Bougie department store that is like a marginally cheaper mini Harrods with a few good restaurants…read moreinside. We tried to get into the Seafood Restaurant as walk ins but no luck, which is a pity as the menu looks excellent, from fish pie to caviar, and of course champagne. It is obviously very popular. Next visit to Norwich ;) There is a large selection of UK and foreign goods in the food department, along with a counter full of delicacies to temp you. I stopped by a gin tasting booth and it was interesting to try the different flavoured gins being sold. I wish I had more time to browse, especially in the arts department. Definitely worth a gawk and sample if you are in Norwich.

I came here on 30 Dec. for a nice outfit, and Tim in the men's department was kind enough to help…read moreme find my size in trousers, especially since my usual size in the US is different from the UK/EU sizes. Thank you Tim! Also, the staff in the food hall and in the kitchenware department were great!

Now sold on, the new name is not yet on this site…read more Good selection of clothing for both men and women. Nice coffee shop.

Located right the in heart of Lowestoft, this is a well established store which has been in the…read moretown for over a hundred years. It is opposite Bakers Oven, and near Boots and New Look. The store sells high end clothing and accessories, and also has a Bay Trading section located on the ground floor of the store at the front to the right as you walk in. There are stairs and escalators to take you to the upper floors, which also have home wares, and a cafe at the top-but the stairs leading to this are narrow, as are the escalators.

You know how when you go to a department store and it's heaving with people (some of obviously…read moreill-er repute than others - get back in your box, peasant, and stop shopping in my Debenhams!), and everything's disorganised, and clothes have fallen to the ground, and the fluorescent lighting makes you look peaky, and the mirrors in the fitting rooms make you look fat, and - now that you mention it - why it is so fucking hot in this tiny cubicle and why does it smell like feet(?!), you have to remind yourself why you thought it was a good idea to shop in a department store in the first place? Well, Williams & Griffin is the exact opposite of that. It is pure class, people. With roots back to the 19th century (historical!) and awards like 'Best Independent Department Store of the Year' under its belt, Williams & Griffin is a cut above the rest. With attentive staff, spacious sales floors and well-selected merchandise (generally brands in the upper echelons of retail), it's always a pleasure to shop in. Definitely one of the premier shopping outlets in the area. If you're ever out in Colchester, it's certainly worth a mooch.

I seriously have to question what is the big deal with 'Williams & Griffin'???…read moreThe only reason you are forced into entering the building, is because on the surface, this great big department store (now owned by fenwicks chain) and due for expansion to almost double the size, seems to be the best that Colchester has to offer. And don't even get me started on the cost of the 'William & Griffin' car park........ £7.50 for three hours parking. EXTORTIONATE!! The women's 'Fashion' department if you can call it that, is dire. Same old stuff that you find up and down the country in every department store. And rails that are soooo crammed with stuff, which gives you no reason to even bother looking! It's NOT fashion, just boring, commercial, mass produced blandness. If you can be bothered, why not venture into the heart of the town centre, where small businesses are offering you something different and unique. Some people need educating into realising that the best stuff is in independent shops NOT boring department stores! On the plus side they always put alot of effort into their Xmas display window. My advise to anyone reading this, try venturing down lanes such as 'Lion walk', 'Trinity Street' or 'Sir Issacs Walk'. You will find hidden treasures. Small shops full of wonderful things and lovely customer service............ Come on everyone, support your independents!!!!

I know Marks and Spencer is a staple of UK towns, but I still found this to be a real haven of…read morespecial goods in a pretty small and sometimes difficult to shop in English town. They had organic foods that I couldn't find other places and their to go items were pretty good considering. Well, considering my taste and the typical English palate are FAR removed from one another. The grocery part of M&S was actually something I only discovered after passing by it several times....it is a regular old department store with clothing and household goods up front. Kind of a high-end Super Wal-Mart here in the States. Also, the staff weren't as horribly rude as they were in some places in Ipswich, certainly not what I would call friendly but not out and out surly.

This is a large outlet of the main M&S chain of shops. It has a superb range of items in the…read moreclothing lines for men, women, and children items as well as plenty of school uniform things. There are a huge range of gifts and plants and flowers as well as cards, wrapping paper and homeware and kitchen items. The food hall is enormous and is extremely well stocked with fresh fruit and veg, chilled items, frozen goods, bakery items as well as magazines, food testing and general store goods too. The staff in this shop are geneally friendly and can be extremely helpful. There is parking at the back in a ratehr expensive car park. However M&S also offer a collect service where you leave your M&S shopping until you have finished your shopping elswhere. You can then park in their loadng bay and they will bring your shopping to your car. On the top floor is a cafe which makes a good stop off point and a bureau de change too. The shop is well served with ramps and a lift as well as escalators.

Conveniently located in Chapelfield, House of Fraser has filled the need for a higher-end…read moredepartment store. I mainly use to the make-up counters, Benefit being my favourite. The staff know their products well and are always happy to give you demonstrations and test the products on you. I was disappointed with the Dior counter they have a good range, but I did feel as if I was inconveniencing the sales women by coming to her counter. It wasn't a great moment for customer service. If the shopping gets too much for you there is even a handy Cafe Nero on the ground floor.

Easily my favorite place to shop, provided I've got enough in my bank account to handle the…read moreexpedition. Every department houses objects you suddenly need to own. Its huge as well, perfect for a wander for an hour or so. Staff are sometimes a bit useless, but if you're looking for some genuinely beautiful things to have in your life, this is the place to go. The home ware department on the third floor is out of this world.

Debenhams Colchester store is set out across three floors, with clothing, homewares, gifts and…read morecosmetics. For clothing, there is always a broad choice for men, women and children, although some lines are rather expected. Although this is to be expected of designer brands, some of Debenhams' 'own-brand' clothing (e.g. Red Herring and St George by Duffer) are sometimes extortionately priced. However, staff are nearly always helpful and, if you are so inclined, you can get advice of cosmetics in that department and make use of the free Personal Shopper service. Therefore, I am giving Debenhams Colchester four stars out of a possible five.

This store is set on 3 floors and seems to stock everything the well dressed home and person needs…read morewether it's new undies of new curtains! Loads of different designers offering something for everyone. There's no parking but they do have underground access if you need to collect something heavy.