Shopping in Manchester
Manchester is choc-a-bloc with shops. From the full range of high street shops and massive department stores, to exclusive boutiques you have to make an appointment to get into, Manchester has it all.
Why not begin your journey with Primark - as you're unlikely to find it cheaper anywhere else - whatever 'it' may be. The only problem with Primark is that if what you've bought is popular, you will see someone else wearing it. However, Primark will not divide you and the other wearer, it will bond you. With a knowing smile, and a slight blush, you'll be on your way, safe in the knowledge that someone else has your excellent taste, and budget...
Next stop: Afflecks Palace. And what a palace it is. It's five storeys high and has about 50 stalls and shops. From the outside it looks daunting and scary, and it's not much better inside, but once you've settled in, it really is an oasis.
Very much an Aladdin's Cave, it can sometimes be hard to navigate your way around or remember where things are, but that's part of the fun. There's The Bead Shop, selling beads in different shapes, sizes and colours.
Then there's a fancy dress shop, with plenty of hidden treasures. Cowboy hats, plastic toy guns, wigs, and cloaks. They even stock real leather cowboy boots - but they're not cheap!
There are tons of other shops where you can grab a bargain - plenty of record shops and clothes shops where you can find anything from gothic and punk to clubbing gear and Hello Kitty. You may even happen upon vintage Adidas or Puma.
The really wonderful thing about Afflecks Palace though, is the experience. That sense of anticipation as you poke your head around another corner, and finding weird and wonderful things. Don't be afraid to go in and have a look around - even if you don't think it's your style. There really is something for everyone.
Market Street is the glue that holds hardcore shoppers together. Whether it's when the parents come to visit or every Saturday afternoon, regardless of how much student loan you've already spent, all students will have, at least once, been for a wander down Market Street.
At Christmas, it can be magical, but can also be extremely stressful. The hordes of people wandering up and down Market Street, morning, noon and night can sometimes be a bit much. There is never a quiet time when you can beat the queues but don't let that put you off - you're bound to come across something that will make your day!
If you need anything for your digs, there's Habitat - always a favourite, especially when it's sale season. You can get some excellent bargains if you persevere.
There's also Evolution in the Arndale centre - a funky shop with lots of beaded curtains, cool light shades and lots of other colourful stuff to get your hands on. They also have really nice gift ideas like diaries covered in handmade paper and trinket boxes - ideal as birthday presents.
At the cheaper end of the scale there is Au Naturale, a home store that sells everything from candles, wine glasses, cushions and even toilet seats. They have a very eclectic range of items on offer - toothbrush holders, laundry baskets, gift bags, photo fames and vases are just a few of the things you can get for an average of £3.
Everything is fairly priced and in the sales you can get an excellent bargain. If you need to kit your house out cheaply, Au Naturale is the place for you.
Hot Tip: Give Market Street a miss when it's raining as the whole place will be awash with umbrellas and slipping on the cobbles is a hazard you should watch out for. The Trafford Centre is an ideal escape from the rain as the whole mall is under one roof.
Although King Street is only a few hundred metres long, it is home to many of the more high-end stores such as Jones the Bootmakers, Mulberry, Monsoon, Jaeger and Kookai. There are the typical stores as well though, like Warehouse, Oasis and Boots. On King Street, you will find Topshop Shoes, the only Topshop store in the UK to exclusively sell shoes.
Warning: Can be dangerous if you've got money in your pocket!
The Triangle, formerly the Corn Exchange Building has been resurrected as a state-of-the-art shopping mall housing such stores as O'Neill, Mikey, Calvin Klein, Nailed, Molton Brown and Muji.
As a student, you may find it a bit expensive, but stores like Mikey and Molton Brown are often frequented by celebrities so you an always do a bit of celeb-spotting. Why not grab a seat at Zinc bar and grill and settle yourself in at Terence Conran's first UK restaurant outside London? If you fancy something a more affordable, you can get light snacks and the best espressos in the UK at Caffé Nero.
Hot Tip: If you fancy a bit more celeb-spotting, then head down Market Street and go to Selfridges - you may just run into Colleen McLoughlin.
New Cathedral Street is home to a few more celebrity favourites, such as Louis Vuitton and Harvey Nichols so you may see a few Hollyoaks or Coronation Street stars there.
The Trafford Centre can be quite overwhelming, due to its sheer size but it's a haven for all-day shoppers.
There's the recently opened John Lewis in the Trafford Centre one one end, a massive Debenhams on the other, and a wealth of stores in between. There are printed maps available at stations all over the mall and also fully staffed information centres to help you find your way.
Shopping in the Trafford Centre can be a pleasant experience if you don't try to do too much. The food isn't overly expensive so it's OK to sit down for a bite and take a break from your shopping.
The Orient Food Court is massive, with a variety of different eating places to choose from. There are the usual suspects - McDonalds, KFC and Singapore Sam. Then there's Dexter's Grill and Bar, Shere Khan and a Nando's. From Chinese and Indian food to traditional English pub food, there's a bit of everything to suit all tastes.
Many of the restaurants have in-house seating but for those that don't there is a huge seating area. In the middle of the seating area is a gigantic TV screen and a catwalk. Many restaurants and bars are open late, with Thursday night being a popular choice.
Getting there by bus is so easy. The 250 bus runs every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 10 minutes on Saturdays.
