10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Cheltenham

The Regent Arcade is a row of pretty historic buildings in the middle of Cheltenham that were combined to create a covered shopping arcade of 60 outlets. There's a wide range of fashion and beauty stores like H&M, River Island, TK Maxx, The Body Shop, and Holland & Barrett. Head to HMV for music and movie or Tiger for homeware, stationery and toys.

Refuel with a Full English breakfast at Bridge Cafe, a fairtrade coffee and pastry at Soho Coffee Co. It's worth a stop in the main atrium to admire the inimitable Wishing Fish Clock, which blows bubbles every 30 minutes.

The High Street arrows through the center of Cheltenham. Known as the town's main shopping destination, its central section is pedestrianized and features popular clothes stores like Monsoon, Next, River Island and H&M. A huge branch of beloved department store John Lewis anchors the street with 2 floors of fashion, beauty and homeware.

Take your kids to The Entertainer, a toy shop selling games and collectables, or have a browse around The Works for books and art supplies. The western end of Cheltenham High Street has small independent shops like World of Guitars and The Sewing Box. You can pick up international snacks from Oriental Food Store or The Polish Point.

The Suffolks Sunday Market stretches the entire length of Suffolk Parade and the northern end of Great Norwood Street, where it intersects with Gratton Street. The eclectic offerings from stallholders include leather jewelry, carved wooden ornaments, hand-embroidered cushions, vintage furniture, woven baskets, and paintings by local artists.

Food stalls sell just about everything, from jumbo samosas to gluten-free fudge. There are even stalls serving wines and hedgerow-foraged gins. The streets' usual shops and cafes have special offers and regular events. Live music, magic acts, street entertainers and a Punch & Judy show add to the fun atmosphere. The Suffolks Sunday Market become a holiday-themed shopping destination on May Day, Halloween and Christmas.

The Brewery Quarter is a former brewery in the center of Cheltenham that's now a hub of shops, bars and restaurants. Its line-up of well-known brands includes clothing and lifestyle store Urban Outfitters, British menswear brand Luke 1977, and international beauty chain SLG. There's also a huge branch of Wilko selling a huge range of house and garden supplies.

Stop for lunch at Mowgli, which does delicious Indian street food, or Pho Cafe for Southeast Asian dishes. Enjoy milkshakes, smoothies, cakes and gelato at Creams Cafe.

Montpellier Street is an attractive thoroughfare in a historic neighbourhood of the same name. Here, shopping options lean toward chic and independent boutiques. Its stylish fashion offerings include fine suits at James of Montpellier, occasionwear at Silks of Cheltenham, and unique jewelry at Pink Vintage.

Visit Rossiter Books for book signings, lectures and readings, followed by Paragon Gallery and Sixteen to see exhibitions by contemporary artists, sculptors and photographers. Spring Cheltenham is a creator-run exhibition space that combines the work of artists, craftspeople and designers.

The Suffolks is a pretty area of stately Georgian townhouses clustered around Suffolk Road, Suffolk Parade and Suffolk Square. There are no big chains here – instead, the shops are all small independents run by people with a passion for their field.

There are vintage shops like Revamp and Willow Hilson Vintage, where you can find period clothing and jewelry that's kind to the environment. Browse  dresses at Bodega or Mint Clothing, purses at Cuckoo's Nest, and handcrafted jewelry at RJ Spicer. If you're looking for quirky homeware, Great British Boutique is a good option in The Suffolks.

The Cheltenham Craft Market takes place every month on Cheltenham's tree-lined Promenade. It was established in 2008 as a place where local artists and craftspeople could show off their skills. Browse the charming green-and-white striped stalls for art, homewares or ceramics.

You'll find plenty of pretty pieces to decorate your home, from stoneware kitchen items, slumped glass plates and scented candles to coasters, cushions and small furniture. The market also has stalls selling garden furniture and décor, teddy bears, soft toys, and handsewn canvas bags.

Gallagher Shopping is a sleek contemporary building filled with famous high-street brands. Cheltenham's main out-of-town shopping mall is a popular choice for furniture and home shopping, with showrooms from Sofology, Oak Furnitureland, DFS and Homesense. Other recognizable brands include Matalan, Next, Sports Nonstop, and Boots.

Stop by Hobbycraft to stock up on craft and sewing supplies, or toys, clothes and baby necessities at Mamas & Papas. Majestic Wine has a passionate team to help you choose from its wide selection of wines and champagnes. Take a coffee break and grab a pastry at Costa Coffee or Ground.

The Promenade is a broad avenue of historic buildings and mature trees that intersects with Cheltenham's High Street. The elegant Neptune Fountain is based on Rome's Trevi Fountain, while the pedestrianized north end features a contemporary sculpture, The Hare and The Minotaur.

Head to Imadjin for hand-crafted jewelry, Jo Malone for perfume, and SpaceNK for cosmetics. A wide range of clothing and accessories is available at Hobbs, Anthropologie, FatFace, Reiss, and Joules. There are branches of Hatchards and Waterstones where you can browse books for hours. Castle Fine Art and Clarendon Fine Art exhibit work by local artists.

The Montpellier Courtyard is a hub of small independent shops and boutiques providing clothing, gifts, and interior design. Head to Silks of Cheltenham to browse a wide range of dresses and occasionwear. Beauty services are available at the Beau Amis hair salon, Biberian Gray barbershop, and Tivoli Hot Wax.

Karl James has a selection of soaps, candles, home fragrances and throw cushions. At Edible Art Patisserie, tarts, macrons and petit gateaux by pastry chef Damien Wager are as beautiful as they're delicious. Look out for special offers and discounts for occasions like Mother's Day or World Chocolate Day.