Top Christmas Shopping Destinations

Want to shop ‘til you drop? Let us tell you where’s best and how to get there with our great December deals.

This week we’ve been discussing Christmas shopping and we’ve come to the conclusion that it might be a more enjoyable experience if we combined it with an exciting city break to get us in the mood and all revved for the party season. We’ve also discovered that the tripsology team are not remotely ‘bah humbug’ types and we genuinely love Christmas shopping. Picking out gifts for our family and friends is a joy and it also gets us into the spirit of the season.

We don’t particularly like shopping at other times of the year and admittedly we’re all guilty of a bit of online retail therapy to avoid the shops on a Saturday afternoon. By the time our working week ends, the thought of battling with the crowds at the weekend fills us with horror. However, there is something nice about shopping when the Christmas decorations and twinkly lights are up in the department stores and yes, we do like a bit of Christmas music to accompany the mission!

Some people just revel in the annual trudge around the city shops, battling with the crowds in the quest for the perfect gift for their loved ones. For others it can be a futile experience that leaves them stressed and frustrated. Fear not; we know a way of making this chore more enjoyable – combine the Christmas shopping with a city break and suddenly, it won’t seem such a thankless task!

Here at tripsology, we’ve been looking at some of the best places to do your Christmas shopping and with loads of great deals around on flights and hotels, it’s become fairly cheap to jet off on a pre-Christmas break. Just think, you can bag all those lovely pressies AND enjoy the festivities too.

Paris

Oh, the magic of Paris at any time of year but imagine it in the run up to Christmas when the city of love has all her glitter on?  If there are any fashionistas in your family then you’ve come to the right place for chic, French and International haute couture. One of our favourite one-stop shops is the magnificent Galleries Lafayette, an impressive and decadent department store with goodies to suit every pocket and more importantly, you can probably get everything under one roof, leaving precious time to actually see some of the city and soak up the magical atmosphere.

Milan

Italy’s fashion capital has everything you could dream of if clothes and accessories are on your shopping list.  Head for The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a stunning glass roofed arcade which houses Prada’s flagship store. Nearby you can also visit outlet malls such as Il Salvagente and Dmagazine for discount designer togs.

New York

Shop in the Big Apple for a trip to remember. Some of the most famous stores on the planet can be found on the streets of New York City. All those scenes you’ve watched in many a Christmas movie could be brought to life with a December shopping trip to the city that never sleeps. Barneys, Macys, Bloomingdales, Tiffany & Co, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue, to name but a few are just waiting to tempt you with all their sparkly wares.

Glasgow

Glasgow Style Mile at Christmas

Glasgow is widely considered to have the best shopping outside of London and the famous ‘style mile’ is the place to go. Around Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, you will find some great boutiques and high street stores as well as high-end designer offerings.

Manchester

Manchester at Christmas

There’s only one place to head for if you’re in Manchester…The intu Trafford Centre. With over 200 shops to choose from, including the first Selfridges outside London, you’re bound to get all your shopping done in this legendary emporium that also boasts restaurants, cafes, bars as well as a cinema, Sea Life and LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre. It’s practically a resort!

Newcastle

Newcastle Bridge

If you fancy something a little closer to home, you could do worse than head off to England’s northeast. Newcastle is a mecca for shoppers and all of your high street favourites can be found under one roof at the intu Metro Centre.

London

London at Christmas

And who could overlook London when it comes to shopping? The city really bursts into life at Christmas and the glitzy stores of Oxford Street and Regent Street will certainly welcome you with open arms…and your credit cards! With some of the most famous department stores in the country, such as Harrods, Selfridges, Fortnum and Mason, Liberty, John Lewis and Harvey Nichols, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

If any of these shopping hotspots take your fancy then have a look at some of the great travel deals available through some of our partners.