Where in the UK do you think has the best shopping?

[TheTurnOfTheScrew]

12yo DC1 wants a shopping trip for her birthday. We do actually live 15mins drive from the centre of a big city with decent shops, but to make it more of an occasion I'm up for going somewhere different - even doing an overnight trip if I can get a decently priced Premier Inn. Where do you rate?

We’re Londoners and would go for Liverpool or Glasgow for birthday shopping for a 12 yr old.

Gorgeous cities, good mix of high st and indies and lovely food.
London is great but a bit sprawling. You need somewhere more compact.
Have a lovely time, wherever you choose.

Liverpool, the shopping is fantastic and I love the docks.

Yes, Liverpool would be a good option too
Not York’s though, I went to Uni in York and loved it. Me and DH used to go Xmas shopping there before dc but we took the dc about a year ago for the day and didnt like it at all.
Lots of shops closed and the main high street areas looked grotty. Tourist areas just full of Harry Bloody Potter - where’s the York connection? Also, loads of Hen/Stag do’s staggering around wearing fake neon penises
It was just nasty

York... it has everything
City centre shops
And 4 retail parks on the outskirts
MacArthur glen, vangarde, monks cross that’s just north of the city
Clifton moor has cinema and a couple of eateries
Don’t know what’s south of the city

I want to go to Liverpool now.

Oxford or Newcastle.

I live near London and never shop there as it's just too spread out. Both oxford and Newcastle have masses of shops but pretty compact so you don't spend ages walking round. Good mix of chains and independents - there is a really good new shopping centre in Oxford and a massive Fenwick in Newcastle - and indoor/outdoor shopping. Also lots of nice places to eat/drink and independent cinemas.

Quite tempted myself, now!

I took my 12 yr old DD shopping in Birmingham just before Christmas & she loved it so much that she asked if we could move there!

I'd vote for Oxford - all the main shops and some lovely places for a stroll. Great places to eat too.

It's a no to Oxford - simply because we went at October half-term. And very nice it was too. Although if we went back, we could have another crack at dregding the Cherwell for her lost glasses .

Brighton if want something more than high street names - fabulous restaurants, beach and pier too.
Bath for a beautiful city with good hotels and history.
Oxford is nice and compact
Leeds is nice too.
Milton Keynes was depressing.
Not convinced by Liverpool.

Birmingham Or London

I will always have a soft spot for Nottingham as it’s my home town but you have to know where to go. You could end up at the Broadmarsh Centre and nobody would want that.

I rather like Newcastle and it’s so friendly.

And to throw in something completely left field, intuDerby is one of our favourites. Better than Meadowhall imho.

Everything you need is here, and if you want something different to look at the Covered Market.
westgateoxford.co.uk/

On a sunny day the roof top is lovely

Ooops sorry! Just seen your No to Oxford

Newcastle, for sure. Great mix of independents, department stores, chains, plus places like Boxpark.

Glasgow without a doubt (I don't live there!). Very long pedestrian shopping area with shopping centres at either end. Treat yourself to 1st class with Virgin. Station is in the centre. Lots of reasonably priced hotels.

Birmingham- you get off the train at New Street and the shops are right there.
Cheltenham- pretty, nice shops and great restaurants.

Also Edinburgh is lovely too!

Birmingham's good if you want the money to stretch as well OP.

I live in Berkshire(not far from London)and the difference in price in the markets and lots of the shops compared to where I'm from our money went alot further in Birmingham than it does at home.

glasgow is always my go to despite living near edinburgh

Can’t believe how many people rate Leicester! I think it's crap! I work there and don’t like the shopping much at all, not a patch on MK.

I disagree, Leicester has all the usual high street stores, a great big John Lewis, a big new Zara and Urban Outfitters. Plus it has loads of great independent shops - Set, Niche, loads of independent stores in the Lanes, St Martins and Market Street. Plus lots of good places to eat and plenty of museums.

I like Birmingham more though since they improved it. Nottingham is good because it has a Sostrene Grene (my favourite shop). Brighton has always been good for shopping because of all the independent shops.

I don't rate Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester or Sheffield.

My husbands office used to be in Birmingham. It was a real treat for the children as teenagers. Lots of good ‘ young’ shopping in the Bullring. New treet now fabulous. A cinema in centre.
Travelodge in Newhall street is convenient and cheap. Co-op below to buy something for breakfast.
Lovely restaurants of all price brackets. You could have supper in Brindley place (also walking distance) or St Paul’s Square area.

My dd liked Lakeside Thurrock at that age

Liverpool or I've heard brighton's good

Chester and then the next day you can go to Cheshire Oals