Child-free Christamas shopping weekend - where can you recommend?

[IndulgeMePlease]

My delightful parents have offered to look after the sproglets on Sat 24th Nov so DH and I will be having our first child-free night away for over 3 years!

We are looking for:-

• a good shopping location
• accommodation near to centre of city/town so we can have a drink and walk back
• restaurant recommendations
• somewhere where we might be able to get (whispers in disbelief) 8 hours sleep - so comfy beds and a quiet location ESSENTIAL (this should have been top of the list, sod the shopping)
• a vaguely romantic setting - we may muster the energy from somewhere...
• within a couple of hours' drive from Birmingham, preferably.

Thanking you kindly for the deluge of hepful recommendations I am about to receive [fingers crossed emoticon]. Actually, make that [Hallowe'en amputated fingers crossed emoticon]

What about Bath?

Malmaison in Newcastle is fab location and shopping is excellent - worth a try?

Definitely Bath try www.milsomshotel.co.uk great central location.

I have been to Oxford and Stratford loads of times and the shops and places for going out are better in Oxford IMO. Stratford is better in the summer I think. I'm not sure about hotels in Oxford as my family live there although I stayed in The Old Bank hotel last year and the views were amazing www.oldbank-hotel.co.uk/rooms.asp . My brother and his wife have stayed in the malmaison (sp?) and recommended it.

Ignore what it says on one of the reviews about it not being near city centre- its a 5 minute walk.

travel.ciao.co.uk/D_Isney_Place_Hotel_Lincoln__6429579

Manchester not as pretty as Chester/York/Winchester etc, but will have most of what you're looking for and the European Christmas markets will be on then I find them too expensive to buy from most of the time, but nice atmosphere and the mulled wine might just get you in the romantic mood...

I've finally booked up! I tried loads of your suggestions, only to find they were full (clearly very popular, so no doubt good suggestions). In the end, I looked on www.visitshrewsbury.com and found a gorgeous-looking B&B called The Old Park House. It's a 15th century townhouse with views of the Abbey, 5 minutes walk from shops and restaurants, and the landlady Christine sounds like an agegl. She's reserved us the quietest, most comfortable room, a 4-poster 'chamber', with breakfast in bed, for £90! Can't wait.

Thanks again to all of you for your help. I love MN!

That's angel. How I wish I could type...

Haven't read whole thread but definitely recommend Glasgow. Fantastic shopping, full of character, great restaurants and atmosphere...