Penzance
A real dig-and-delve treasure trove, overflowing with all kinds of bric-a-brac, vintage clothes, retro lamps, secondhand vinyl and other bits of who-knows…
Must-see shopping in England
South Cornwall
Music aficionados mustn't miss Falmouth's finest record store, with a just-so selection of vinyl and CDs, leather sofas, magazines to browse and very…
The West End
One of London's most recognisable shops, Liberty department store has a white-and-wood-beam Tudor Revival facade that lures shoppers in to browse luxury…
Yorkshire Dales National Park
This cheesemongers and cafe in a huddle of old stone barns is the place to come for farmhouse cheeses in the Yorkshire Dales. Owners Andy and Kathy…
Whitby
Fortune's has been making kippers (smoked herring) at this little smokehouse since 1872, and still turns out some of Britain's best; they're on the…
The West End
The biggest and oldest toy emporium in the world, Hamleys houses six floors of fun for kids of all ages, from the basement's Star Wars and Harry Potter…
Nottingham
Opened as an extension of its own publishing imprint in 2013, this splendid independent bookshop is hidden down a passageway off Low Row. In addition to…
Northumberland Coast
Mead made on Lindisfarne by St Aidan's Winery to a traditional Roman recipe using locally drawn water and honey. Free tastings let you try its three…
Chester
Britain's largest shopping outlet, Cheshire Oaks has 145 stores offering discounts of up to 60% on goods from previous seasons. The village layout means…
The Midlands & the Marches
Founded as an ironmongers in 1734 and still retaining an ironmongery today, Derby's historic department store has evolved over the centuries to sell…
South Devon
This vinyl enthusiasts' emporium is a sign of Totnes' increasingly trendy credentials. Everything's brand new here (definitely no secondhand bargains to…
South Devon
Once a month, one of Devon's biggest food markets takes over Totnes' central square. Expect more than 60 traders, selling everything from local meats,…
Manchester
Besides the impressive range of casual footwear, this hip boutique also stocks a huge range of designers including A Kind of Guise, LA Panoplie, Nudie…
Scrivener's Books & Bookbinding
Peak District
At this delightfully chaotic bookshop, sprawling over five floors, books are filed in piles and the Dewey system has yet to be discovered.
The West End
The UK’s largest foreign-language bookseller with titles representing more than 100 languages is located on the 4th floor of Foyles.
Birmingham
Topped with a glass roof, this tile-floored Victorian-era arcade is a jewel filled with mostly independent shops.
London
Hoping to replicate the success of its Shoreditch counterpart, Boxpark Croydon provides a much-needed cultural hub just a stone’s throw from East Croydon…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
Despite facing potential demolition, this 90-year stalwart of the South London shopping scene continues to expand, most recently with a new area called…
Kensington & Hyde Park
Walking into Pickett as an adult is a bit like walking into a sweet shop as a child: the exquisite leather goods are all so colourful and beautiful that…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden design the witty laser-cut acrylic jewellery on sale in this small space. Their original creations feature flora- and…
Leeds
This swanky new mall, an adjunct to the historic Victoria Quarter arcade, is worth a look for its striking diamond-patterned design, intended to pay…
Leeds
The mosaic-paved, stained-glass-roofed Victoria Quarter shopping arcade, between Briggate and Vicar Lane, is well worth visiting for aesthetic reasons…
Notting Hill & West London
This fine, rather small, general bookshop – the inspiration behind the bookshop in Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts' monster rom-com Notting Hill – still sees…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
This much-loved shop sells a quirky collection of coffee-table books, magazines, card games and stationery, most on the themes of typography, graphic…
The West End
A whiskey shop that has achieved iconic status over the half century it’s been around. Every bottle is handpicked by the passionate staff, with prices…
Oxford
Originally built in 1972 on the site of Oxford’s medieval West Gate, this enormous mall expanded in 2017. Like Alice it seems just to keep on growing,…
The West End
Taking a commendable stand against tacky souvenirs, We Built This City sells locally themed merchandise that the recipient might actually want – most of…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
It's no longer directly associated with the legendary record label (home to the Smiths, the Libertines and the Strokes, among others), but this huge…
Oxford
The name says it all: this fascinating and quaint shop is piled high with useful household objects and tools to make each day easier. Everything is…
Notting Hill & West London
All the recipe books from celeb and nonceleb chefs you can imagine are sold here – perfect for more adventurous cooks or for those looking for ‘exotic’…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
With its punning name you might think this charming garden centre, squeezed into a sliver of land alongside some railway tracks, would be happy to rest on…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
Tales on Moon Lane feels like it belongs in a fairy tale itself. Impeccably decorated inside and out, this multi-award-winning children’s bookshop has a…
The West End
The price tags might make you more dizzy than the alcohol content in this aptly-named fine wines and spirits boutique in Mayfair: its two floors are…
Notting Hill & West London
This Notting Hill butcher shop, run by a Kiwi couple, prides itself on its quality, free-range meat – the beef is grass-fed and the lamb comes from the…
The West End
Specialising in lesser-known literature by mostly women writers from the mid-20th century, Persephone Books has carved out an interesting and valuable…
Leeds
The dramatic Corn Exchange, built in 1863 to house grain-trade merchants, has a wonderful wrought-iron roof that today shelters a fine collection of…
Notting Hill & West London
The heady smell emanating from the Spice Shop says it all: from run-of-the-mill curry powder and herbs to Sichuan pepper (£5.99), other rare spices and…
Notting Hill & West London
Achieving an almost surreal level of quaintness, Biscuiteers is a Notting Hill cafe specialising in hand-iced treats, ranging from biscuits to cupcakes to…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
This small bohemian bookshop grew out of community initiatives and has been a fixture on Brick Lane for more than 30 years. Among the usual popular titles…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
If you love the feminine silhouette of the 1940s and the pin-up look of the 1950s, you will swoon over Collectif's vintage-inspired dresses, shirts, coats…
