Shopping in Manchester
Tourists in Manchester, Great Britain, have many choices for shopping. Whether visitors are seeking familiar goods from chain stores, exclusive items from elegant department and fashion stores, or ethnic or unique gifts from independent shops and trading sites, they can find what they are looking for in Manchester.
Many tourists can find what they are looking for in Manchester City Centre. The shopping center of Arndale Center is found on Market Street and offers a variety of familiar chain stores for shoppers. Some of the other nearby areas for shopping includes St. Ann’s Square, Kings Street, and Barton Arcade. St. Ann’s Square is located in the area between St. Ann’s Church, the Royal Exchange, and the Barton Arcade. This area offers high-end shops, including a jewelry store, a computer and electronic store, a children’s store offering games and toys, shoe stores, menswear stores, and a candle shop. Kings Street shops include many fashionable and prestigious stores, including Tommy Hilfiger and Agent Provocateur. There are also second-hand designer shops, jewelry stores, and watch and clock retail and repair shops. Many street side vendors and markets can be found in this square, as well, in accordance with the seasons. Barton Arcade has brought designer and high-end fashion shops, such as those featuring Armani and DKNY.
Away from the center of the city, shoppers can head to the Trafford Centre, which is a large complex near Trafford Park, found in Manchester’s Dumplington district. This shopping center features many department stores and chains, but it also is home to a market center on Peel Avenue that houses many independent merchants where unique goods can be purchased. The hours of the shops at the Trafford Centre are Monday through Wednesday from 10:00am to 8:00pm, Thursday through Friday from 10:00am to 9:00pm, Saturday from 9:00am to 7:00pm, and Sunday from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
Manchester also has a Chinatown shopping center district. In this district, located in the area of George Street and Charlotte Street, travelers can marvel at the range of Chinese merchants located in this region. Herbal shops, gift and souvenir shops, and other markets sell a variety of authentic goods.