Christmas Shopping in the North

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

For some, the yearly quest to source and acquire a set of presents that sum up your love for those closest to you can be a joyous task. You may relish the sound of continually losing Whammagheddon, while being visually overstimulated by the sparkle and general pizzazz of the high street at Christmas. However, as the pressure to spend money mounts there are many who dread the yearly pull towards big capitalism.

Christmas shopping can be sustainable. It can benefit independent makers, second hand sellers and give you a reason to escape the throngs of Market Street. To those of you who resonate with these less mainstream pursuits, we say look no further. Below is your guide to breaking away from the high street and finding alternative places to make conscious and joy led choices in your Christmas shopping.

Our top picks

Leeds Briggate Christmas Artisan Market

Leeds Briggate Christmas Artisan Market, Until 22 December 2024, free entry - Visit now

Find bespoke gifts and luxurious quality at the Briggate Artisan Market this winter.

Paper shopping bags
istock.com/antoniemo.

Manchester Craft & Design Centre

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

MCDC is always a safe bet when looking for one of pieces of Jewellery, Homeware an individual card or want to commission one of the artists.

Manchester Craft and Design Centre by Joel C Fildes.
Manchester Craft and Design Centre by Joel C Fildes.

Factory International Gift Membership

Factory International Gift Membership at Aviva Studios, Manchester and online, Until 24 December 2024, from £45.00 - Book now

If you’re still hunting for the perfect Christmas present – a Factory International Gift Membership could be just the ticket.

Factory International Gift Membership
Image courtesy of Daniel Devlin (2023).

Millington Hall Farm

Millington Hall Farm, Millington Hall Farm, Millington Hall Lane, Cheshire, WA14 3RN - Visit now

Whether they’re a baker, butcher or candlestick maker, all the 2025 experiences are now on sale ready to be gifted. Plus, Millington Hall Farm have an exclusive offer for Creative Tourist readers – for seven days only, you can save 10% on your booking using the code CREATIVE10.

Millington Hall Farm
Image courtesy of Gemma Parker/ Millington Hall Farm

Manchester Wine Tours

Manchester Wine Tours, Various locations in Manchester city centre, Manchester , M1 - Visit now

Struggling to come up with ideas for a next-level Christmas present this year? Take a seat because we’ve got the ultimate gift: wine tour gift vouchers for the wonderful Manchester Wine Tours. Let’s make this festive season as Keith Floyd as possible. Hic.

Manchester Wine Tours

Bookshops in Manchester

More than set-dressing for your brand-new vintage-look shelves, books are there to learn from and lose yourself in — and are the perfect gift for just about anybody. And we’ve just updated our Bookshops in Manchester guide with some new faves!

UNITOM bookshop
UNITOM bookshop

Leeds Corn Exchange

Leeds Corn Exchange, Call Ln, Leeds, LS1 7BR - Visit now

The Christmas Market at Leeds Corn Exchange is back for 2024, in collaboration with Rolling Social Events. Running 9-12 December, the market features food and drink pop ups including some of the best of the Leeds independent street food scene. Also within the building, you’ll find a vibrant hub for independent retailers and artisans selling a treasure trove of unique products, from fashion and jewellery to art and home decor.

Leeds Corn Exchange
Leeds Corn Exchange

Food Sorcery Manchester Deansgate Square

Food Sorcery Manchester Deansgate Square, Deansgate Square, Manchester, M15 4UA - Visit now

Struggling to come up with Christmas present ideas for the foodie in your life? How about cookery class gift vouchers at the wonderful Food Sorcery Manchester. It doesn’t matter if the recipient is a budding Heston or can’t even slice a sprout, there’s something here for all skill levels.

Food Sorcery

Moth, Didsbury

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.

Moth, independent shopping in Manchester
Moth

Afflecks

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.

Image of Afflecks Palace in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Ben Williams

Vinyl Exchange

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.

Vinyl Exchange

Anywhere Out of The World

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.

Anywhere Out of This World

Chorlton Bookshop

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.

Chorlton Bookshop

Fred Aldous

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.

© Fred Aldous

Cheese Hamlet

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.

Cheese and Win platter by Cheese Hamlet
Image courtesy of Cheese Hamlet

Beermoth

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.

Beermoth shop in Manchester's Northern Quarter.
Creative Tourist
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