | while the nearby The Lanes mainly features small |
| offers budget garments and books. | | | | independent retailers. |
| Coming in close second in the fame stakes is | | | | Leicester is also home to Europe's largest covered |
| Portobello Market in Notting Hill. Mainly a Saturday | | | | market. Open from Monday to Saturday, |
| event, it comprises three main sections for | | | | Leicester Market features over 270 stalls. A |
| antiques, fruit and vegetables, and a flea market | | | | market has been held on this site since the 14th |
| where locals hawk bric-a-brac and secondhand | | | | Century. |
| goods. | | | | For more ethnic wares, head to bustling Belgrave |
| Shopping In Manchester | | | | Road, where you'll find Leicester's Golden Mile. This |
| Shopping capital of the North West of England, | | | | area is thronged with shops, stalls and hawkers |
| Manchester is second only to London in the UK | | | | selling food, clothes and ornaments from the |
| shopping charts. And in one way, shopping in | | | | Subcontinent. Get your fill of spices, silks and saris |
| Manchester actually outdoes the capital - most of | | | | here. |