Staying in one of our Manchester hotels for a shopping city break? Good choice. Shopping in Manchester has always been good, but in recent years the hobby has hit dizzy new heights. The city centre saw a revamp after the 1996 bombing, Salford Quays has enjoyed a facelift and the likes of Selfridges and Harvey Nicks have come to town. But what we love most about Manchester is the wonderful mix of independent shops and markets, and for those we’ll point you to the Northern Quarter.
Shopping in Manchester
Shopping Centres
With all the brands you know and love under one roof, as well as events and activities laid on for free, the shopping centres in Manchester are so huge, they could take you all day to get around.
A smart, marbled mall, five miles from the city centre, the Trafford Centre is brimming with more than 200 stores, including designer boutiques and high street fashion favourites. You’ll find homeware brands at Barton Square, plus the first Selfridges outside of London. For other entertainment, there are 60 eateries and bars, plus a 20-screen Odeon cinema, Sea Life and Legoland Discovery Centre. You might even catch a fashion show, book signing or film premiere! And our Trafford Centre West hotel is just minutes from all the action.
If you love hunting down a bargain, head to the Lowry Outlet on Salford Quays - the only factory outlet shopping centre in the Manchester area. Inside you’ll find some 70 stores selling big brand items for up to 70% less than you’ll find on the high street. Among the options are the likes of Marks & Spencer, Gap Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Molton Brown and The Body Shop. There’s also a huge food court and Vue cinema. Located on Manchester's historic ship canal, our Manchester Salford Quays hotel is just a five-minute stroll away.
Manchester Arndale is one of the biggest city-centre shopping malls in the UK, and the third biggest in Europe, with stores including Topshop, Nike, Apple and Bose. It boasts the world’s largest Next store, a particularly inspiring branch of Waterstones and a vast Clas Ohlson. Just over the bridge, on the other side of Exchange Square, you’ll find M&S, All Saints and Selfridges, while tasty pit stops range from Bagel Nash to YO! Sushi.
Markets
Antiques and jewellery, food or clothes... Manchester does markets so well. So enjoy the buzz and soak up the atmosphere at some of the city’s finest.
Although there’s been a market here since 1920, in 2016 Altrincham Market and its adjoining Market House were thoroughly reinvented, hipster-style. The Market House is home to the best street food stalls in town, while cool new traders have gathered under the Alty’s Victorian roof. Here you’ll find local delicacies, handmade jewellery, clothing and fashion accessories, designer homeware, skincare, upcycled gifts, with themed markets at weekends - check their Twitter page before you go to find out exactly who’s there that day.
Manchester's Northern Quarter is great if you love quirky stores and independent shopping, and no visit here is complete without taking a look at Afflecks indoor market. This four-floor emporium mixes new designers and vintage traders with fetish fashion and boho surfwear. What was once a Victorian fish market is now Manchester Craft & Design Centre, home to artist-run studios of jewellery, bags, textiles and prints, as well as quirky little shop-café hybrids. The Northern Quarter’s just a six-minute walk from our Manchester City (Piccadilly) hotel, too.
Foodies will be in heaven with the vast choice of locally sourced produce on offer at the Arndale Market. With delicacies to sample as well as meat, fish, fruit and veg, it’s also indoor, so great to duck into if it’s raining. If that’s not enough, head just across the road to the Church Street outdoor market selling fruit and veg, books, clothing, farm produce and more.
Designer shops
It’s not just familiar high street favourites on offer in this city. With streets lined with glitzy boutiques, Manchester offers so many ways to max out your credit card and get yourself kitted out, designer-style!
Upmarket King Street is Manchester’s answer to Bond Street in London. Along with Bridge Street, to the south of King Street West, it’s the place for all your British and international designer stores. Among them, you’ll find names like Emporio Armani, Jaeger, DKNY, Max Mara, Whistles, Diesel, Gant, Timberland, Karen Millen, Calvin Klein, Thomas Pink, Agent Provocateur, Polo Ralph Lauren… you can spend some serious cash here.
You’ll find several department stores in the city offering luxury shopping and designer brands all under one roof. House of Fraser, once the famous Kendal’s and briefly named Harrods, is on Deansgate where the road meets King Street West. Harvey Nichols is on Cathedral Approach, between Deansgate and Exchange Square, and Selfridges is on two sites – Exchange Square and at the Trafford Centre.