Shopping Guide
Glasgow is the largest and best retail centre in the UK outside
of London. The vibrant shopping district in the heart of the city
is focused around the pedestrianised areas of Buchanan Street,
Argyle Street, and Sauchiehall Street. Argyll Arcade, one of
Britain's oldest covered shopping arcades, built in 1827, is home
to 32 jewellery shops, while the Buchanan Galleries is one of the
UK's largest city centre retail projects. Other highlights include
the refurbished St Enoch Centre, the Designer Exchange off Royal
Exchange Square, and Princes Square set in a renovated 1841 square
has a cosmopolitan selection of designer names.
The Merchant City area (recalling the entrepreneurial
adventurers who traded with the Americas in the 17th and 18th
centuries) and the West End have a wealth of unique bookshops,
antique stores and second-hand clothing emporia. The Barras - the
open-air street market between Gallowgate and London Road in the
East End - is open for business at the weekend (0900-1600), for the
sale of antiques, bric-à-brac, clothing and food. Popular
'traditional' purchases include woollens, tartan scarves and kilts,
Celtic jewellery, golfing equipment and, of course, whisky.
In addition there's the Italian Centre which combines Italian
designer excellence with stylish cafes and restaurants, and for an
offbeat shopping experience there's De Courcy's Antique Craft
Arcade located in the West End and the Victorian Village is a great
browsing ground for costume jewellery and memorabilia hunters.
In general, shops are open Monday to Saturday 0900-1730/1800.
Many shops are open later on Thursday and most of the larger chain
stores are open on Sunday.
A Value Added Tax (VAT) of 17.5% is included in the price of
many goods. Under the Retail Export Scheme, overseas visitors can
obtain tax relief on goods if leaving the UK for destinations
outside the EU. A form should be obtained at the time of purchase
and submitted to the customs authority at the point of
departure.