If ever you forget how beautifully historic Bristol is, then head to Christmas Steps…read more Essential just a flight of steps with a few shops, but from top to bottom, Christmas Steps is full of awesomeness. It has changed quite a lot of the last few years, and instead of just having art shops/galleries, it now has a cider shop, super cool hairdresser/barbers and now the super famous 20th Century flicks. I am yet to go to one, but they hold small cinema screenings where guests sit in the steps and the film is projected at the bottom. Genius! If you're after a unique place to buy some Christmas presents or if you haven't been for a while, get your ass down to Christmas Steps!

The Christmas Steps are located just off Colston Street and the centre of Bristol. It is one of the…read moreoldest streets in Bristol, dating back to 1669. There is a narrow, steep incline to the top with independent shops throughout. The shops are all really quaint and cute, and I can safely say this is one of my favourite areas of Bristol. At Christmas, the street is wonderfully decorated and makes a perfect photo opportunity. As you walk down (or up) the Christmas Steps it really feels as if you have jumped back in time, and for a city that isn't heaped in history, this is a real treat. In addition, the steps link you up with the centre of Bristol which is handy.

If Photoshop were to personify itself as a traditional British gentleman then this is probably the…read moresort of place he'd run. Everything about this place has that sort of modern yet classical chic design look to it. If you know what I'm on about you'll probably love it down here. From kitchen wares to cookery books to candle holders this place has everything the modern housewife (or husband) could wish for, all with a sort of bold and colourful twist to it. They also have a wonderfully easy to use website with all their kit on display so maybe the best thing to is check that out, as opposed to imagining a bold, colourful, modern and chic Photoshop man.

A bright and modern gift shop perfect for the yummy mummy friends in your life. They had a wide…read moreselection of Orla Kiely and Cath Kidson items which should help you gauge the style here. Think pink and pretty with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and cherries on top. Over two floors, if you are buying for children check out downstairs for some interesting kids toys and games. However be warned - I did have to leave after 10 minutes because I was beaten into submission by the incredible tweeness of the music. Any more and I would have started swearing and smashing things just to get the status quo of the universe back into kilter.

The Wellfield Court Arcade is a fairly small but well-kept shopping arcade located in the busy…read moreWellfield Road shopping area, just up towards the park from Albany Road in Roath. It's a pleasant enough little arcade, but on its own it wouldn't be enough to attract you to shop in this area ( although it does add something to Roath's overall offering). As Rachel says, this place manages to combine plenty of variety: a traditional café serving up home made fare (and very popular breakfasts!), a couple of decent independent clothes shops, a tailor's shop, a designer jewellery shop, a hair and beauty salon, and a few other random outlets to boot. Also, the beauty salon here does vouchers, which I bought for a friend's birthday so she could choose herself a treatment - and after her experience there the place comes highly recommended!

I've often viewed Wellfield Court with suspicion as I've made my way up Wellfield Road. It looks a…read morebit, well, old. Not good quaint old, but scruffy, seventies old. Sort of like one of those mall type things they tried. But the other day curiosity got the better of me and I decided to go for a look. I was really presently surprised! The entrance and what lies beyond are completely different. Instead I found myself in a narrow lane, not quite an arcade because it wasn't covered, but had the same feel. On either side were a variety of small shops and boutiques. It had the feeling of some of the bits of Camden Market, or lanes in Brighton. And the shops were really quite impressive. Big Girls Blouse, an emporium for burlesque and those women with a sexy fuller figures, nestles cosily next to Mojo King, a cave of wonders for all things Mod (there are a surprising number around Cardiff...) I was a bit distracted by the discovery of Mods and Burlesque in a lane, so stopped paying enough attention, but there was also a good looking hairdressers, and jewellery shop and all sorts. I may have to go and explore it again!

One of the best little Boutique to stop by for your 2021 Christmas shopping…read more You will find some lovely affordable little gifts for everyone. The team is very helpful and you will have some must have typical Welsh products. Fantastic hand made tartan blankets, cushions, love spoon, some tasteful Christmas decorations, all sort of Calendars. If you visit Cardiff just stop to see them, at list you will find some real little WELSH souvenir from Wales made by Welsh artists. I personally Highly recommend. Toi qui vient visiter Cardiff il faut prévoir de t'arrêter dans cette petite boutique. C'est un must, l'équipe est sympa et professionnelle. Tu trouveras effectivement d'autres magasins mais peu d'entre eux t'offriront des produits locaux réalisés par des artistes Gallois. Si tu aimes le Rugby, demandes les Tee-shirts, les Calendriers, n'oublies pas les magnets et les crayons, ne pars pas sans ton porte clefs ;) . Si tu es plus du style fashion victime alors regardes les écharpes faites mains, les bougies et les jolies cartes postales. Il y en a pour tous les goûts et à tous les prix.

A little bit tacky, but if you need to get somebody a gift that's considered "Welsh" and don't want…read moreto break the bank this shop might just be you're place. They sell a variety of Welsh themed items such as mobile phone cases, wallets, car stickers, rugby shirts, t shirts, and my personal fave cuddly Welsh dragons! Unfortunately that's pretty much it. Similarly to Laura this shop is not really my "thing", you really aren't going to find any tasteful gifts in here. As a Welsh person I would love it if they sold more traditional items such as love spoons, celtic jewellery, or even welsh cakes (perhaps there's a gap in the market?). Ok for emergency holiday gifts, but I doubt they will be treasured.

A fair indoor market, quite small, but neat and well looked after. There are several useful…read moreoutlets, including a cafe, clothes shop, pet supplies, hardware goods, lampshade shop and hairdressers. Worth a look around for a bargain or two - it's nice to be out of the rain! There are toilets just outside.

Not a bad indoor market offering a range of products including fancy dress, beauty products, sweet…read morestall, hardware stall, a cafe and my favourite the welsh cake stall who make them fresh and for people like me who don't like currents you can have plain, chocolate and coconut!

Ok answer me this - do you care about what you put into you body?…read more If your answer is no then read no further. If you answer is yes then read on. Thornhill Farm Shop pride themselves on supplying foods that you know the source and origin of. So if you prefer to purchase home made and locally produced goods then pop along. The shop itself is made out of wood, like a little ski chalet, which gives off the feel that you'd like it to when you come to a farm shop. There's fresh fruit & vegetables, freshly frozen and dried foods, locally produced meat and poultry, homemade preserves and a large range of Fair Trade products. There is also a coffee shop called Antlers, named after the reindeer who come here during Christmas (not into the shop but to the farm) and a pet paddock for the kids. Even if you don't become a regular its definitely worth a visit.

I love this place it is beautifully situated and surrounded and I love going back here it nicely…read morepriced and the food is nearly all homemade, which is very tasty. Visualize the country side, a farm land, a farm house then it's barn, the cafe I would say is almost the size of the barn, but it isn't one. They do keep animals on the sight and apparently even reindeers go there at Christmas time. They are extremely popular sometimes and only have a small amount of employees, so certain things can take time. But it is always well worth it; for the environment to the atmosphere, to the food, to the prices, and for the people who either work their or for those who are perhaps customers. They only have a certain amount of space there, but they do their best to squeeze you in. They are really welcoming and are very warm hearted. I would recommend it to all, but it is off the bus routes and is based at the other end of a country lane.

Good shopping centre and not too many empty stores. We last went on a very rainy day but it didn't…read moretake away from the shopping experience. I love that they have little food places staggered around like Ben's Cookies (which is always an essential when shopping for the family!) Easy to get to and access. Worth the visit.

Wow! I could do some serious damage at this place! Cabot Circus is a beautifully constructed…read more"outdoor" shopping centre with every store you can imagine! We were staying across the street at the Future Inn and on the evening we arrived, we strolled over to take a quick peek at the adventures I would be exploring the next day. Much to my surprise, pleasure and happiness, there was a Pret right there as soon as we walked in! Breakfast at the hotel was on the pricey side so we knew where we'd be coming in the morning and we certainly needed to get fueled up for a day of shopping! CC has lots of high end, brand name stores and with even more shops beyond the boundaries of CC, this made for a lovely day of retail therapy. My poor husband... oh well, at least they had an Apple store for him. ;)

St Peter's Hospice Shops raise money for Bristol's only adult hospice which cares for local people…read morewith incurable diseases. It could be because Bristolian's feel so passionate about this charity and the work that they do that their shops are so positive and a pleasure to visit. It's obvious too see how much locals care by the quality and abundance of the donations they give. For those of you who hold the charity dear to your heart - you're in luck because there's four (that's right - FOUR!) St Peter's shops in Clifton Village. What I like about these chain of shops, is that if you're looking for something specific, they'll call around to the other shops to see if they've got it in stock! This particular branch on Cotham Hill is the best of the four for bric-a-brac and homeware.

St Peters Hospice charity shops are doing so well in both in general and in this part of town that…read morethey've got two on Cotham Hill within very close walking distance of each other; one for him and one for her. This is the one for her and a very good one at that. The archetypal charity shop is this one, an ideal venue to source some really cool and chic bits of retro gear. The shelves are stacked and the hangers are bulging full as hoards of young students trawl the treasures. There are a couple of books and videos and such like, but it's mostly ladies fashion fashion fashion.