10 Best Shopping Malls in Liverpool

Liverpool ONE is one of the biggest open-air shopping centres in the UK. Over 40 acres of the city centre was overhauled to host 170 shops, restaurants, and bars. You’ll find a mix of popular high-street brands and independent Liverpool retailers, such as Vincentius and Castore. Each building is unique and designed by a different architect, giving the mall's architecture a natural, organic feel.

Shop for the latest fashions at Jack Wolfskin or Reiss, browse the bestsellers at Waterstones, or check out the newest gadgets at Apple and the Samsung Experience Store. Gourmet Burger Kitchen is a great and affordable lunch stop, while Hamptons-inspired dining is available at The Club House. Liverpool ONE also has indoor entertainment like a crazy golf course and an IMAX cinema.

Cavern Walks Shopping Centre is something of a hidden gem in Liverpool, tucked down a side street in the city centre. Most stores are independent boutiques, and range from beauty and jewellery to fashion and shoe retailers. Browse the shops for distinctive styles that you won't find anywhere else.

Cavern Walks was built on the site of the old Cavern Club, where the Beatles played in their early years. You can still see the original arched entrance if you come from Matthew Street. Colourful music-themed murals decorate the walls inside, while bronze statues of the Beatles stand waiting to greet you in the main atrium.

Smack in the middle of Liverpool city centre, the Metquarter Shopping Centre mixes designer brands with quirky lifestyle boutiques. Stores lean towards the sophisticated, with plenty of stylish brands like Hugo Boss, Cricket and Kurt Geiger. Shop for the little ones at Smudge Boutique or Kids Cavern, or admire the wealth of sparkles on display at Say It With Diamonds.

Metquarter is also home to Art Quarter Liverpool, a local artists' collective that sells handmade jewellery, glassware and greeting cards, as well as paintings and photographs. Independent coffeehouse 200 Degrees serves delicious fresh sandwiches and cakes, along with homemade jam. There's also Everyman, a 4-screen cinema showing all the latest flicks.

Williamson Square was built in 1745 and still has several pretty historic buildings. Many shops have an offbeat local flavour, from the Scouse Bird Shop that sells gorgeous prints of local landmarks to the fancy dress emporium Lili Bizarre. There are also branches of well-loved favourites like Matalan and Poundland, as well as an official Liverpool FC store.

Friendly local pubs like The Shakespeare and Sweeney's Bar serve traditional British staples. In the evenings, Liverpool Playhouse hosts exciting new plays, stand-up comedians, and burlesque dance. A fountain in the middle of Williamson Square shoots out jets of water up to 13 ft high.

Bag a bargain at St Johns Shopping Centre, the biggest covered shopping centre in Liverpool. Brands range from luxury designers like Hugo Boss and Dsquared2 to fun shops like Frocks, Koko and Shout. The mall is also home to cosmetics favourites Equivalenza and The Fragrance Shop. You can get your fill of international sweets at American Candy Empire.

St Johns Shopping Centre’s food court has KFC, McDonald's, NoodleStop, Subway and Fat Lolly Sams. Located on the upper floor, Boom Battle Bar offers darts, beer pong and crazy golf. St Johns Beacon, the second-tallest freestanding building in Liverpool, is part of the same complex.

Clayton Square is one of Liverpool’s prettiest shopping malls, with a gorgeous glass roof letting in natural light. Big brands like Boots and Bodycare sell cosmetics and beauty products, while Quarters specialises in cute and affordable accessories. You can shop for phone accessories and decorations at EE or Top Gift.

Clayton Square has a wide range of food options, like pan-Asian food at Bon, Mediterranean delicacies at Wildwood Kitchen, and coffee at Costa. Keep the family entertained at Lane 7 – it’s a great place for bowling and playing retro arcade games.

Liverpool Shopping Park is a 727,000-sq-ft complex in Edge Lane, around 4 miles east of Liverpool city centre. Check out the best new kicks from Footasylum, hunt for bargains at River Island or H&M, or get kitted out for an adventure at Regatta. Kids will have a ball at Smyths Toys, an emporium stuffed with action figures, board games and gaming gadgets.

Chiquito serves ultra-fresh Tex-Mex favourites like tortillas and churros, while Frankie and Benny’s specialises in classic Italian-American food. There's a branch of Hollywood Bowl where you can try for a strike in their cutting-edge lanes. Don't miss the 30-ft-tall Liver Bird statue, made of Meccano, that graces the centre of the park.

New Mersey Shopping Park is a great place to shop if you're redecorating or doing a spot of DIY, with stores like B&Q, Dwell, Oak Furnitureland and Sofology. The Mamas & Papas store has everything from pushchairs to maternity wear, while Smyths Toys will keep the older children entertained.

Restaurants at New Mersey Shopping Park are mostly relaxed and low-key, with recognisable names like TGI Fridays, Nando's and Wagamama. You can enjoy classic Italian food at Zizzi and grab a coffee at Starbucks. A Cineworld with an IMAX screen provides a cutting-edge cinematic experience. The shopping park an easy 20-minute journey down the A561 from Liverpool city centre.

Once the centre of Liverpool's busy shipping industry, the Royal Albert Dock has been redeveloped as an impressive entertainment complex. Big brands are banished in favour of the local and independent, with unique retailers like the Beatles-themed Fab4Store and arts and crafts store The Nest. Don't miss Roly's Fudge and its award-winning treats flavoured with lemon meringue or clotted cream, or the classic sweets from Quay Confectionery.

There are plenty of restaurants and bars with breathtaking views of the waterfront, serving international fare like Cuban cocktails, Welsh pork, Middle-Eastern mezze, and Catalonian delicacies. While you're here, check out the historic Piermaster's House, the International Slavery Museum, or the Swing Bridge that controls the water levels in the dock.