A Guide To The Shopping Scene In Manchester

Manchester. Known for it’s football clubs and thriving music scene, but it’s also home to the shopping capital of the North, it is diverse in its offerings and bold in its approach. With an array of shops to suit all budgets, it’s easy to see its appeal. Wondering around the city centre, there are flecks and splatterings of creative fashion and beauty styles everywhere.

People are not afraid to literally wear their uniqueness on their sleeves and this in itself make for an inspiring culture. So just what does it have to offer in terms of shopping?

Manchester plays host to two main shopping centres. One of which is ‘The Trafford Centre’, based a little outside of the city in Dumplington, Greater Manchester. This is the hotspot for all things high-street. With roughly 280 stores and open daily, you will be hard pressed to leave empty-handed.

The great thing about the Trafford Centre is the fact that everything is near enough under one roof. For those seeking out the classic, high-street stores, you will be able to find ‘Fashion in every flavour’, from Accessorize to Zara.

For homeware and gifts, there is a huge ‘Cath Kidston’ store. There is also a ‘JD’ for all your sporting needs and plenty of footwear shops you can shake a stick at (you’re going to need those for all the walking around you’ll be doing, right?). There is also a food court, with fast food places such as Subway and Pizza Hut if you’re wanting to grab a quick lunch and for those just after a coffee, take a seat in Costa to give yourself a well-earned break.

High-street near enough covered, you can head on over to the ‘Manchester Arndale’, which is based right in the heart of the city. Roughly a 25 minute drive from the Trafford Centre, you will quickly see a wide range of trendy fashion outlets, such as Topshop and Primark. You can also take a little stroll over to Urban Outfitters, where you can start to seek out those vintage finds.

This now leads you on to discover all those other vintage boutiques and retro shops, with a bit more quirkiness to them. One such example is ‘Pop Boutique’. Reasonable in its pricing and a 5 minute walk from the Arndale, here you will find a treasure trove of second-hand and well-loved handbags, from the 60’s – 90’s. For one-off dresses and unique jewellery, this is a haven for all those more classically minded in their fashion desires.

Right next door is an ‘Oxfam Original’ shop, where you can find one of a kind pieces to jazz up your existing wardrobe. You can also look to donate some of your own stuff or do a trade of something of equal value. It’s definitely worth a browse.

For all those shoppers channelling their eclecticism, take a trip to >‘Afflecks’, an indoor lifestyle and fashion market. There is so much to behold here, that one trip is not likely to cover it all but that’s fine. Next time you pay a visit, you can just keep top up your wardrobe! Afflecks is a haven for anything that’s a little off the cuff. Tophats and Tattoos? You name it. Fancy dress? This is the place to go. There’s also a Beatniks store inside, making it the perfect place for all your retro needs.

Manchester is a slice of joy when it comes to shopping. Whether you want to keep up to date with the latest fashion trends or are seeking out something a little more alternative, you cannot go wrong. So, what are you waiting for? Get on that tram and go, go go!