Having 4 nephews and soon to be 3 nieces it's sometimes tough to find an original present or…read moresomething I haven't got another one of them in the past. This year I thought I would wander off the well-worn High Street and in to St Georges Market to see if I could find something quirky and cool that would not only impress the little ones but also make my sisters smile. When I came across the Tee and Toast stall I immediately knew I had found what I was looking for, they have a range on kiddies clothes and accessories with locally inspired images and phrases (see my bib pic). The lady manning the stall was as bright and bubbly as the clothes on display and she helped me choose the 'Bout Ye Belfast' bib that's sure to get a chuckle form the latest member of my ever expanding family. They are based at St Georges Market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday but also have an online store that I will be definitely be visiting for Christmas presents for the big and small members of the family. It's refreshing to see our local culture and landmarks being displayed in such a positive and humorous way.

This is a great clothes shop but a bit pricy. They clothes are good quality and wash well. Also a…read morebit different it you want something nice.

A really fantastic selection of baby and children's items - this store stocks everything from kids…read moreoutfits to prams and cots. This store is located half way down Castle street, it has a more personal feel to it in contrast to the big chain children's shops in town. They seem to stock all the essentials for a new born baby, the place is jam packed with Cots (both traditional and modern) and prams. All the prams are at ground level so you can give them a good test. Really modern store inside with the all the major baby brands stocked.

Pricewise Kids Store is another of those independent baby shops which I cant help going into to…read morehave a nosy. They are often overpriced but their stock is generally different and funky! Pricewise, as the name suggests, is slightly different. They focus more on cheaper prices and cheaper stock. Which is quite refreshing to an extent. They have all the usual items, such as clothing, blankets, sheets, toys (good for Christmas), prams, highchairs, etc etc. And I must say that the majority of stuff is pretty good and very nice. I was surprised however to see one large section of the bottom floor devoted to Halloween costumes, but I guess kids have to get costumes somewhere, so why not here. Certainly worth a wee visit for essentials and gifts!

Oh wow. This is the kind of shop where your Mum says "Don't touch ANYTHING" (and mine probably…read morestill would given half the chance), and you're consistently pretrified of knocking into stands or attempting to pick up an ornament only for it to fall and break. And yes, I have been there and done that (not in this shop though, thank heavens). Mortification x 100. The walls are absolutely brimming with a huge array of gifts. The mind boggles at such variety, and in fact, I can't even remember what all was in Little Heart, but I think that's the beauty of it. I was in sheer awe and how much choice there was in such a teeny shop, but you literally have everything from goregous jewellery to fragrant candles to beautiful bags and accessories. I'm definitely popping back in for my sister's birthday, having heard the continous demands of "I want this" and "Oh, look at that", or indeed a simple "Oh my word!". Do pay a visit to this snug little shop, tucked away in Queen's Arcade. It truly is a hidden treasure.

Little Heart is a lovely little boutique shop in Queen's Arcade. It's great for birthday /…read moreChristmas / special occasion presents for any ladies in your life (I'm presuming most men wouldn't be too keen on most of the items in here, but I won't rule it out!) they sell a lovely range of jewellery, knick knacks, purses, teddies, note books, writing sets and so on. They also have a great range of kids toys and items. As mentioned previously, they sell the Pilgrim range (sometimes at great discount) and my personal favourites from the shop are the Sesame Street teddies, and the amazing new range of home ware which includes notepads with '1980s style laptop' written on them or coasters with 'elbows here' or 'protect the table!' etc. It totally appeals to my sense of humour. Take a wee peek in to this lovely little Aladdin's cave.

Great value haberdasherread more

Zara has recently reopened after a major facelift. The old store was looking a little tattered so…read morethe revamp was more than welcome. So what's changed I hear you ask? Well the woman's section occupies the first 2 floors and then the kids and mens department is on level 2 which is the 3rd floor (hopefully that makes sense). In my opinion Zara is at the higher end of High Street fashion. I think Zara really comes in to it's own in the summer as most of their men's clothing is made from lighter materials. I really like Zara Men's clothing - it's great for smart casual gear and you won't see too many other people about town dressed in it. Their clothes seem to be of Mediterranean style and I'm not sure if a ginger pasty man like myself could pull off white linen trousers but I'm sure there's some Belfast folk who could. One thing I noticed about the new store is that is that it is impeccably well kept by the staff, there wasn't a garment out of place and there seemed to be plenty of staff on hand to offer help. Overall the refurb is great and it's nice to have a Zara store gracing Belfast's City Centre once again.

I really love my clothes and I've recently come to love Zara. It;s kind of sad as I can note a…read moremental graduation from the cutesy/hippy stuff of Miss Selfridges onto the cooler and slicker Topshop and now I'm in the limbo of being a young woman and beginning to dig Zaras sleek tailoring. I popped in here recently to get some clothes for an interview (the job will pay for these clothes I told myself- even though I didn't get it!). I had my eye on a pair of high waisted trousers with a peg leg and one of those fashiony knot belts. I got myself these for a bargain £30 and a crisp white classic shirt. The range of clothes in zara are great. They are more classic than following faddy trends which is commendable. There are some gorgeous dresses, shoes and bags but Zara really come up trumps for tailored suits and jackets. If you are going to an interview and want to impress, Zara is your (wo)man!

This little stall towards the rear of St George's Market did give me a chuckle I must admit. It…read morestocks a full range of baby accoutrements, many with an odd range of tongue-in slogans. I was browsing for a few things one Saturday when I realised I do have a new little cousin. I've never purchased 'baby things' before so I thought it couldn't really do any harm trying this place just to see what they had. The woman running the stall was very friendly, one of those people who wouldn't mind just chatting about anything and everything. Now I really don't know what babies and young children wear, and more importantly what size fits them. I can visualise a baby but when it comes to actually fitting it for a clothes I'm at a loss. I had a look a few things they had. The usual baby-grows, velour with various animals and colloquial sayings but I noticed a little red coat which I must say did look very dapper. It was £30 which seemed reasonable but alas my budget didn't stretch quite that far at the time. I'm thinking of going back next week though and picking it up. I just need to see if my little cousin will fit into such a thing.

I always go here just to see what they have even if i dont need anythin..the stuff is gorgiz i…read morelove the hats the most i always get a nice hat here for my daughter or anyone that i no thats had a baby They also do funky bibs with funny quotes which i got for my wee girl. They also do scocks outfits blankets..defo give it a wee visit

It's hard not to love this massive semi-outdoor shopping center. Steel and glass and lifts and…read moreescalators with so much fresh air moving through. It's clean and well patrolled by security and there are retail outlets for everyone and restaurants, too. I think what most people are missing is the rooftop atrium, called The Dome. The lift goes to the top and from there, a tremendous view over the city of Belfast. It's free and should not be missed. [Review 1885 of 2024 - 867 in United Kingdom - 22907 overall]

It is a massive shopping center, beautiful and made of mirrors. Lots of shops and restaurants to…read morenosh and spend your cash. I stopped at a few stores here, and partook of great hospitality and service. The spaces were immaculate and there were lots of places to sit, eat and meet. Great name eh.... Victoria Square.

The Original Factory Shop is a bit of a jack of all trades. I'm not 100% about what the concept is…read moreof this shop - could be that all their products are straight from the factory? All I know is if you're looking for a random bargain you should have a peek in here. Last week I went in to see if I could get a white board (for planning purposes) and I left the shop with a smoothie machine, a bath mat, a new toothbrush and 4 mugs. That strange selection of items sums up The Original Factory Shop. You can get things you want but don't need - maybe that should be their strapline? They do have the shop neatly set out in to categories though. There's hardware, household, clothing and kids sections but what you can get in each section will very much depend on when you visit. This particular branch is always busy as it appeals to the Holywood demographic. The staff has always been great in here, there's often a queue at the checkout but they try and get through everyone as quickly as possible whilst reaming courteous. This is a chain although it feels like an independent shop.

River Island is my sort of shop. The clothes are as fresh and modern as you are going to get, they…read moreusually have something reduced which benefits me, the staff are always reserved enough to ask you if you need a hand but then not annoy you if you said you don't, and most importantly it is usually quiet. It is grand walking around a DVD shop or Tescos if it is mad busy, but if I go in to buy a pair of jeans, I want to be left to do it in peace. That is what River Island offers you. Sanctuary and shopping (that sounds clever). For Christmas I was given vouchers to spend in this shop and so I took myself in when I should have been in the library and then wandered around at my own leisure and bought myself some jeans and a shirt which look stunning if I may say so myself... you can compliment me too if you want. The River Island brand does not suit everyone. But with a well stocked mens floor and an even better stocked women's floor, the chances are you are going to find something you want. It is a pleasant shopping experience and with the clothes relatively cheap and the music relatively current, it's good for all.

River Island aren't by any means one of my favourite places to shop, but it has gone up in my…read moreestimations recently. Mostly River Island is known for unclassy clothes for dolly birds with everything on show (Meaooow!) and they have the annoying fascination of adorning everything with sequins or plastic jewels. Seriously, what gives? Anyway River Islands redeeming point is that they have started selling stuff from London graduate week and the new graduates stuff is edgy, fresh and cool. My sister got a rocking beaded bag here with a brown fringing which looks brilliant for festivals. Also recently I met the loves of my life in here, a pair of leather clogs! It was love at first sight! They also do a decent line in tailored trousers and some alright t-shirts.