Obsessed with this shop! There were so many and all had different items. Staff was super friendly…read moreand welcoming, decent pricing and wide selection of merch to choose from. Can't wait to visit Ireland again!

Whoooo Hoooooo! Carolls I love you! There are two reasons why:…read more 1. I'm Irish and proud and when I walk past Carrolls and see the Belfast t-shirts and the tourists mulling around I get a great sense of pride. I am proud that if a Spanish/French/Ethiopian wanted to purchase something, nay anything with a shamrock on it they could get it here. I'm proud that pencils and pencil cases, hairbands, rubbers, sweets, aprons and the like with sheep/shamrocks/leprahauns on them can all be purchased here! 2. The Irish tunes that are being pumped outta this place from opening until closing fill me with happiness and make me want to sing along as I am walking past in the pissy rain on dull and gray winters afternoon - sure you couldn't beat it. For all things Irish Caroll is yer man/woman?

Specialising in flowers, wedding flower', gifts and 'frippery' this lovely shop resides down the…read morefamous Queens Arcade in Belfast. Located just a stone's throw from the plush Lunns jewellers I assume they're hoping to capitalise on any brides/grooms or wedding planners that may be passing. Inside the rather stark white interior there are several rather impressive flower displays and a couple of well stocked gift cabinets. Being in on a Saturday afternoon the shop was already quite busy and the staff were kept on their toes with plenty of requests for help and advice. Pros: Elegant shop, attentive staff. Cons: Pricey pricey.

In need of a bouquet of flowers for my partners Mum's birthday today, we popped in here and were…read morepleasantly surprised by the exquisite interior and even better service! The girl working in here immediately seen to us and asked what we were after. We pointed to the beautiful bouquet's placed in bags/boxes and asked about prices. They started at £20 and went up as far as £40. We decided to go for £30 and she asked if we wanted her to make it up there and then-which we did! I must say, watching her work was really mesmerising and she mad it look so easy! The flowers were like a representation of Autumn! They were orange, red, deep purple and rust coloured. Truly gorgeous. I have to say this is definitely my new favourite place to go for flowers! Really job well done!

Kennedy's is a great local florist that really is a port of call for all things blooming! The…read moreprices are pretty cheap here compared to alot of places and it's refreshing to come somewhere loved by locals. They also cater for larger events and have a great variety of beautiful flowers. The staff here really know their stuff and always recommend great flowers and combinations to make your bouquet truly beautiful and personal. I got my friend a gorgeous bunch of flowers from here and she told me they seemed to last forever which is great!!

As far as I can remember the only time I've ever bought flowers was from this little north city…read morecentre florists. It was for a friend's birthday and she seems to be one of the very few people in my age group who are still impressed with the very traditional gift of a bunch of flowers. I really do not know my way around a chrysanthemum or a rhododendron (in fact I'm not sure if those particular varieties are even bought from florists - by the way I think the former looks an awful lot like a dandelion which, I understand grows all by itself....) I ended up picking up an already arranged bouquet comprising of varieties of tulips of varying colours, sizes and stem lengths. It was £12 which I've been told is quite reasonable, to be honest I have little to compare it to but I was content and my friend was overwhelmed. Job done.

Many years ago I remember my grandmother had a bonsai tree in her hall. I always remember wondering…read morewhat in god's name it was and why it looked like a little full size tree. Apparently simplified, bonsai is the art of growing trees or woody plants, shaped like full size trees. My knowledge of Bonsai hasn't really moved on too far from that point when I was in single digits. This stall however really does open up the mind to the variety of these little trees. This little stall has a range of them, all varied in price. The range is superb, from the iconic green topped wide-based curly tree we've seen before to tall pink topped trees resembling something like a fully grown birch. The woman who runs the stall is extremely friendly and helpful towards those with a beginners knowledge of these little tree delights.

China craft is a lovely wee gift shop in Queens Arcade. It sells a great range of china, stone and…read morecrystal. If you're going to a wedding you can pick up some nice Bellek china, Waterford or Galway crystal and other beautiful Irish fine wear. They also sell the lovely Yankee candles and other smelly things, cards, teddy's, frames and other gift ideas. I love popping in here around Christmas to get some really nice gifts at affordable prices and it also comes in handy for birthday presents too.

China Craft is not so much a gift and flowers shop as a…read more'locally-produced-glassware-and-china-shop-which-make-for-lovely-gifts" shop. Phew. You can understand why its labelled the former, rather than the latter. Belleek pottery, made in Co. Fermanagh, and recognisable by the green shamrock which sometimes features on its giftware, is available in the China Craft, as is Tyrone, Waterford and Galway Crystal. Those 'not-quite-so-locally-produced' gifts include a ornamental angel collection, a selection of Yankee Candles, and my absolute favourite...Charlie Bears! Oh, they are just so cute. And collector's items. Not for toying with at all. I couldn't resist a cinnamon sachet, reduced to £1.99 due to it's seasonal association, and decided to purchase that. I almost did grab a Yankee Candle melt, only to be told it was £1.60. Eeeek. Be warned, it is a tad pricey. Completely ideal if you're looking for a gift / special souvenir from Northern Ireland, or not from Northern Ireland, as the case may be. You may even want one of those highly collectible Charlie Bears, with their cute fuzzy faces. Or maybe that's just me...

Big capital cities need to have big capital shopping and Queen's Arcade is the spot for the…read moreaffluent shopper. High end watches and high end writing tools and fancy handbags and top notch shoes. None of those things were purchased by me today but there's no harm in looking! This isn't a shopping mall. It's a shopping experience. Don't miss looking down at the mosaic and tiled floors as you're here. [Review 1892 of 2024 - 870 in United Kingdom - 22914 overall]

Before Victoria Square Queens Arcade was home to Belfast's most opulent shops. Although this isn't…read moreto say that t doesn't retain some of its glamour. I am a fan of Queens Arcade. It provides a scenic shortcut from Royal Avenue to Fountain Street. The Arcade is home to Lunns Jewelers, Queens Bar as well as McKay's Old School sweet shop. If I were showing Belfast off to a visitor I would take them through Queens Arcade. It's elegant and charming all at the same time. I've heard people say that the only time they use Queens Arcade is when it's raining but I would encourage you to take a few moments out of your day and slowly amble through the Arcade, if only to look up and admire the architecture.

The Wicker Man is a lovely traditional gift shop on Belfast's busy High Street. The company was…read moreestablished in 1994 in the hope of promoting local businesses and selling local art work. Nowadays the store sells work from artists in Ireland both North and South. They sell some intriguing items including beautiful Beleek pottery, some gorgeous Celtic jewellery, as well as work by some enterprising local artists. You can find work by Carrick artist Thomas Joseph, Belfast artist Gary Anderson as well as the exceptionally popular Anna Nielsen prints. The jewellery sold here is really gorgeous, it's very well made and you should try here if you're interested in buying the likes of a claddagh ring or a Celtic knot brooch. The stock is in no way limited to the usual array of touristy nick nacks, even I shop here if I'm after a particular work of art. But for those visiting the Emerald Isle you can choose from a huge range of typical Irish souveneirs. For something different they also have some beautiful picture frames and clocks. If you've never been here before and are a fan of our great wee country then you should definitely not miss it. The staff will greet you with a warm welcome and make you feel more than comfortable. Great shop, great stock, great prices, great people!

We finally found yarn in Belfast! In the heart of the city we were lucky enough to pop in out of…read morethe rain and get dessert and coffee at College Street Cafe! Don't miss it! The walk on over to Wicker Man for some beautiful boucle yarn!! We all grabbed a few balls!!

I ordered a Peterson pipe from this shops online store. For some unknown reason, although the order…read morewas accepted and monies taken, the order was never dispatched. I phoned the shop with my order number and the gentleman on the phone said he would take a look and call me back in ten minutes. He never called me back and this was a week ago. So I am of the opinion that although this shop may have had a good name when the Moran sisters founded it, this does not live on with the current owners. A shop to avoid I feel.

Before going on holidays on 6th September I spent £40 on cigars from Miss Moran's. The entire…read morepurchase was unfit for use. All of the cigars in question were desiccated as the result of which it was impossible to draw anything from the lit cigars. I note that the shop had no obvious cigar humidifying facilities.

Rituals wouldn't be out of place on the upper Lisburn Road as it's the sort of store which serves…read morepurpose to the wives of rich men with nothing better to do than spend money. It offers stuff for both body and home, and yes the stuff is nice and smells great, but you could buy ten times as much for the same price in Boots or indeed Lush! I do like to have a nosey in here if I'm bored in town but other than that it doesn't serve much purpose to me!

This place claims to be the first brand in the world to combine Home & Body cosmetics. They say…read morethey provide inspiring products for the care of your body and home. They say "Happiness can be found in the smallest of things: it begins with feeling good about yourself, savouring the intensity of ordinary things. It is our passion to transform everyday routines into more meaningful rituals." This is all just marketing bumph and I try my best not believe too much of it. The stuff is nice enough. The bath salts and the like are just about ok and the prices are a little bit high. Not bad, but you might as well just go to Lush. In my opinion.

This Paperchase is an outlet within House Of Fraser. It's small but they seem to squeeze in a lot…read moreof products in to a small space. This store sells gifts, stationery and cards. It's kind of a girly Store with loads of photo books and bits and bobs you don't actually need. We went in to try and find a gift box and there was a whole world of possibilities. I couldn't believe there were so many options. The lady working behind the counter was really helpful and she even made a few recommendations. I'd recommend having a look if you're in Victoria Square.

So, I might has a slight obsession with stationery. So this place is right up my street, full of…read morebright shiny things. Which attracts a magpie like myself. The do a lot of quirky pieces as well a large range of cards and wrapping paper, art supplies and handmade paper. The handmade papers look great when used it a frame. A review and a tip in one. Who's that for multitasking.