Shopping · Manchester · United Kingdom
Shopping in Manchester
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Manchester has big shopping centres and department stores in the centre alongside one of Britain's best concentrations of independent, vintage and record shops in the Northern Quarter. Best souvenirs: Worker bee designs, Vinyl records and Football shirts and memorabilia.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Worker bee designs
Where to shop
Northern Quarter
Afflecks, vintage clothing, record shops and independent boutiques around Oldham Street, Tib Street and Thomas Street.
Market Street and the Arndale
The pedestrianised main shopping street and the large Manchester Arndale shopping centre with high-street chains.
King Street and St Ann's Square
Designer and premium brands in handsome Victorian bank buildings, and the glass-roofed Barton Arcade off Deansgate.
Exchange Square
Department stores and large flagship stores beside the Cathedral.
Markets
Manchester Christmas Markets
Wooden chalets selling crafts, food and mulled wine in Piccadilly Gardens, Exchange Square and other city-centre squares from about mid-November to just before Christmas.
Bury Market
A large traditional market about 15 km north, reached by Metrolink, famous for black pudding stalls.
What to buy
Worker bee designs
Prints, badges and homewares featuring the Manchester bee, sold in independent shops.
Vinyl records
Northern Quarter record shops stock new and second-hand records, including Manchester bands.
Football shirts and memorabilia
Official club shops at Old Trafford and the Etihad stock kits and souvenirs.
Eccles cakes
Boxed Eccles cakes from local bakeries keep for a few days.
Local beer
Bottles and cans from Manchester breweries, sold in bottle shops and taprooms.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Northern Quarter
Afflecks
A former department store on the corner of Church Street and Tib Street packed over several floors with independent stalls selling vintage clothes, records, comics, alternative fashion, tattoos and curiosities.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Rainy day
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Eccles cake, Manchester tart, Local craft beer and cask ale and Vimto. Bakeries and cafés across the city, and pubs serving it with cheese. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Quarter | $$ | Red-brick textile warehouses, street art, record shops and late bars |
| Ancoats | $$$ | Restored cotton mills, canal basins and some of the city's best restaurants |
| Deansgate and Spinningfields | $$$ | The main shopping spine, the John Rylands Library and glass office towers |
| Piccadilly and the Village | $$ | The main rail hub, Chinatown and the bars of Canal Street |
| Chorlton | $$ | Leafy south-Manchester suburb of independent cafés, bars and delis |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in GBP. Tipping is not expected in pubs. In restaurants, about 10–12.5% is usual for good table service; check the bill first, as some restaurants add a discretionary service charge.
- Queue for buses, at bars during busy times and in shops; pushing in is frowned upon.
- Tap in and out with a contactless card on Metrolink to benefit from the automatic daily cap.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–March; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- June: Parklife festival in Heaton Park (usually June)
- July: Manchester International Festival — arts festival held in odd-numbered years (usually July)
- September: Manchester Food and Drink Festival (usually late September into October)
- November: Manchester Christmas Markets (usually from mid-November to just before Christmas)
- December: Christmas markets continue (until about 21 December)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for nightlife, solo travellers, shopping, food lovers and budget
Northern Quarter
Red-brick textile warehouses, street art, record shops and late bars
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Manchester?
Worker bee designs, Vinyl records, Football shirts and memorabilia and Eccles cakes.
+Where is the best shopping in Manchester?
Northern Quarter: Afflecks, vintage clothing, record shops and independent boutiques around Oldham Street, Tib Street and Thomas Street.
+What are the best markets in Manchester?
Manchester Christmas Markets and Bury Market.