Must-see shopping in The Midlands & the Marches

  • Malvern Hills Vintage

    The Midlands & the Marches

    A vast timber barn 1.5 miles northeast of Ledbury is packed to the rafters with retro, antique and industrial treasures – everything from Victorian lamps…

  • Five Leaves Bookshop

    Nottingham

    Opened as an extension of its own publishing imprint in 2013, this splendid independent bookshop is hidden down a passageway off Low Row. In addition to…

  • Bennetts

    The Midlands & the Marches

    Founded as an ironmongers in 1734 and still retaining an ironmongery today, Derby's historic department store has evolved over the centuries to sell…

  • Scrivener's Books & Bookbinding

    Peak District

    At this delightfully chaotic bookshop, sprawling over five floors, books are filed in piles and the Dewey system has yet to be discovered.

  • Great Western Arcade

    Birmingham

    Topped with a glass roof, this tile-floored Victorian-era arcade is a jewel filled with mostly independent shops.

  • Mailbox

    Birmingham

    Birmingham's stylish canal-side shopping experience, the redevelopment of the former Royal Mail sorting office, comes complete with designer hotels, a…

  • Bakewell Deli

    Peak District

    Peak District–roasted Full Moon coffee, Matlock Bath honey, Bakewell puddings, and locally cured meats, chutneys, jams and pies fill the shelves of this…

  • Swordfish Records

    Birmingham

    A Birmingham institution, this independent record shop down a tiny backstreet brims with new and secondhand vinyl (and some CDs), including its own label…

  • Debbie Bryan

    Nottingham

    In Nottingham's historic Lace Market quarter, Debbie Bryan revives its traditions, designing and making lace creations spanning jewellery to clothing and…

  • Studio Chocolate

    Nottingham

    Nottingham chocolatier Ellie Wharrad works with premium-grade chocolate to handcraft and hand paint pralines. Unique flavour combinations at her shop…

  • Scarthin Books

    The Midlands & the Marches

    More than 100,000 new and secondhand books cram 12 rooms in this biblio-paradise, which hosts regular literary events and has a vegetarian cafe (dishes £3…

  • Bakewell Market

    Peak District

    Local producers including Hope Valley Ice Cream, Peak Ales, Bittersweet Chocolates, Brock & Morten (cold-pressed oils) and Caudwell Mill (flour) are among…

  • Chaucer Head

    Stratford-upon-Avon

    Bargain-priced paperbacks through to rare antiquarian books worth thousands of pounds are stocked at the Chaucer Head, which was originally founded in…

  • Cavendish Arcade

    Peak District

    Covered by a barrel-vaulted, stained-glass canopy, Cavendish Arcade houses boutiques selling upmarket gifts.

  • Chocolate Deli

    The Midlands & the Marches

    At this cherry-red deli you can buy handcrafted chocolates (such as strawberry and pepper, Jack Daniels truffles or milk-chocolate pencils that actually…

  • Hung Up

    Nottingham

    Behind a black-painted facade, urban and street art are the focus of this small all-white space where emerging and established local and international…

  • Rob's Record Mart

    Nottingham

    Over 250,000 records (vinyl only; no CDs) cram every conceivable floor, wall and ceiling space at this music lover's nirvana.

  • Bullring

    Birmingham

    Split into two vast retail spaces – the East Mall and West Mall – the Bullring has all the international brands and chain cafes you could ask for, plus…

  • Leicester Market

    The Midlands & the Marches

    Stalls at Leicester's award-winning indoor food hall and outdoor markets, revamped in 2018, sell everything from organic vegetables, aromatic spices, fish…

  • Grand Central Birmingham

    Birmingham

    Atop the revitalised New St station, the gleaming Grand Central Birmingham shopping mall is anchored by a massive John Lewis department store.

  • Highcross Leicester

    The Midlands & the Marches

    In the city centre, this glitzy shopping mall has big-name brands and chain restaurants.