The Times names prettiest towns for indie Christmas shopping
Posted on in Business News
With just over six weeks until Christmas, The Times has named what it says are the seven prettiest towns in the UK for Christmas shopping, making special mention of the presence of independent shops to pick up that special Christmas gift.
Those making the cut are Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, with special mentions for homeware at Broug’s, designer crafts at Wood & Wire, fair-trade fashion and ethical gifts at Spirals and smellies at the Yorkshire Soap Company.
St Andrews in Fife is praised for its excellent vintage stores and gorgeous bookshops like Topping & Co as well as whisky purveyors, Luvians Bottle Shop; cashmere boutiques like Johnstons of Elgin and suppliers of golfing paraphernalia , The Golf Shop of St Andrews.
Third on the list is Frome in Somerset, which is praised for its “marvellous shopping”. The Times recommends Raves from the Grave record store or the ceramicist-owned Ground for pots and plates.
Cardigan is referenced for its historic shops, with special shout-outs for Tonnau for surf gear, Nant Designs for hand-printed cards and books and Custom House Gallery, which sells works by local artists.
Indie stores that get a special mention in Cambridge include Ark for “gifts for interesting people”, the Cambridge Satchel Company for bags, Serena for jewellery, Laird Hatters for headwear and Lost in Vinyl for records.
The Times piece mentions that there has been a market outside Ludlow Castle since at least 1086 whilst also mentioning Bodenhams for clothes and gifts; Little Twidlets for eco-friendly items; Ludlow Vintage for homeware and The Shop at St Laurence for not-for-profit selling jewellery, toys and more.
The seventh of the seven is Lewes. Highlights include Along Came She, which the article describes as “a cut above your average village womenswear store”; Closet & Botts; Rehab for new and vintage clothing, and From Victoria for botanical gifts.