Are you ready to #ShopTilYouDrop? Then look no further…

Retail heaven awaits, as high street names mingle with independent boutiques and bustling markets, while cosmopolitan cafes and traditional tea shops tempt on every corner.

Shopping in Preston is always pleasure and never a chore, with the compact city centre creating the perfect environment for a leisurely mooch.

The main streets, St George’s Shopping Centre and Fishergate Shopping Centre are packed with well-known high street names and brands. Offering everything from fashion, footwear and beauty to stationery, electricals and toys, you can’t fail to find all you need and more.

Setting a different scene, grand and impressive, the Grade I listed Miller Arcade truly has the wow factor. Modelled on the Burlington Arcade in London and built in 1899, it was once a Turkish bath. Today, the prominent Victorian building features a mixture of shops, food outlets and bars and is definitely worth a visit.

A warm welcome awaits you at the indoor and outdoor markets. Brimming with atmosphere, the smells, sights and sounds draw you in to peruse a wide range of fresh produce, including local delicacies such as Lancashire cheeses, Goosnargh chicken and Bowland meats. Outside, you can try out your bartering skills at stalls selling clothes, music, DVDs and flowers, to name a few.

But the real surprises are tucked away along the narrow, cobbled streets that lead off the beaten track. Here, you can explore dozens of independent shops selling unique gifts and crafts, designer clothes, jewellery and homemade treats. Varying from the quirky to the quaint, these delights are definitely not to be missed.

If you’re heading out of town, there are several retail parks offering larger stores, homeware and supermarkets as well as restaurants and leisure activities. The main ones are Deepdale Shopping Park to the north of the city centre and The Capitol Centre to the south, which features a recently opened Waitrose.

Now, go and #ShopTilYouDrop.