Right up your high street
Whether you are after fashion from the hottest young designer or cut-price ceramics, the UK has a number of shopping centres, factory outlets and high street stores to suit your group’s budget. Carrie Drage discovers more.
Shopping trips are a popular choice for GTOs planning a day out as many shopping centres offer free coach parking and group incentives, ranging from simple ‘meet and greets’ to discount voucher schemes.
All under one roof
Shopping centres not only give you hours of retail pleasure, but also offer additional facilities such as cinemas and bowling alleys.
Comprising more than 300 stores, Bluewater, in Kent, is one of the largest shopping centres in the UK. It is made of up three different shopping areas and offers everything from designer and high street fashion through to homewares and electronics, Bluewater is well geared up for groups with a free one-hour guided tour of the site available.
Moving to Essex, Lakeside has stores ranging from French Connection to HMV, and even offers a free personal shopper service for those of you needing a little extra help. Groups can also enjoy a meal at The Boardwalk, which offers al fresco dining with lakeside views.
In Milton Keynes, thecentre:mk not only contains more than 230 stores – including a flagship Boots – it also has what is believed to be the largest events area in any UK shopping centre, Middleton Hall. A large programme of free events are held annually in the Hall and groups visiting the Centre can arrange a ‘meet and greet’ with a Customer Services representative where you will receive thecentre:mk maps and a short introduction about the site. Additionally, GTOs are given a discount refreshment voucher.
With a choice of more than 100 stores spread across four different levels, the Bullring in Birmingham offers all the variety of an out-of-town shopping mall within a city centre location and houses one of the largest Debenhams stores in the UK.
Another of the UK’s large indoor shopping centres is Meadowhall near Sheffield, with over 280 stores including a newly opened flagship Topshop store. Last September, a new extension was also opened, the Gallery Mall, which features more than a dozen new stores including Primark. For groups planning a day out at Meadowhall, tea and coffee can be arranged for you on arrival, as well as a ‘meet and greet’ service.
In Manchester, the Trafford Centre is made up of three main shopping areas; Peel Avenue features high street shops, Regent Crescent contains high-end designer stores and The Dome includes upmarket stores such as Selfridges. Groups can arrange a ‘meet and greet’ service and discount voucher booklets are handed out on arrival, which entitle you to savings of up to 30% in many of its stores. Furthermore, GTOs receive a £5 meal voucher and a UCI Cinema Loyalty Card for the on-site complex, which will earn you one free cinema ticket for every third visit to the Centre. Groups visiting the Trafford Centre can also now enjoy the newly opened Barton Square, an adjoining homewares shopping complex. The first phase of the £90 million site was unveiled last month.
In the north east, meanwhile, groups will find the MetroCentre, believed to be Europe’s largest shopping centre and the only one in the UK with an on-site themepark, Metroland. Over the past four years, more than £100 million has been invested in the Centre, which has seen the completion of a new Red Mall in 2004 and a significant refurbishment of its existing 300 stores. Group members receive a Shopping and Leisure Discount Guide on arrival at the Centre’s coach park, which entitles you to discounts in more than 70 stores.
Bargain buys
Outlet shopping was first pioneered in America; however, has become increasingly popular in the UK over the past decade or so. The main premise of outlet (or mill) shopping is to sell previous season’s stock, end-of-line products, quality seconds and discontinued lines at discounted prices.
REALM operates nine sites across the country including Clarks Village in Somerset.
McArthurGlen is also one of Britain’s largest outlet operators with seven sites across the UK including Ashford in Kent, Bridgend in Wales and Swindon in Wiltshire. GTOs bringing a group of 20 or more people receive a 10% Discount Card for every group member, which can be redeemed on brands such as Armani and Bose.
Operating four large centres in the UK is Boundary Mill Stores, which has sites in Newcastle, Grantham and Walsall, as well as its flagship centre in Colne. GTOs bringing a group of 25 or more people to any of the venues receive a £10 Boundary Mill gift voucher. Although all sites offer a selection of food venues to choose from, the Colne site is particularly renowned for its 280-seater Banny’s restaurant, which features group menus for 15 or more people.
Home to some of the world’s greatest pottery manufacturers, Stoke-on-Trent has several factory stores to choose from including the Wedgwood Factory Shop where you will find a combination of ceramic and crystal homewares with savings of up to 75% off normal retail prices. GTOs bringing a group to the Shop receive a £25 gift voucher to spend in the store, as well as a meal voucher, which can be redeemed in the Coffee Shop.
Denby has a similar reputation for producing top-quality pottery and to learn more about its heritage and manufacturing processes, groups can visit the Denby Visitor Centre in Derbyshire. A number of incentives are available for groups including set lunch menus in Bourne’s Restaurant and shopping vouchers, which can be used to purchase first and second-quality Denby products in the factory shop. Further north in Cheshire, Blakemere is an oulet centre that also offers a choice of activities for groups. For instance, itineraries can be tailor-made to incorporate shopping at its nearly 30 outlet stores with a visit to the on-site Falconry Centre, where you can enjoy a guided tour of the aviaries followed by a birds of prey flying display.
At Manchester’s Salford Quays, the Lowry Outlet Mall also offers a packed programme for groups. A popular option is the Special Group Days, taking place monthly between October and April. The itinerary includes morning tea and biscuits followed by a classic film, cold buffet lunch and tea dance with live band accompaniment. Groups are then free to browse its 80 stores where each member can make savings of up to 10% with a free discount voucher booklet. Additionally, GTOs receive a £10 voucher to spend in many of the stores and eateries.
Located in a former cotton mill, Botany Bay features five floors of shopping together with restaurants and a garden centre. Catering can be arranged for large groups.
Also located in a former working cotton mill, Oswaldtwistle Mills in Lancashire offers furniture, ceramics, gadgets and fashion amongst many other items. It is also well-known for its food hall called The Northern Ingredient, which comprises The Crumbly Cheese Deli, Ye Olde Sausage Shop and Rainhall Drinks Company. This area will be expanded in October when the Mills opens its new 14,000 square-foot food hall, next door to its current site. Its popular variety show packages can also be arranged for groups, which incorporate a two-course lunch in the Hungry Tackler restaurant and live cabaret entertainment. Additionally, five new group activity packages have been introduced for 2008 including ‘Shop & Psychic’ and ‘Shop & Soft Fudge’.
Staying in Lancashire, Barden Mill will also be extending its group itineraries this year following completion, in August, of the adjacent £1 million Reedley Marina development. Groups will not only be able to enjoy refreshments in the overlooking Reedley Marina Tearoom, but benefit from more narrowboat trips along the Leeds & Liverpool canal, which can be combined with a day’s shopping at the Mill.
In the capital
London is arguably one of the best cities for shopping in the UK. Most people heading for a day out in the capital will be familiar with the world-famous Oxford Street. It has more than 300 stores; however, is best known for Selfridges.
Regent Street also offers a number of high street stores but is most well-known for the retailers Liberty and the toy shop Hamleys.
Groups can also visit Carnaby Street with its combination of one-off boutique shops and second hand stores and New Bond Street, which is renowned as the favourite haunt for celebrities.
Jermyn Street, meanwhile, was once the sole domain of rich gentlemen with money to spend on bespoke tailoring. This image is now being challenged by unisex shirt stores and the Paxton and Whitfield cheese shop.
Claiming to be one of London’s most fashionable high streets is the King’s Road, best known for its selection of high-end interior design and homewares stores.
Nearby, Knightsbridge has become synonymous with Harrods, which is one of the largest department stores in the world. Harvey Nichols is another of the many prestige brands here.
More bohemian tastes are widely catered for in the Notting Hill shopping area where items on offer range from vintage clothing to secondhand books. A good time to visit is on Saturdays when the Portobello Road Market is in full swing.
For gift shopping, Covent Garden Market has a great mix of stores selling jewellery, beauty products, toys and games.
Another part of London worth exploring is Canary Wharf, which houses more than 200 shops, restaurants, bars and cafes within its three shopping malls.
On the high street
Although London is often billed as the UK’s shopping capital, the British Isles also boast a number of other world-class shopping destinations.
In the west country, Exeter has six distinct areas for shopping. Its High Street offers a combination of mainstream retailers; however for more unusual finds, groups should head to the Castle Quarter, Cathedral Quarter and West Quarter. Exeter’s newest addition is the Princesshay Quarter, opened last September and has more than 60 stores. Its Quayside development, a short distance from the centre, is also worth exploring for crafts and antiques.
In Sussex, Brighton is renowned for its variety of shopping experiences. High street brands can be found in the Churchill Square shopping centre; however, venture into the 17th century Brighton Lanes for a more eclectic mix of shops selling antiques, jewellery and designer brands. Across the street in the North Laines you will find stores offering quirky products from across the globe, alongside locally-produced crafts. Bargain hunters should visit Brighton Marina for savings of up to 50% on products.
Norwich is another destination worth discovering. Its Market, held six days a week in front of City Hall, has been on the same site for 900 years whilst the city also houses the Colman’s Mustard Shop and Museum and Tudor buildings – housing antiques, crafts, jewellery and silverware – at Elm Hill. Narrow cobbled streets, known as the Norwich Lanes – containing contemporary furniture, art and gadget shops – and modern shopping centres such as The Mall Norwich and Chapelfield also feature.
In Wales, Cardiff has emerged as a leading tourist destination in recent years. Set to transform the city in 2009 is the £675 million St David’s 2 development, which will see the addition of more than 100 new stores as well as a refurbishment of the existing St David’s Shopping Centre. In the meantime, groups can enjoy numerous high street brands in the popular Queen Street, which also provides access to the Queen’s Arcade and the Capitol Shopping Centre. Another destination is the Hayes, home to Howell’s department store.
Glasgow is another city which has transformed itself into a popular shopping destination. For more unusual finds, it offers The Italian Centre, with fashion by some of Italy’s best designers, the Victorian Argyll Arcade, housing more than 30 jewellers and De Courcy’s Antique Craft Arcade. High street names can be found at shopping centres such as Buchanan Galleries.
Continental Crimbo
European Christmas markets have long been a draw for British groups wishing to experience another country’s culture during the festive season.
In France, Disneyland Resort Paris will once again be hosting its Christmas market in the Disney Village from 8th November until 6th January. A range of crafted toys and gifts will be on offer.
In the Nord-Pas de Calais region, the Lille Christmas market runs from 19th November until 30th December. More than 80 chalets will be assembled on the Place Rihour offering regional delicacies, nativity figurines and traditional toys.
One of the largest markets staged in France during the festive season is in Strasbourg. Taking place between 29th November and 31st December, it is the country’s oldest market at more than 400 years old. In addition to the usual array of handicrafts and speciality food and drink, choir singers and nativity performers will be on hand to entertain.
Germany also has a long tradition of Christmas markets, none more so than in Dresden, which has been staging markets since 1434. Traditionally known as Striezelmarkt, it will take place between 28th November and 24th December and stalls will be laden with candleholders, pottery, gingerbread and Pflaumentoffel (a chimney-sweep figure made from dried prunes, which is a Dresden speciality).
Moving to the west of Germany, Cologne will be offering six Christmas markets between 28th November and 23rd December. The most notable of these will take place outside Cologne Cathedral, where groups will find 160 stalls and what is said to be Germany’s tallest Christmas tree.
For a more international flavour, Essen Christmas market will be taking place between 20th November and 23rd December. The stalls will be packed with products from across the globe including sculptures from Africa. The international theme will be continued from a culinary perspective with Arabic falafels, French crepes and Dutch poffertjes (tiny pancakes).
Meanwhile, in Hamburg, more than 100 stalls will be gathered in front of the Town Hall between 24th November and 31st December. Here you will find gingerbread makers from Nuremberg, potters from the Lausitz and woodcarvers from the Tyrol demonstrating their crafts.
For variety, groups should head to Germany’s capital, Berlin, where there will be more than 60 Christmas markets on offer. One of the most popular venues each year is Potsdamer Platz.
Groups wishing to get a taste of Belgian festive customs can visit the Brussels Christmas market, which starts on 29th November and runs until 28th December. There will be more than 240 wooden chalets stocked with Christmas crafts and seasonal gastronomic delights.
Another destination popular with groups over the festive season is Holland. Maastricht is best-known for its ‘Winterland’ attraction, which will be running from 29th November until 4th January. More than 80 stalls will feature this year; however, the star attraction will be a replica of Santa’s Lapland home.
Nearby is the village of Valkenburg, renowned for its Christmas market staged annually in the caverns of the ‘Fluweelengrot’ (velvet cave). Running from 14th November until 21st December, it will include stalls selling traditional Dutch handicrafts and Glühwein (mulled wine).
Alternatively, groups can head to Sweden where the Skansen Christmas market will be held over three weekends between 29th November and 14th December. Traditional sausages, leather goods and homemade mustard are just some of the items that will be displayed on the stalls.