Here is our guide to the best trips for retail therapy around the world
London Fashion Week is here again. Last week the fash-pack were in New York, next week the action moves on to Milan and the week after it is Paris - so that means LOTS of shopping.
London Fashion Week is here again. Last week the fash-pack were in New York, next week the action moves on to Milan and the week after, it is Paris.
So that means LOTS of shopping.
Here is our guide to the best trips for retail therapy around the world.
1. LONDON
LONDON is a must for the serious shopper.
The capital has a huge array of famous draws - from Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street and Westfield to the antiques of Portobello Market and boutiques around Carnaby Street. If old-school style is your thing head to Savile Row for the world's best tailoring and nearby Jermyn Street for shirts, ties and other accessories.
For a more hipster vibe, head east to Hoxton and Shoreditch where you will find plenty of one-off clothes shops and galleries or to Spitalfields Market for a great mix of stalls with second-hand clothes and antiques, plus some great independent clothes labels.
Or head over to Knightsbridge for style stalwart Harvey Nichols.
It is best to base yourself somewhere central so you don't waste time travelling to the hotspots.
STAY for two nights at the 3* Eaton Square Hotel in Belgravia for £119pp.
It is just a mile from Buckingham Palace and the price includes continental breakfast and afternoon tea.
See or call 0800 042 0288.
2. NEW YORK CITY
FIFTH Avenue in New York is one of the best - and most expensive - shopping streets in the world.
But if Saks, Prada and Tiffany are a bit beyond your purse, the Big Apple has plenty of other options.
Try the Lower East Side for edgier styles and SoHo for all the big fashion chains.
And if antiques are your thing, head over to Lafayette Street to hunt down some top-quality pieces.
For a good mix of chains and top designers, it is well worth investigating the Meatpacking District.
STAY for nights, room only, at the 4* Hilton Manhattan East is from £749pp.
Depart from Heathrow on selected dates between September 23 and October 31. See or call 0344 493 0122.
3. MILAN
MILAN is the fashion capital of Italy - and its top boutiques are crammed into a square known as the Quadrilatero d'Oro, which translates as the Rectangle of Gold.
So you can cover all of the biggest names in a single afternoon.
If you want something a little less high-fashion, head to Corso di Porta Ticinese, where there are plenty of smaller shops boasting alternative styles.
There are also lots of outlet stores away from the city centre. You can get some decent end-of-season bargains around the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.
STAY for three nights' B&B at the 3* Hotel City is from £289pp. Flight departs from Birmingham on October 8. For more information, see .
4. PARIS
IF it's romance and fashion you are after, Paris is the place to be.
The French capital is a must for anyone looking to refresh their wardrobe.
With seven distinct shopping areas, you are spoilt for choice.
Head to the Louvre and Tuileries district - and of course the Champs-Élysées - for designer fashion.
Meanwhile, Les Halles and Rue de Rivoli offer familiar options that give you more bang for your buck and Rue de Passy has a great line-up of small independent boutiques where you'll find some great one-off pieces and unusual accessories.
STAY for three nights, room only, at the 2* Timhotel Nation with return flights from Gatwick on October 2 for £207.50. See .
5. LIVERPOOL
THE city's Liverpool ONE shopping centre is the perfect destination for finding the next showstopper for your wardrobe.
With four separate districts in one location, the centre has everything you could hope for. With designer brands on Peter's Lane, high street favourites on South John Street, cutting-edge style on Paradise Street and even more shops on Hanover Street, everything is covered.
STAY at the 4* Mercure Liverpool Atlantic Tower Hotel for £65pp including breakfast, a pre-dinner cocktail and three-course meal plus ten per cent off the first round of drinks at The Slug and Lettuce. Valid for arrival on September 30, 2016. See or call 0800 042 0288.
6. BARCELONA
LAS Ramblas are the most famous shopping streets in Spain, packed with designer showcases and high-street favourites.
And you are never far from a great restaurant or bar for some tapas to refuel while you are there.
But Passeig de Gracia is the Catalan capital's biggest shopping street. It's home to everything from Prada to Puma and Stella McCartney to & Other Stories. Or head to Plaza Espanya where you'll find a beautiful shopping centre converted from an old bullring.
STAY for three nights, room only, at the 4* Sunotel Club Central from £270pp, including return flights from Gatwick on September 25. See or call 0800 042 0288.
7. MUNICH
IT is not cheap in Germany's third-largest city but it is very sophisticated.
Maximilianstrasse is the street to head to for exclusive designer shops including Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Dior and Chanel - in fact all the top names.
But if you fancy more of a high-street vibe, head for Kaufingerstrasse, Marienplatz and Neuhauser Strasse, where you'll find all the mainstream brands.
STAY for the weekend of Friday September 30 to Monday October 3. Return flights to Munich from London currently start from around £199 and hotels from just £93 a night - staying at the 4* Innside by Melia Munchen Neue Messe, searching on travel site .
8. GLASGOW
BANG in the city centre, the Style Mile - comprising Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street - has just about every shop you could think of.
Most of the streets are pedestrianised, so you can zig-zag from shop to shop without a care.
There are plenty of bars and cafes to rest and refuel in, too. And if vintage fashion GLASGOW is more to your taste, head over to the city's south side near Queen's Park, where you will find plenty of second-hand style bargains you are unlikely to see anywhere else.
STAY at the Jurys Inn, Glasgow, just a few minutes' walk from Central Station, from £74pp a night with breakfast. See .
9. LISBON
PORTUGAL'S capital is surprisingly cheap and stunningly beautiful.
Head to the Bairro Alto district for some amazing haberdashery shops to get some style inspiration.
There are also plenty of outlet malls just outside town if you're in the mood to bulkbuy some designer labels at bargain prices. Hit the Chiado district for some amazing jewellery.
If boho style is more up your street, check out the Feira Da Ladra fleamarket, on Saturday and Tuesday mornings near the National Pantheon.
STAY at the 5* Real Palacio for three nights' B&B from £162pp. Includes flights from Luton on November 2. See or call 020 3499 5232.
10. ZURICH
IT'S not all watches in Switzerland's largest city but you have an eye for a timepiece, it is certainly the place to be.
Rolex, Omega, Breitling and all the other top brands are based there.
For clothes, head to the Sihlcity shopping centre, a manageably sized mall that somehow seems a little less sterile than the rest of the ZURICH city. If neverending highstreet brands are what you want, head to Glatt - the mall with the most.
STAY at the Kafischnaps on Kornhausstrasse. It is a guesthouse with shared bathrooms but is bursting with character. You can stay room-only from around £40pp See . Fly with easyJet from Luton from £78 return. See .