Houndshill is the Shopping Centre serving Blackpool town centre. Blackpool isn't a city often…read moreassociated with shopping, being a north-west seaside resort known for it's "Pleasure Beach" This shopping centre is quite small but it does have some decent shops including CeX, Vision Express, Superdrug, Waterstones and Boots, there is also branches of Caffe Nero and Starbucks here. Italian chains Bella and Prezzo also have branches here. There also is a small number of shops just outside which I'm not sure if they are apart of the shopping centre including Ann Summers and Primark. The shopping centre isn't the nicest of places, there are a few entrances, including a nice glass one but it isn't the nicest of places as a whole, the location of Starbucks is slightly isolated due to being slightly cornered off, perhaps because of building work? The staff around the mall were low in number and the person I did speak too didn't seem to helpful. This shopping centre is okay, nothing more than that and nothing more than a mid to high two star rating.

The Houndshill is the number one place in Blackpool for shopping. With a wide variety of stores…read moreincluding Primark, Pandora, Boots to name but a few. There is a cafe located inside that is reasonably priced and adjacent is a Starbucks for coffee lovers. There is also a multi storey car park that again is reasonable should you want to leave the car and explore further afield.

'Outlet Shopping Village' just outside Fleetwood. Shops include Mountain Warehouse, Thornton's,…read moreCadbury, M & S Outlet, Denby, Antler, Gap, Past Times, Paper Mill and many more. Several of the shops are meant to be discounted and some do seem to have sale prices a lot of the time but I wouldn't really describe it as chock full of bargains by any means. There's a food court which overlooks a pretty marina with its assortment of yachts and boats. A MacDonalds on the outskirts and a Costa Coffee within the village itself add to the eating and drinking possibilities. I'd describe it as a nice place to visit for a morning or afternoon out if you're in the area but you may be disappointed if you travel many miles to shop here as it doesn't compare to serious shopping venues such as the Trafford Centre and in all honesty I don't think it would make any claim to.

I agree with the previous review: it's a really good place to visit but if you're comparing it to…read moreMcArthur Glen or any of the larger outlets you'll be a bit disappointed. It's got the essential M&S and Next Clearance though, so I was happy enough! The play area is a massive bonus for those of us with men and kids: one place to dump them both for a couple of hours of shopping in peace! It's not the best in the world but it is perfectly adequate and if it's somewhere you don't visit often then there would be plenty to keep the kids amused. I liked the fact that at the end there's a sort-of marina, so you can watch the boats (ok, I only did it for about 2 minutes then got bored and went to buy chocolate in Thorntons instead, but I liked the idea of it). Definitely worth a visit if you're having a good old British holiday in Blackpool and want a bit of civilized retail therapy.

Large Clark's factory outlet store with a good range of stock. The shoes are arranged in sizes…read more(including half sizes) so it's easy to see what's available in your size at a glance. They seem to do various offers, when I visited there was a 'buy one pair get a second pair half price' deal on ladies footwear. As well as shoes they stock luggage and also a good selection of Regatta jackets. Easy to park in the enormous car park which serves Tesco, Next and Matalan as well as this Clark's shop. Basically it's a conveniently located shoe outlet store selling reasonably priced Clark's shoes, its size makes it feel a little impersonal compared to a traditional high street shoe shop but hey ho you can't have everything I don't suppose.

I am a helpful soul indeed. With project interior decorate well underway I was hunting for a bed…read moreand sofa bed in the seaside town of the other pool, Blackpool. This particular furniture retailer specializes in beds which reduce stress on pressure points. It is a rather small retail outlet, and very pricey since they class their products as niche... This one is definitely for those with a strict budget, strictly expansive that is!!

A great little furniture shop that goes on and on! They…read morestock a wide range of furniture - mostly from high quality manufacturers. Although the show room looks small you'll be amazed at the amount of choice they manage to cram into this place. Although fairly expensive for most of the year they do have great sales which are a great opportunity to bag a bargain. Be warned though these events are very popular and once its gone its gone - be prepare to go and be decisive about purchases because you really can't afford to come back later it's normally gone

This was one of the best markets in Blackpool and all indoor. It had stalls large and small,…read morestocking everything from Venetian masks to leather jackets, sweets to bedding, cd's to make-up. This was over 2 floors and the best of the stalls were on the ground floor as you went in. Last year (2007), the stalls downstairs were just clothing and the cafe and slot machines took up the most space. Upstairs was where you wanted to be and from it opened in the morning till it closed in the evening this was always busy with locals and holidaymakers alike all looking for bargains. This year it was shut, everybody gone and barriers around the huge building. Their 'price busters' carrier bags were being used by other shops including the huge rock shop and mini-market next door. We asked in there what had happened, they said they didn't know. There were rumours the building had been sold and another that the building needed major renovation to meet current health and safety standards. Price Busters boasted over 80 stalls. I found the make up stall from Price Busters in Abingdon market. The lady there was working it for the owner and didn't know why it had been shifted, she only started working for her once she moved. Other apparently have moved further up to smaller markets and a few to the market behind the Dr Who exhibition (back entrance). Many have simply disappeared. The huge leather stall, selling jackets, coats, bags doesn't seem to be anywhere local to Blackpool, although we were told that some traders were moving to Fleetwood market instead. Apparently it all happened quite suddenly. A shame its gone even if the building re-opens the former stall holders might not want to come back

A small department store that carries several exclusive brands in clothing, footwear and handbags…read more The shop is not huge, but it does carry a good variety of stock. It has recently expanded it's range to include some of the luxury skin care ranges, including Clarins & Clinique. It stocks Jane Shilton shoes and is happy to order a particular size if it is not stocked. The ladies fashion floor staff can be rather snooty, especially if you are not dressed to kill on a rainy Thursday afternoon. You can end up feeling like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman when the sales assistants look you up and down. (Where's Richard Gere when you need him) The kitchen and homewares departments have now moved to be housed in the new Booths at the other end of Lytham. Plenty of parking available outside.

Stringers has a fabulous selection of clothing and shoes ect.. can be on the expensive side and yes…read moreyou do feel the need to dress yourself up just beable to go in and have a look around as it is as above a rather snooty shop .

Clothing and homewares store on the Clifton Retail Park. I was always under the impression that you…read morehad to get a membership card to shop there (it cost you £1 in years gone by if I remember rightly) and I could never really be bothered with it, but they seem to have dropped that requirement now. Basically it stocks reasonably priced goods; crockery, towels, bedding etc. as well as women's, men's and children's clothing. All in all an OK shop really, but nothing to get particularly excited about :-)