Glasgow is the biggest
retail centre in the UK, outside of London. The shopping district
in the heart of the city is focused around the pedestrianised areas
of Buchanan Street, Argyll Street
and Sauchiehall Street.
Argyll Arcade, is one of Britain’s oldest
covered shopping arcades, built in 1827, and home to 32 jewellery
shops, while the Buchanan
Galleries is one of Britain’s biggest city centre retail
projects. Others include the refurbished St Enoch Centre,
the Designer Exchange, off Royal Exchange Square,
and Princes Square, set in a renovated 1841 square.
The Merchant City area and the West End
has 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, 09:00-17:00 hrs, antiques, bric-à-brac, clothing,
food, CDs, books and just about anything.
Popular purchases include woollens, tartan scarves and kilts, Celtic
jewellery, golfing equipment and whiskey. Articles with Art Nouveau
‘Mackintosh’ motifs are an alternative. The Whiskey
Shop in Princes Square has a large collection of fine malts as well
as other liqueurs and whiskey flavoured souvenirs and gifts.
Shops are open Monday to Saturday 09:00-17:30/18:00 hrs.
Many shops are open later on Thursday and most of the larger chain
stores open on Sunday.
A Value Added Tax (VAT) of 17.5 per cent is included
in the price of many goods. Under the Retail Export Scheme, overseas
visitors can obtain tax relief on products if leaving the country
for destinations outside the EU. A form can be obtained at the time
of purchase and submitted to the customs authority at the point
of departure. |
