Top 5 Christmas Shopping Destinations

We know that many of our readers will consider it too early to be talking about Christmas, but did you know that for our hoteliers, planning for the festive season often starts in January?! If you are one of the super prepared few, we have listed some of our favourite destinations, ready for when the time comes to get started with your Christmas shopping. So whether you like to combine your shopping trip with some history and culture, or if you’d prefer a one-stop-shop with everything in the same place, we have the perfect shopping trip ideas for you.

York – Spend the Day In A Historic City

If a full day of none-stop shopping isn’t for you, then why not visit York and combine the shops with viewing some historic sites as you wander the city. York city centre is delightfully compact, meaning less walking to get from place to place. York Minster is in the heart of the city and next to a great mixture of independent, quirky stores, as well as high street names. “The Shambles” is one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe and was once voted “Britain’s Most Picturesque Street” – complete with very in-keeping Harry Potter shops at the end.

The Talbot is a lovely 26 bedroom hotel in “Yorkshire’s Food Capital” of Malton, with easy train links to York.

Manchester Trafford Centre – 200 Shops Under One Roof

If you’d prefer to hit your shopping list head-on with no unnecessary distractions, then a shopping centre is what you need – and Manchester’s Trafford Centre is absolutely huge, with more than 200 shops, and a 1600-seat food court. There is also a twenty-screen cinema, an eighteen-lane bowling alley, and a huge selection of restaurants. Situated just 5 miles outside Manchester city centre, stores range from designer and high fashion favourites, including the first Selfridges outside London.

Hotel Gotham is just 30 minutes away and boasts timeless décor & witty retro opulence, whilst Shringley Hall is a 40 minute drive away and is a luxurious Victorian Country House Hotel.

Bath Christmas Market – Getting Into The Christmas Spirit

There is little better to get you into the festive season than by visiting a Christmas Market. Bath Christmas Market recognised as one of the top European Christmas markets and takes place from 22nd November to 9th December 2018. Best Loved Hotel, The Abbey Hotel in bath play a huge part in creating the festive atmosphere with their Après Ski Bar, which opens between 10am – 11pm each night of the week from 21st November – 22nd December.

The Abbey Hotel is a superb independently owned hotel, plus other Best Loved Hotels in Bath include The Roseate Villa and No.15 Great Pulteney.

London – Shops And The City

If you want a mixture of hundreds of shops, but you’d prefer not to be confined to a shopping centre, and you don’t mind a bit of walking – then London is an obvious choice for your shopping trip. From the markets (Spitalfields, Portobello and Covent Garden), with their unique or specialist items, to the famous department stores (Selfridges, Hamleys and Fortnum & Mason), you’ll find gifts for the most varied of recipients.

Best Loved Hotels in London include The Gore – with opulence and flair or The Cranley Hotel, a luxury boutique haven. Click here to view all Best Loved London Hotels.

Bicester Shopping Village – Designer Brands With Discounted Prices

If you love your labels, but have a long list of items to buy, then a visit to Bicester Village might be just what you need. This is a luxury destination with more than 160 boutiques of world-famous brands, each offering savings of up to 60% on the recommended retail price all year round. Combine your trip with a stay at The Feathers in Woodstock and you’ll even get a 10% discount voucher to get even further reductions.

The Feathers is located in Woodstock, at the gates of Blenheinm Palace, or why not try The Manor at Weston on the Green, a country house hotel in a delightful Oxfordshire village.3