Highly stylish clothing for kids. The kind of clothes I'd like to deck my own children out in if it…read moreweren't for the fact that they're a: independent and thus do not listen to my recommendations: b: my missus equally does not listen to me, especially when it comes to clothes for the children c: it wasn't so expensive. Lovely looking, well made keks, shirts and skirts for kids up to 16 years of age, highly visual and slightly hippyish looking (you'll know what I mean) it's just a shame I'd need to re mortgage just to purchase a nice sweater for the four year old. Have a look for their occasional sales and you might bag a bargain for a gift. Oilily (which sounds more like a deli) has stores across the world, but as far as I know this Manchester store is the only UK branch.

I bought a suit for my son to wear at my sisters wedding and it looked fantastic!…read more The price was great and the fit was superb.

Judging by it's location you'd expect more of a Mothercare World size such as ancoats in…read moreManchester. however, what you find is smaller then expected but in my experience better then the larger store. The Eccles store is newer and better presented inside and out. there is an even stock balance between all their lines and ranges and the space is not dominated by one particular line. They have plenty on display for you to peruse and get a feel for and the staff are exceptionally helpful and attentive at this branch. Out of my four 'local-ish' store, the Eccles is my preferred one. It's light, airy, spacious and easy to look around without being at all overbearing.

This is the second Hamleys to open in Manchester following the arrival at Manchester Airport a year…read moreor so back. This opened not long after Daisy and Tom closed virtually next door. This branch occupies the top floor of the wonderful Kendals (becoming increasingly concerned over identikit UK, I can't and won't bring myself to calling it House of Fraser!) but I'm afraid it fails to fill the huge sandpit left by the much missed (um, if expensive) Daisy and Tom. With Daisy and Tom, you had a really nice children's café and play area, but nothing of the like here. Slightly worried over the increasing lack of facilities for children in our fair citybut once again this tangents cause a rise in my BP I was expecting something more in the line of the flagship store on London's Regent Street and they admittedly carry some of the latest crazes and fancy toys, alongside the demonstrations et al. But it all seems a little half hearted, a concession rather than the full orchestra. The café next door is extremely staid, and in fact I almost had a minor breakdown over the entire dullness of the surroundings despite relatively newly refurbished (best trying the other cafés in Kendals such as Albert Roux if you're feeling flush). Facilities wise we get a large slide and a small bath tub of wateraren't we all lucky? Overall I was disappointed with this branch I was expecting them to take over the four floors of Daisy and Tom instead of this side-car. Perhaps if it's a success they may concentrate on a larger, Northern flagship store but it's hardly worth the escalator journey if I'm honest.

A few of the friendly faces from Daisy & Tom have gone across to Hamleys and they are what make…read morethis place. The staff clearly love what they do and know their products. The demos they give are great and the large Thomas set is a must for pre-schoolers+ I think more of the 6th floor should have been given over to Hamleys but then I think putting a Children's Department on the 6th floor is ridiculous. The range of toys is a bit limited and I still refer to the internet site for a few they don't stock but the layout, with the space they have, is good, accessible with a pram once you get there and items are well displayed. Good for smaller gifts rather than a large lavish present. The Hamleys own wooden items in the baby range are well made and excellent value but in the 5+ age range it gets very generic No, it doesn't have the signature Daisy & Tom WOW factor, but then (sadly) it isn't D&T. I don't recommend the cafe on this floor either, I was going to treat the kids to the Paddington Bear lunch boxes (where you pick three items) but the choice was limited, the oranges were well past their best and the cheese sandwiches were curling because the fridge wasn't even on!

I'd never really thought about Diesel clothing before until my friend Eve and I came shopping here…read morein our lunchbreaks when we worked in Spinningfields. Two things changed that; TK Maxx, and this boutique on King Street, both of which you can find great bargains in at the right times. With TK Maxx you find the occasional Diesel gem, but this shop, spread over three large floors and decorated in a delightful vintage, quirky, warehousey way, is a great introduction for newbies. Its size means it has a heck of a lot of stuff on offer, and while you might balk at the price, you've just got to wait for those sales. They're Urban Outfitters standard. I for example nabbed a pair of beautiful mousey brown shoe boots, meant to be around £175 but down to £50 in the further reductions. You can get all the standard denim here, but the gems exist in the aforementioned shoes, the accessories, the bags, belts, scarves, tees, shirts, dresses... need I go on? Equally great for men as it is for women, it also has the fragrances on offer with plentiful helpful staff. It even has a doorman to make you feel a bit posh. Being on the further end of King Street means it never gets too crowded and makes for a spacious, relaxed shopping experience. 'Diesel Radio' also plays some very unusual, avant-garde and not at all pretentious music (okay, I might be being a LITTLE bit sarcastic there). Hop in during the end of the sales, I swear, you won't regret it.

Diesel is a shop housing three floors of cool, well-made, designer clothing. What's refreshing is…read morethat this shop doesn't have a lot to do with being overly show off-ish. Ed Hardy this is not. Instead the clothing is well, made cool and often understated. Not many sequins or brash logos in sight. Hurrah! What you'll find is clothing men and women as well as lots of accessories like wallets, jewellery, belts and sunglasses. The prices here are hefty, so you need to be ready to spend some serious money to get this serious clobber. Hell, there's even a doorman. This place is pretty upmarket.