452 lines
15 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
452 lines
15 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
topics
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christmas
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8108274
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# UK: five of the best Christmas shopping destinations
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## 'Tis the season to be jolly, so don't let Christmas shopping be a chore:
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enjoy it in festive style, advises Sophie Dening.
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![UK: five of the best Christmas shopping centres][1]
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Image 1 of 3
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Edinburgh offers a plethora of Christmas treats
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![UK: Five of the best Christmas shopping centres][2]
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Image 1 of 3
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Bettys Tea Rooms in Harrogate, Yorkshire
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![UK: Five of the best Christmas shopping centres][3]
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Image 1 of 3
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Fabulous local produce at Welbeck Farm Shop in Nottinghamshire
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By Sophie Dening 9:19AM GMT 04 Nov 2010
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Battling the crowds in a city-centre precinct can make Christmas shopping a
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grim endurance test. So why not take a different approach this year, and use
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it as an excuse for a short break away?
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Turning my back on drearily uniform British high streets, I tracked down
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centres with a good range of independent shops, and came up with five of the
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most enjoyable destinations for Christmas shopping. For each venue, I have
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suggested - as well as the most appealing emporia - a lavish and a frugal buy,
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the best places to stay and eat, a treat to sustain you on your shopping
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expedition, and other things to do while you are in town.
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**Edinburgh**
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**Best for fashion and luxury goods**
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## Related Articles
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* [Luxury beauty gifts for Christmas][4]
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18 Nov 2010
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* [Catwalk looks for Christmas parties][5]
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18 Nov 2010
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* [More UK holiday ideas][6]
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17 Sep 2010
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* [The best Christmas market cruises][7]
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18 Oct 2010
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* [Stockbridge Down: walk of the week][8]
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03 Nov 2010
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* [Victoria's Secrets][9]
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02 Nov 2010
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Edinburgh's atmospheric cobbled streets come into their own at Christmas, and
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from late November, shoppers can play on the ice rink and fairground rides in
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East Princes Street Gardens (November 26-January 4). A traditional German
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Christmas market is held at the Mound Precinct (November 25-December 24).
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When it comes to clothes shopping, St Andrew Square and Multrees Walk have the
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best designer names such as Harvey Nichols, Mulberry, and Bravissimo. For
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distinctive womenswear, try Mary's Living & Giving Shop, 34a Raeburn Place
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(Mary Portas's boutique charity shop for Save The Children); Kakao by K at 45
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Thistle Street for Scandinavian labels; and WM Armstrong, 83 Grassmarket, for
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vintage. Corniche, 2-4 Jeffrey Street, is the best place for on-trend
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menswear, and there is a great choice of beauty unguents at Jo Malone,
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Penhaligon's and SpaceNK, all on George Street, which is also home to Hamilton
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& Inches society jewellers and the Cashmere Store.
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Among the tartan/tweed-a-rama is Royal Mile Whiskies at 379 High Street. For
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contemporary kilts, seek out Howie Nicholsby at 21st Century Kilts, 48 Thistle
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Street. Valvona & Crolla, 19 Elm Row, is one of the UK's best delis.
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* Splash out on a Prada leopard-print and ponyskin bag, £1,400, at Cruise,
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80 George Street.
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* Stretch out your spending with a one-off bag handmade from recycled tweed,
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denim, snakeskin, buttons and/or fake fur, around £60, from Joey D, 54
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Broughton Street.
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* While you're here check out the farmers' market, every Saturday 9am-2pm on
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Castle Terrace.
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* Eat at The Kitchin in Leith, which won the AA's awards for Best in
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Scotland and Best Wine List this year (0131 555 1755;
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[www.thekitchin.com][10]). Book ahead to eat razor clams from Arisaig and ox
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cheek from Aberdeenshire.
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* Stay at Prestonfield (0131 225 7800; [www.prestonfield.com][11]), a
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soothing five-star bolt-hole minutes from the centre but set in 20 acres of
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parkland; double rooms from £285 with breakfast.
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* For details of all Edinburgh's Christmas events and shopping, see
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[www.visitscotland.com/whiteinvite][12].
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**Harrogate **
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**Best for traditional presents**
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This attractive spa town has some excellent independent shops with a
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charmingly old-fashioned appeal. The Brown Trout on Cold Bath Road is a
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country-sports emporium selling everything from antique gun cases to locally
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tied salmon flies. There's also a branch of Orvis, country outfitters to men,
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women and dogs, at 21-22 West Park.
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Morgan Clare, 3 Montpellier Gardens, has an appealing collection of upmarket
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women's fashion (Paul & Joe, Melissa Odabash, J Brand Jeans), as does Whites
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at 17 West Park (Moschino Cheap and Chic, La Perla). For traditional
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children's toys, The Rocking Horse, 6 Westminster Arcade, sells kaleidoscopes,
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jack-in-the-boxes and tin spinning tops; and you can listen before you buy at
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classical/jazz CD store Pomp and Circumstance, 22 Commercial Street.
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Farrah's Food Hall, 29 Montpellier Parade, is the place for those Christmassy
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tins of toffee; and buy vintage claret, fine single malts and lovely Riedel
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glassware at Harrogate Fine Wine Co, Corn Exchange Cellars, the Ginnel.
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Weeton's, 23-24 West Park, is a terrific farm shop and deli. For art, antiques
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and interiors, there are dozens of independent boutiques in the Montpellier
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Quarter.
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* Splash out on a man's camel worsted dressing gown with chocolate piping,
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£285, from Rhodes-Wood tailors, 56-58 Parliament Street (they also do spotted
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silk scarves and ties, and lamb's wool cardigans).
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* Stretch out your spending with Doreen's Black Pudding, £2, from Weeton's.
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* While you're here take the children to Dick Whittington at Harrogate
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Theatre, November 26-January 15, or The Nutcracker Ice Ballet at Yorkshire
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Event Centre, December 16-23.
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* Eat at Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms, 1 Parliament Street; tuck into soup,
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rarebit, omelette or Bettys Yorkshire sausages. Book ahead for afternoon tea
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(01423 814070; [www.bettys.co.uk][13]).
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* Stay at the Hotel du Vin (01423 856800; [www.hotelduvin.com][14]),
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centrally located in a row of Georgian houses overlooking the Stray,
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Harrogate's 200-acre common; double rooms from £125 with breakfast.
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* Treat yourself to a glass of [**champagne**][15] and a chocolate and sea-
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salt caramel sphere at Sugar Therapy patisserie, Station Parade.
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* For details of Harrogate Christmas and late-night shopping events, call
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01423 500600.
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**Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Notts **
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**Best for original arts and crafts**
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This contemporary craft hub at Welbeck near Worksop was constructed in 1994 on
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the ruins of the Welbeck Estate's gasworks (built to illuminate the fifth Duke
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of Portland's crazy maze of underground tunnels). As well as a museum of
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treasures from the Portland Collection, the site houses two gallery spaces and
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a terrific shop stocking ceramics, artisan jewellery and fashion accessories,
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plus children's books and toys.
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There is also a Christmas Market on November 27 and 28, which, now in its 10th
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year, takes over the Harley Workshops, where East Midlands artists and makers
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sell their goods. Visitors get the run of more than 40 craft stalls and
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resident artists' studios: look out for ceramicist/printmaker Nicola Lidstone,
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whose speciality is porcelain cows, sheep and llamas; and Stella Corrall,
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whose homewares are made from translucent recycled plastic. It's a Christmas
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shopping idyll, not too hectic, and with quality refreshments.
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* Splash out on a silver, 18ct gold and aquamarine ring by Sue Lane, £245
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from the gallery shop.
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* Stretch out your spending with a cute wooden necklace from the Hello
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Sunshine range by Jo Want, £9-£22 from the gallery shop.
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* While you're here visit Creswell Crags just up the road, a limestone gorge
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pocketed with caves that were inhabited after the Ice Age; children love the
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cave tours ([www.creswell-crags.org.uk][16]).
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* Eat at the stall set up by the terrific Welbeck Farm Shop: hot, home-
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cooked food.
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* Stay at Browns b & b (01909 720659; [www.brownsholbeck.co.uk][17]) at
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Holbeck, which has three cheerful four-poster rooms and serves good
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breakfasts; doubles from £74 b & b ; no children.
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* Treat yourself to the cakes at the gallery's Limehouse Cafe.
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* Harley Gallery (01909 501700; [www.harleygallery.co.uk][18]).
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**Bury St Edmunds **
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**Best for family entertainment**
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East Anglia's largest street market is held here each Wednesday and Saturday,
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packed with local produce. But from November 26-28, this Suffolk market town
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will go into festive overdrive for the Bury St Edmunds Annual Christmas Fayre,
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which combines six markets with performances on two stages, a funfair and free
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children's entertainments (including a Santa's grotto with real reindeer).
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Angel Hill is the main hub, with German-style stalls on Charter Square, arts
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and crafts at the Athenaeum, and a historical market in Moyse's Hall Museum.
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Food retailers in the town include the superb butchers and deli Barwells, at
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39 Abbeygate Street, and the Bury Chocolate Shop at 77A St John's Street.
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Thomas Peatling Fine Wines on Westgate Street has been going since 1826.
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* Splash out on a KitchenAid mixer, from about £390 from the Steamer Trading
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Cookshop, 78-79 St John's Street.
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* Stretch out your spending with a stash of old-fashioned sweets from Auntie
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Pam's Sweet Shop, 3 The Traverse.
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* While you're here see the Living Nativity in the Cathedral courtyard, with
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sheep, donkeys and alpacas playing the role of camels; shoppers' carol
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services will be held here on November 26 and 27 at 2pm.
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* Eat at the Christmas Fayre's six markets - with stalls selling mulled
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wine, mince pies and hot sausages.
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* Stay at the Old Cannon Brewery, a brew pub with rooms near the town
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centre, serving good food and terrific East Anglian ales (01284 768769;
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www.oldcannonbrewery.co.uk); double rooms from £85 with breakfast.
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* Treat yourself to a pint in the Nutshell, off Abbeygate Street, one of
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England's tiniest pubs, festooned with eccentric bric-a-brac; no children.
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* Further information: Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre
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([www.burystedmundschristmasfayre.co.uk][19]).
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**Bath **
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**Best for independent boutiques**
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The best streets in Bath for independent boutiques and designer stores are
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Milsom Street, George Street, New Bond Street, Bartlett Street and Margaret's
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Buildings.
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Jolly's on Milsom Street is the city's venerable but very much with-it
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department store, good for lingerie, accessories and beauty products;
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Rossiters of Bath at 41 Broad Street is excellent for design, furniture,
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homewares and luggage. Prey, 3 York Buildings, George Street, has a wonderful
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selection of quirky and original homewares, accessories and fashion for men
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and women (it's one of Vogue magazine's best boutiques of 2010). Also head to
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Image, 9 Milsom Place, for women's fashion including Marion Foale and Paddy
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Campbell, while Liz Cox, 17 Margaret's Buildings, is a British bag maker who
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uses beautiful leathers to chic effect.
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For children's gifts, Walcot Street has House of Bears, Enkla for toys and Up
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To Seven for handmade children's clothes. Also nearby are the Fine Cheese Co
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in Walcot Street and Topping & Co, a delightful independent bookshop in The
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Paragon. Bath's Christmas Market is a pretty, traditional affair next to Bath
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Abbey, November 25-December 12.
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* Splash out on a women's classic leather Triumph jacket by Belstaff, £935,
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from Mee Boutique, 9A Bartlett Street.
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* Stretch out your spending with a Mr Flat pocket flask, £29, from Quadri,
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16 Milsom Place, a fun emporium that's big on Alessi-style homewares, boys'
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gadgets and watches.
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* While you're here take a cookery class at the excellent Bertinet Kitchen
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(01225 445531; [www.thebertinetkitchen.com][20]). "A Very French Christmas"
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class, with Richard Bertinet himself, is on November 27 and December 4.
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* Eat at the King William gastropub (01225 428096;
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[www.kingwilliampub.com][21]), for roast local partridge or fish stew with
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cider.
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* Stay at The Queensberry, a charming small hotel occupying three 18th-
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century houses in a quiet street close to the centre of Bath (01225 447928;
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[www.thequeensberry.co.uk][22]); double rooms from £125, room only.
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* Treat yourself to a session at Thermae Bath Spa (0844 888 0844;
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[www.thermaebathspa.com][23]). Book ahead for treatments, or just turn up to
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use the steam rooms.
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* Late-night shopping every Thursday from November 18 until Christmas. For
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details of shoppers' carol services at Bath Abbey and Carols by Candlelight
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services, see [www.visitbath.co.uk][24].
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[X][25] Share & bookmark
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[What are these?][26]
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* Share: [Share][25] [ ][27] [ ][28]
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[Tweet][29]
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/8108274/UK-five-of-the-best-
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Christmas-shopping-destinations.html
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Telegraph
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## [Christmas][30]
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* ### [Travel »][31]
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* ### [City breaks »][32]
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* ### [Europe »][33]
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* ### [UK »][6]
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* ### [Christmas travel guide »][34]
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[![St Albans Cathedral Choristers snowball fight after morning rehearsals][35]
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][36]
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### [Preparing for Christmas][36]
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[![Father Christmas sitting on a chair with a laptop][37]][38]
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### [Send a Christmas announcement][38]
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[![The Telegraph's Christmas Charity Appeal 2010.][39]][40]
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### [Christmas Charity Appeal 2010][40]
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[![Matt Christmas cards][41]][42]
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### [Matt Christmas cards][42]
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[X][25] Share & bookmark
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Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
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Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
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[What are these?][26]
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Share:
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* [ ][25]
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* [ ][27]
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* [ ][28]
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* [Tweet][29]
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* Advertisement
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![][43]
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## [Christmas 2010 »][30]
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[![Christmas 2009][44]][30]
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[Christmas Home And Garden][45]
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[Christmas Travel Guide][34]
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[Christmas Food And Drink][46]
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[Christmas Gift Ideas][47]
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Advertisement
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CHRISTMAS EDITOR'S CHOICE
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### [Teach your children to cook Christmas][63]
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[![Christmas lunch ][64] ][63]
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Cassandra Jardine, mother of five, sets out to get her children to cook
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Christmas lunch this year.
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### [Christmas around the world][65]
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### [The worst things about Christmas][66]
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var puffs_8120641 = new Array();
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