Christmas shopping, best place to go?

[giveovermypreciousss]

My dh and I want to go somewhere fun for the christmas shopping this year.
We live in a town which is a bit naff so want somewhere with lots of shops and a festive feel.
We can only come up with London, but happy to travel to anywhere in England or Europe via plane of its the right place.
Any ideas please.

What are you looking for in your shopping trip?

The idea of Christmas Shopping is lovely , moseying round , picking up a few well chosen bargains.
The reality is anything but

Are you travelling by car?
Do you want town/city or do you want mega shopping centre?

I find after two shops I'm laden with bags . Makes it nigh on impossible to look along aisles , bend to pick things up.
So , I put the bags in my car (keep the reciepts in my handbag) Someone will try and get my space (and get the hump when I'm not leaving)

Toilets
Coffee/lunch breaks

The general moaning buggers who whinge about the queues ( Doh , it;s bound to be busy)

I usually do a mixture of :

Lakeside and Bluewater but only on a weeknight in December .
London in early December (for shopping) and usually the 23rd with DD (when it's surprisingly quiet)

Online for most things

M&S Click&Collect to my local store

The idea of a "Shopping Weekend" appeals but in my family DS doesn't like shopping , DH is and DD gives up after 'her' shops and gets all meh in 'my' shops.
So it's easier to shop alone

I like Cheshire oaks, lots of great shops, few places to eat, travelodge in walking distance and cinema. Suits me, quieter in weekdays, easy to drive too.

I would think any major city would work.

I've not been but one of my friends adores Berlin at Christmas time. She goes for at least a weekend.

My friend and I do this every year. Less Christmas shopping and more just a lovely day out with a few purchases in December.

We have really enjoyed Chester and York.

Kingston upon Thames

York or Lincoln are especially pretty and atmospheric at Xmas time. Decent shops and great places to eat.

The thought of Christmas Shopping with DH fills me with horror!

Brighton. You've got all the mainstream shops but also the Laines and North Lanes where you can get quirkier gifts.
Also loads of great places to stop for food and drink

We sometimes go to gunwharf in Portsmouth....it’s a discount shopping village but with a lot of normal brands (unlike Bicester village) and usually get ourselves a little treat to

I was going to say York or Lincoln.

York is lovely at Christmas. Or definitely get yourself to Germany - we've done Munich and Berlin which are easy to get to with EasyJet.

Oxford street

How about Cardiff? We've got the major stores, plus several arcades filled with independents. There will be the Christmas market with all the usual tat as well!

Definitely York it’s lovely at Christmas and has lots of lovely shops to look in and Christmas markets. We go to York every year in December.

Years ago I went to Venice and had a lovely time choosing beautiful murano glass baubles for everyone I knew. The worst part was giving them away.

I'd definitely do york. Quite a compact centre. Lots of great chain and independent stores. Also superstores at monks cross and outlet if u drive. Gorgeous pubs restaurants and hotels all within easy walking distance of the centre. Lovely friendly people

Cambridge is lovely, all the major stores and really atmospheric with the colleges as a lovely backdrop.

I'm lucky enough to live within short driving distance to Chester, Liverpool, Manchester City and the Trafford Centre - I also live just around the corner from the Cheshire Oaks Outlet Village so I go there all the time. All of those places are fab for shopping and I especially love them during the festive season (though I do tend to get a bit lost in Manchester City because its massive!)

Are you actually wanting to purchase gifts whilst "Christmas shopping"? The only fun way to do that is at home on the internet! If you want it to be more festive stick a Christmas CD on and drink a lot of Mulled wine. However for a Christmas Mooch around and maybe buying nice bits and bobs if you see them there are lots of options. Cardiff is lovely, all the little arcades are my favourites. Bath is also beautiful and has a really good Christmas market, (It is impossible at weekends though! just TOO many people in what is really a very small city.)

Edinburgh?

Do it on the internet and then have a nice day/weekend out. Save yourself OP.

Did you know that Glasgow is supposedly the best place for shopping in the UK outside London?

I live in Glasgow, it's great for shopping and has some lovely areas to shop in. Lots of craft fairs and west end boutiques but the two Christmas markets are pretty rubbish . If you're looking for pretty markets go elsewhere but if you are after shopping and afternoon teas/ cocktails then it's a great place! X