With some of the best shopping outside London, Glasgow offers a wide variety of shops.

From the flea market atmosphere of The Barras near Glasgow Green to the exclusive shops of Princes Square, you'll find all you need with a dose of Glaswegian humour  - or 'patter' -  into the bargain.

Buchanan Street was recently refurbished to make way for Glasgow's newest shopping centre, Buchanan Galleries.

And further down the same street you'll find plenty of designer name stores as well as House of Fraser - a traditional department store which has undergone a designer transformation of its own.

Also within a five minutes walk (and the train station) is the St Enoch Centre - the largest all glass building in Europe and housing most of the High Street names.

But if your taste is for a bit more luxury, seek out the Italian Centre - a small centre where exclusive shops like Armani live with luxury city centre apartments up above

For the more unusual a trip to the West End of Glasgow is a must. With odd little boutiques and specialist shops, the area along Byres Road is a treasure trove of the offbeat.

Head for De Courcy's Arcade in Cresswell Lane, just off Byres Road. There shoppers can find a nice mix of shops with everything from crafts to antiques and records.

Regarded as the 'cool' place to live, the West End is also a great place to eat and drink, with restaurants and bars to suit every taste.