Shopping is one of the great experiences in the UK. However, on the whole prices aren’t cheap. Fortunately, discount sales are frequent, virtually a British institution. And if you’re from outside the EU, you can get a VAT refund more easily in the UK than any other EU country.

Shopping In London

London is full of stylish shops and grand department stores but for real shopping pleasure, you can’t beat the city’s many street and flea markets. They’re noisy, crowded and you have to bargain hard, but you can’t beat them for sheer shopping fun. Here are some of the most famous.

Covent Garden is the grand dame of them all. With a long and colourful past, this West End mainstay is now made up of several markets. Apple Market sells collectible nostalgia including ceramics, leather goods, toys, clothes, hats, and jewelry. Jubilee Market specialises in antiques market on Mondays; the rest of the week it offers budget garments and books.

Coming in close second in the fame stakes is Portobello Market in Notting Hill. Mainly a Saturday event, it comprises three main sections for antiques, fruit and vegetables, and a flea market where locals hawk bric-a-brac and secondhand goods.

Shopping In Manchester

Shopping capital of the North West of England, Manchester is second only to London in the UK shopping charts. And in one way, shopping in Manchester actually outdoes the capital – most of the larger shopping areas are pedestrian-only.

Manchester’s main shopping zone lies west of Piccadilly Gardens with traditional shopping outlets, including Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, clustered around Market Street and the Arndale Centre on Corporation Street. Trendy boutiques and designer outlets abound in posh King Street and St Ann’s Square.

Shopping In Leicester

Leicester’s shopping scene has acquired a new spirit in recent years. The famous Leicester Market with seven hundred years of trading history has been joined by walking streets and vibrant shopping centers.

You have a great choice for shopping in Leicester. Leicester’s two major indoor shopping centres – the Haymarket and Shires Centre – are home to the major brand name outlets. Pedestrianised Gallowtree Gate houses the major chain stores while the nearby The Lanes mainly features small independent retailers.

Leicester is also home to Europe’s largest covered market. Open from Monday to Saturday, Leicester Market features over 270 stalls. A market has been held on this site since the 14th Century.

For more ethnic wares, head to bustling Belgrave Road, where you’ll find Leicester’s Golden Mile. This area is thronged with shops, stalls and hawkers selling food, clothes and ornaments from the Subcontinent. Get your fill of spices, silks and saris here.

Shopping in Spain is a more relaxed and more economical affair than in the rest of Europe.Bargaining is widespread here and you’ve got a good chance of finding some real bargains.

Shopping In Barcelona

Here’s a city that’s reinvented itself in the last decade and a vibrant shopping scene has emerged in the process. You’ll find all the big names here – Chanel, Max Mara, Loewe, Benetton, Zara, and Diesel – jostling for your attention and your credit card.

You’ll find that boutiques line the avenues along with futuristic malls and beguiling markets. And if you ever get tired of garments, you can head to the throng of antique shops and art galleries.

Te Circuit del Born is the place to go if you want garments and accessories to transform yourself into a Spaniard. You’ll find it in the Ciutat Vella’s Ribera district. It is home to many small studio and shops retailing the creations of local craftsmen and artisan. Specialties include silk items, and designer shoes and clothing.

For a richer experience and a glimpse into Catalonia’s mercantile past, head for the streets around the Barri Gòtic. These streets are packed with traditional offering from fish, candles and herbs to bullfighter’s capes.

Opening times for shops in Barcelona is around 8 am and they tend to close a few hours after sunset.

Shopping In Madrid

Spain’s capital is home to an estimated 50000 stores selling everything from the latest fashion clothing, paintings, ceramics and guitars.

Madrid offers the best up-market shopping outlets in Spain. Most of the designer fashion shops lie in the eastern Salamanca district. Here the international temples of fashion such as Prada, Armani, and Louis Vuitton, share space with popular Spanish designers like Sybilla, Amaya Arzuaga, and Victorio & Lucchino.

But if you’re weary of grand boutiques, you’re in for a treat on Sunday mornings in the form of the El Rastro street market. For this event the Calle de Ribera de Curtidores closes to traffic and is transformed in to this great open-air bazaar offering everything from live chickens to pirated movies, antiques of dubious antiquity and erotic post cards. What’s more, it’s a truly Spanish event. But keep a close eye on your wallet and camera.

With such a wide section of hotels in Spain check the internet for hotels in Barcelona and hotels in Madrid.