Clothes hanging on a rack in a shop Clothes hanging on a rack in a shop

The best shopping centres in Manchester

Manchester is full of great places to go shopping, including big department stores, independent local boutiques, and shopping centres where you can get everything you want all under one roof. If you're looking for a big shopping mall in Manchester city centre or further afield, we can point you in the direction of some great places to go. Read on for our guide to the best shopping centres in Manchester.

Tamsin Spargo, Thatsup
Tamsin Spargo
  1. Manchester's best shopping centres
    1. 1
      Manchester Arndale Huge choice of stores and facilities
    2. 2
      The Trafford Centre Big Manchester shopping centre
    3. 3
      Barton Arcade Historic shopping arcade
    4. 4
      Afflecks Bohemian shopping destination
    5. 5
      Trafford Palazzo Shopping and entertainment
    6. 6
      Manchester Craft and Design Centre Shop for locally-made crafts
    7. 7
      Cheetham Hill Shopping Centre Top shopping spot in Cheetham Hill
    8. 8
      The Rock Go shopping in Bury
    9. 9
      West One Retail Park Big brands in Eccles
    10. 10
      Crownpoint Straightforward shopping
    11. 11
      The Royal Exchange Luxury boutiques
    12. 12
      Rochdale Riverside Stores and entertainment in Rochdale
    13. 13
      Manchester Fort Shopping Park Diverse stores and eateries
    14. 14
      Lime Square Retail Park Large local shopping destination
    15. 15
      Urban Exchange Shopping centre bargains
    16. 16
      Middleton Shopping Centre Vibrant local centre
    17. 17
      Mill Gate Shopping Centre Wide range of stores and services
    18. 18
      White City Retail Park Shopping, food, and fitness
    19. 19
      Trafford Retail Park Convenient shopping in Urmston

Manchester's best shopping centres

Manchester Arndale

Huge choice of stores and facilities

You'll find so many different stores and facilities under one roof at Manchester Arndale. This sizeable and modern mall is one of the biggest shopping centres in Manchester. It houses more than 200 stores, including local favourites and big high-street names. The centre also has destinations for food, drink, and entertainment.

The Trafford Centre

Big Manchester shopping centre

One of the best-known shopping centres in Manchester is The Trafford Centre. Visit this large and lively indoor complex to check out a huge range of stores, visit one of the drinking or dining options, or enjoy entertainment venues like a cinema or gaming centre. This shopping mall also hosts a range of events.

Barton Arcade

Historic shopping arcade

Built in 1871, Barton Arcade is an elegant Victorian shopping arcade that's still a favourite today. This Grade II-listed arcade is full of light, housing a range of exclusive stores and eateries, in addition to office space. It attracts visitors with the ornate architecture as well as the retailers inside.

Afflecks – Shopping centres
Afflecks
Afflecks – Shopping centres
Afflecks
Afflecks – Shopping centres
Afflecks
Afflecks – Shopping centres
Afflecks
Afflecks – Shopping centres
Afflecks
Afflecks – Shopping centres
Afflecks
Afflecks – Shopping centres
Afflecks
Afflecks – Shopping centres
Afflecks
Afflecks – Shopping centres
Afflecks
Afflecks – Shopping centres
Afflecks

Afflecks

Bohemian shopping destination

Based in the Northern Quarter, Afflecks has been a bastion of independent and alternative shopping in Manchester for decades. This bohemian maze-like building houses over 60 indie vendors. From clothing and jewellery to records or collectables, there's something for everybody here, plus services like Thai massage, a tattoo shop, tarot readings, and barbers.

Trafford Palazzo

Shopping and entertainment

Trafford Palazzo offers shopping, food, and entertainment for everyone, all housed in an elegant space. This grand and dramatic building offers two floors of stores, dining for any time of day, and fun attractions that'll keep everyone interested - there's an aquarium and a bowling alley on-site.

Manchester Craft and Design Centre

Shop for locally-made crafts

You can think of Manchester Craft and Design Centre as a shopping centre for all things craft. More than 40 independent local makers have studios here, plus there's an on-site exhibition space and a café. This place is well known as a shopping destination for jewellery, but you'll also discover fashion, furniture, ceramics, and glassware.

Cheetham Hill Shopping Centre

Top shopping spot in Cheetham Hill

Cheetham Hill Shopping Centre has more than 40 different stores to explore. This is a favourite local shopping destination, housing independent traders alongside major retailers. There are Asian shops, budget-friendly stores, and supermarkets. Takeaway food and coffee shops are also available on-site.

The Rock Shopping Centre – Shopping centres
The Rock Shopping Centre
The Rock Shopping Centre – Shopping centres
The Rock Shopping Centre
The Rock Shopping Centre – Shopping centres
The Rock Shopping Centre
The Rock Shopping Centre – Shopping centres
The Rock Shopping Centre
The Rock Shopping Centre – Shopping centres
The Rock Shopping Centre
The Rock Shopping Centre – Shopping centres
The Rock Shopping Centre
The Rock Shopping Centre – Shopping centres
The Rock Shopping Centre
The Rock Shopping Centre – Shopping centres
The Rock Shopping Centre

The Rock

Go shopping in Bury

Head to The Rock for shopping in Bury's town centre. This lively outdoor shopping complex has more than 50 stores, plus eateries, a cinema, and a bowling alley. A varied range of stores are here including fashion retailers, toy shops, and fragrance stores, as well as a choice of restaurants and cafés. Events take place regularly, too.

West One Retail Park

Big brands in Eccles

If you want a shopping centre near Manchester, check out West One Retail Park in Eccles. You'll find big-name stores here offering fashion and footwear, tech, and products for children and babies. Supermarkets and fast food outlets are also available. This convenient shopping park also provides plenty of parking.

Crownpoint

Straightforward shopping

Denton's Crownpoint Shopping Park offers several great stores in one modern and straightforward shopping complex. Here, you'll discover homewares, fashion, accessories, a travel agent, and a supermarket. The venue also has a gym and several casual eateries, including coffee shops, fast food, and a bakery.

The Royal Exchange

Luxury boutiques

Housed in a Grade II-listed building, The Royal Exchange is a sophisticated place to shop in Manchester. There are more than 30 stores for luxury products, renowned designers, and high street favourites. Flowers, beauty products, confectionary, and jewellery are all available, plus there are a number of cafés and restaurants.

Rochdale Riverside

Stores and entertainment in Rochdale

Rochdale Riverside opened in 2020. This exciting and modern shopping and leisure destination has stores for books, gifts, fashion, and beauty, as well as a small selection of diverse eateries. The centre also offers other ways to stay entertained - it houses a cinema and a mini-golf course that's fun for the whole family.

Manchester Fort Shopping Park

Diverse stores and eateries

Manchester Fort Shopping Park is a modern shopping centre in Cheetham Hill. It's an award-winning destination housing stores for tech, fashion and accessories, and homewares. The centre also offers a diverse range of eateries, including fried chicken, pizza, and coffee shops. There's lots to explore in one place here.

Lime Square Retail Park

Large local shopping destination

Located in Openshaw, Lime Square Retail Park has 22 different stores covering groceries, homewares, books, beauty products, and casual eateries like a coffee shop and a bakery. This local shopping centre also has an on-site gym and offers ample parking for shoppers.

Urban Exchange

Shopping centre bargains

Urban Exchange is a spacious local shopping centre located at the edge of the Northern Quarter. This convenient destination houses shops, including a supermarket, an outdoor kit store, and a fashion and homeware outlet store. There's also an on-site gym. It's a great place to shop if you're keen to grab a bargain.

Middleton Shopping Centre

Vibrant local centre

Middleton Shopping Centre is vibrant and bustling, offering a great choice of stores under one roof. You'll find independent businesses and big high-street names for fashion, gadgets, jewellery, toys, and food. There are also a number of tempting food options, plus extra services like opticians and beauty salons.

Mill Gate Shopping Centre

Wide range of stores and services

Shop in Bury at Mill Gate Shopping Centre. This smart and airy shopping mall offers fashion, bridal wear, beauty products, jewellery, toys, and confectionary. An exciting range of eateries, including a pub and fast food outlets, are available, plus there are extra services like beauty salons, a pharmacy, and opticians.

White City Retail Park

Shopping, food, and fitness

Visit White City Retail Park in Stretford to shop for groceries, tech, or furniture, or check out the casual eateries here. There's a gym too. This large and modern shopping complex offers plenty of choice in its sizeable stores, plus it has ample parking for customers, making it a convenient place to go shopping.

Trafford Retail Park

Convenient shopping in Urmston

Trafford Retail Park offers a range of stores in one convenient place for shoppers in Urmston. This spacious venue has fashion, homeware, groceries, and pet supplies, as well as a variety of eateries like pizza, fast food burgers, and fried chicken. You'll also find plenty of parking spaces here.

Shopping centres – About the guide

Shopping centres in Manchester - Our guide to the best shopping centres in Manchester is updated regularly. If you know of a great shopping centre in Manchester that we haven't featured in our guide, feel free to get in touch. Please let us know if you see any mistakes in our guide to the best shopping malls in Manchester. Have you visited any of the places mentioned in the guide? Don't forget to write a review on Thatsup.

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