The most beautiful flower shop I've ever visited. The bouquets are simply jaw-dropping - a very…read moretalented and lovely bunch of expert florists that can't do enough to help make every occasion special. Highly recommend.

The Flower Lounge is a new florist on Barlow Moor Road that always catches my eye and occasionally…read moredraws me in. I love the minimalist layout of the interior which make the bouquets, vases and gifts jump out at you. The owners obviously are very keen interior designers too and they've done a great job. You can choose your own blooms to create the perfect bouquet or purhcase one of their spectacular arrangements. The colours combinations are so vibrant. You can tell a lot of love and talent has gone into each one and the best bit is they start at just £20! The gifts also appeal to every pocket, with candles, vases and hand made jewellery starting at only a few pounds. This florist really is a breath of fresh air.

Living Flowers is the brainchild of Lynsey Clamp, a trained graphic designer whose skills have been…read moretranslated perfectly into her floral creations; unusual flowers and sprays are paired with beautiful pots and bouquet ties, making each project a genuine work of art. This contemporary approach has earnt her clients such as Great John Street Hotel and Selfridges. The prices, like most of the florists in this neighbourhood, don't come cheap, but you can construct a beautiful bouquet for almost any budget. If you're buying something for a loved one, you can't really put a foot wrong in here.

Living Flowers on Burton Road stocks 'posh' flowers - beautiful, unusual hand tied bouquets, bold…read moredisplays and presentations - not your average bunch of daffs. The owner has a background in fashion and graphic design and her creative flair can be seen in her arrangements. She stocks a number of Manchester restaurants, bars and shops. To complement the floral displays there is a collection of gifts and objects for the home. These are pretty things tea light holders, lanterns, ornamental bird cages and ceramics. You can expect to pay a little more than an average florist but you'll come away with an unusual and unique arrangement.

Fantastic little gift shop selling the usual fare aimed at the laydees and the kids. A well-chosen…read moreselection of handbags, scarfs, gloves, stuffed toys, handmade cards and jewellery and a very helpful shop owner, if you're looking for something a little bit different or special you'll find it in here. In particular they carry a great range of silver including the popular brands Lovelinks and Trollbeads. I'll be buying myself a few well-deserved Christmas presents from here!

Harriet and Dee is tucked away on Warburton Street in Didsbury. I didn't notice this at first but…read morethey have two shops on this street, one selling general gifts and the other focusing on jewellery. It's the gift shop I'm writing about today. This is a pretty little shop. You're greeted with tinkling mobile sounds as you walk in and they have a huge selection of unusual and novelty gifts. A few things that caught my eye were a range of cake forks, complete with plastic cupcake embellishments, paper weights with inspiring slogans, shoe shaped soaps and a rather splendid cup carrying the slogan, 'I'd rather be The Stig'. Other items include toiletries, candles, ceramics and cards. There's a good selection with lots to choose from. You won't come away empty handed if you're looking for a gift.

I love Belly Button Designs. It's great to see an independent company which started by selling…read moretheir cards on check-out counters come so far. They have a great range of their own cards and cards from other designers such as Razzle Dazzle or Bon Bon, and also some cute and unusual gifts that make finding a last minute present a doddle. Cushions, bags, necklaces, candles and more in here, as well as gifts for children and babies, there's something for everyone.

A strange name I know but this place is a fab little shop that sells independent handmade cards,…read morejewellery, gifts, bags etc. They also do personalised cards and photo albums that will make a present really special. Staff are extremely friendly and the atmostphere is really chilled out. This place is only a small shop but its got a big heart (sorry for the cheesiness). Support local and independent talent and buy someone special a card/ present from here...I can guarantee it will put a big smile on their face.

Great to have such a vast collection of cards on your doorstep, and to have a place where you can…read morebuy a card for someone special. Loved the 3d cards, and they seemed to have Christmas cards covered for alsorts of parental relationship status's. Paid £3 a card, which is about the price I expected for a decent card. Surprisingly I wasn't too indecisive for once either!

A good place to try on lots of dresses and grab a bargain!…read more This is a warehouse style wedding dress shop. You don't need an appointment, just turn up when they are open and ring the bell. You are given 4 rings and simply put them around the hangers of the dresses you like. You can then try on those 4 before going back out to choose another 4. The dresses are samples from shops so they generally only have 1 in each size and when they sell they are gone so be aware of this if you fall in love with one! It was moderately busy for 1130 on a Saturday. We got a changing room straight away though. One of the assistants helps you out when you get changed then she kindly suggested some dresses she thought would suit me as well and went to get them. They had some stunning things in my size. You are possibly a size bigger than normal here so beware when choosing! I could have happily bought 2 of the ones I tried on. The lady also helped me try on matching veils. Again I can't wait to go back and try on more dresses here.