Glasgow boasts Britain's second largest shopping district outside London and contains all the big high street chains as well as a wealth of the unusual.

Opposite the hotel is Glasgow's newest shopping mall - the Buchanan Galleries is a stunningly designed new building that holds exciting shops such as H&M Hennes, the Whisky Shop, Habitat with an excellent café by Café Gandolfi.

For home enthusiasts, a new Ikea will soon be opening at Braehead.

From designer clothes and lively cafe-bars at the Italian Centre or Princes Square to Europe's largest glass covered mall at St Enoch Square or Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street the city has it all.

In the East End, just minutes from the shopping centres and cafes is the Barras - Glasgow's very own 'flea market'. Alive every weekend with colourful market traders the Barras is the original Glasgow shopping experience. In the West end of the city a host of unusual and specialist outlets can be found.

The main shopping areas are Argyle Street, Sauchiehall Street and Buchanan Street. Nearby there are numerous shopping malls each specialising in a particular type of shopping experience

The St. Enoch Centre, is the largest all-glass building in Europe, and has become somewhat of a landmark in the city. Undergoing a major refurbishment, the centre contains over 80 stores and Scotland's biggest food court. The centre contains many high street names typical of most UK cities including Boots the Chemist and BHS.

The Sauchiehall Centre, although much smaller, contains a number of well-known chains including HMV and John Menzies.

The Italian Centre is just five minutes walk from Argyle Street and caters for the exclusive and designer label shoppers. All the famous names are here as well as a number of European style pavement cafes.

Princes Square is located off Buchanan Street and is possible Glasgow's most famous and loved shopping centre. Highlights include a good quality food court and a number of unique and high-quality shops. Princes square is a popular meeting place both for business lunches and for couples.