Christmas Shopping

Oklahoma, 74-76 High Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1ES - Visit now

As Manchester’s biggest independent gift shop, selling everything from fish-shaped plastic pens and vintage dominoes to two-metre folding wood rulers and hand-crafted jewellery, Oklahoma is the place to find those more eclectic stocking-fillers. All their stock is currently available online for those who want to get organised.

Moth, Didsbury, 154 Burton Rd, Manchester, M20 1LH - Visit now

Moth is a beacon of taste on Burton Road. With unique collections of homeware, body products and kitchen items, they make gift buying easy.

Form Lifestyle Store, 6 Bradley Street, Manchester, M1 1EH - Visit now

Beautifully curated collections drip from the walls in form, if your gift receiver isn’t a fan of “stuff” why not get them a place in one of Form’s workshops, where they’ll have the chance to learn a new skill.

Manchester Craft & Design Centre, 17 Oak St, Northern Quarter, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 5JD - Visit now

Formerly a fish market, the craft and design centre is home to local ceramicists, jewellers and visuals artists. You can be sure to find beautiful, precious and useful objects that will make the perfect gift.

Afflecks, 52 Church Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1PW - Visit now

Afflecks in Manchester, formerly (and still affectionately) known as Affleck’s Palace, is a labyrinth-like hub for independent sellers whose stock is prime-picking for alternative Christmas gifts.

Levenshulme Market, Stockport Road (junction with Albert Rd), Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3AB

Levenshulme Market is a cornucopia of local makers, artists, food producers and entrepreneurs. You can find everything from jewellery and visual art, to speciality foods and one-off coffee blends.

Piccadilly Records, 53 Oldham Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 1JR - Visit now

Embedded in the heart of the Northern Quarter, Piccadilly Records is at the forefront of new sounds. It’s the perfect place to pick up a new release for the music enthusiast in your life.

You can’t go wrong with a book, and Manchester has a hell of a lot of bookshops to choose from. Hence we’ve created a whole guide for (mostly) independent bookshops in Manchester – featuring some newcomers you may not have heard of yet.

Wilderness Records: shop and cafe, 9 Egerton Crescent, Withington, Manchester, M20 4PN - Visit now

For the musically inclined people in your life, check out Wilderness Records. Their cross genre collection of heavy hitting vinyl, is sure to help you find the record your loved one needs in their collection. It’s also a great place to take a coffee break if you’ve got a full day of present hunting ahead.

Vinyl Exchange, 18 Oldham Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 1JN - Visit now

Any music geeks on your gift list? Satisfy even the most obscure taste for vintage vinyl and rare CDs in one fell swoop at Manchester’s legendary Vinyl Exchange. With collectors items sat side by side with second hand steals.

Anywhere Out of The World, First Floor, 70 Tib St, Manchester, M4 1LG - Visit now

Climb a staircase on Tib Street to discover the atmospheric and unexpected literary treasure that is, Anywhere Out of This World.

Chorlton Bookshop, 506 Wilbraham Road, Manchester, M21 9AW - Visit now

A cosy, independent bookshop in Chorlton with a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. Anything they don’t have in, they’ll try and order for the next day – very helpful for last minute Christmas panic! Also stocks a great selection of cards and wrapping.

Fred Aldous, 37 Lever Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 1LW - Visit now

Nearly 130 years old and still going strong thanks to its unbeatable reputation for high-quality art, craft and design supplies; a visit to Fred Aldous is guaranteed to make creative friends and family members happy.

Chapter 1 Books, 19 Lever Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 1BY - Visit now

Chapter 1 Books is an independent bookshop and coffee shop on Lever Street. The coffee is good, the cakes are excellent, and the books are beautifully displayed – a great spot for a relaxed Christmas shopping experience.

Cheese Hamlet, 706 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Greater Manchester, M20 2DW - Visit now

Christmas is a time for decadence and the Cheese Hamlet does this better than most. Their selection of artisanal cheeses and endless shelves of speciality condiments will brighten up any foodies Christmas day.

Chester Rows, Bridge St, Watergate St, Eastgate Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1NG - Visit now

Turn Christmas shopping into a historical experience and check out the artisanal chocolatiers, gift makers and jewellers in the 13th century facade of Chester Rows.

Beermoth, 70 Tib Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1LG - Visit now

Manchester is blessed with so many excellent independent breweries. You’ll find the best bottles from the local scene as well as excellent international imports at Beermoth, making it an excellent place to find presents for the drinkers in your life.

Eat The City - Scranchester Tours, Until 31 December 2023, from £60 - Book now

Satisfy your hunger for knowledge as well as lunch with Scranchester’s food tours of the city centre. You may discover a new favourite hidden gem or learn a bit more about the cultural or historical significance of the food you eat all the time.

Bird and Blend Tea Co., 57 Church St, Manchester, M4 1PD - Visit now

For those who prefer a soft beverage, nothing can be more comforting than giving the gift of an excellent cup of tea. Check out the vast selection of seasonal blends and beverages in their Northern Quarter shop.