Which shopping outlet in England could I take my mum to

[frogthedippydog]

I live in Belfast and I would really love to take my mum on a shopping day/few days over in England to spoil her but I'm not sure where would be the best to take her. She loves shopping so she would really enjoy this and it would be so nice to spend time with her.

If you have any ideas of where to go I'd love to hear. I've heard of Cheshire oaks and the bullring but know nothing about them. Any advise welcome x

Ashford very train-friendly. I thought Bicester was train-friendly as well? I've never been there but I've travelled through on the train and all the announcements were repeated in Chinese (pre-pandemic).

There's an outlet mall at the O2. Easy to get to and combine with a trip to London, but no idea how good the bargains are.

Cheshire oaks suits every generation . Chester has some great hotels. Liverpool airport is quieter.

Does it have to be England?

There's an Outlet Centre in Livingston, which can be reached by bus from Edinburgh Airport. The outlet is right next door to another shopping centre with high street shops and surrounded by other retail parks.

https://livingston-designer-outlet.co.uk/

Definitely doesn't have to be England. Thanks for the recommendation I'll have a look😃 I'm clueless at stuff like this

If your sailing to Cairnryan the A75 takes you directly to the Gretna shopping village, Caledonia Park.

Cheshire Oaks is horrible and full of tat. Bicester isn't much better, just more expensive.
Why not go to a proper place with more interesting shops? Like York or Bath.
Or from Belfast then Liverpool is really easy - loads of shops, restaurants, entertainment and accommodation at a range of prices. City centre is 30 minutes from the airport.

Agree - does it have to be an outlet village?

You have Kildare outlet also if you didn’t have to go to England

its lovely

If you are flying how about Bath. It's a pretty city to visit and good central shops. Bristol is good but the shops are spread in two areas (city centre and cribbs causeway) which are a bus ride apart

I've actually never been , is it worth a trip down?

Cheshire Oaks without a doubt. Visit Chester too.

My tip - book priority parking for £5. Saves queuing when it's busy (car park always feels busier than the shops)

Yes it’s lovely but it might not be great value with Sterling but it would be a nice treat

Anyone mentioned Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth? Right next to Portsmouth Harbour station, so easy to get to from a London airport or Bournemouth or Southampton. It's on the waterfront and a gorgeous setting with lots of boats and ferries coming and going. Also close to the centre of Portsmouth for high street shopping.

Bicester is lovely too but as others have said it's now very high end with few shops in most people's budgets.

I've heard that bicester village is the most successful one, in terms of money changing hands per square metre, and Cheshire oaks, then gunwharf quays is next down the list. I would say bicester village is better out of bicester and gunwharf quays in portsmouth and maybe if you go to bicetser you could also have a day out in Oxford while you are that way? Get ready to gear up to buy some handbags!! There are a lot of bags for sale in bicester. Also food in the restaurants there is expensive.

Liverpool Airport is closer to Cheshire Oaks (25 mins) and Chester (35 mins essentially suburban traffic.) than Manchester airport (add 40 mins to each). There are chain hotels at Cheshire Oaks and on the inner ring road at Chester. If you drive I'd rather do the ferry to Birkenhead (essentially same timings from Liverpool Airport as above). Then you can carry home the shopping! Cheshire oaks isn't just the outlet centre it's surrounded by a massive regular m&s, next, sainsburys, lots of big box stores, cinema, seaworld, restaurants and once you're there it's a long walk around especially if mum is older and easily tired. So the walk around the outlet is one thing, then move the car for other shops. It's close enough to Liverpool City centre for their attractions and same for Chester for a bit of history.

Been there, can recommend shops, cinemas, restaurants - it's massive!

Skip Bicester village. I found it more 'high end' designer shops less high street.

I think Cheshire oaks would be great combined with a stay in either Manchester or Liverpool.

With manchester you can then have a look round Trafford centre too

But Liverpool would be a nice walk around too

Gunwharf Quays is a lovely location on a warm sunny day - sitting outside one of the restaurants with the water and boats alongside, you could be somewhere in France. But the shopping is very hit and miss, a lot of expensive brands, sportswear outlets - I haven't bought anything there in years. Used to have more high street outlet shops and you could really pick up some bargains.

We love Bicester. Travel from wales. Book into a travelodge and shop all day!

Transpennine does go from Manc Airport to York in theory, but in practice is massively unreliable.

I'm from nearby Cheshire Oaks and not a huge fan, however there are some good outlet stores.

I really like Liverpool for shopping, it's faily compact but has all the main shops and Liverpool One is good as it's right off the high street and partially covered. Chester has recently had quite a few places close down and isn't what it used to be for shopping unfortunately. You could do an overnight stay in Liverpool do one day shopping in Liverpool and one in Cheshire Oaks, there's a regular direct bus from Liverpool to Cheshire Oaks.

The Ashford outlet really isn’t worthy of a trip from anywhere , it’s ok for an hour if you live nearby .

I would suggest a Cheshire oaks and Chester or Liverpool combo too -especially from where you are based.

@DeflatedAgain You see I think Brighton is lousy for shopping if you are older and have pretty mainstream tastes. (And I love Brighton)! It's nice if you like little vintage shops and a North pained kind of shabby chic vibe, (I do) but I suspect it's not all older women's bag -obviously we don't know the lady in question so I can't judge but if she is mire 'indoor' and chains- it wouldn't fit.