The trend for building beautiful arcades so shoppers could be under cover and avoid the rain began in the early 1800s in Paris. Not to be outdone by the French, the Brits soon started opening their own elaborate structures and there are now more than a thousand scattered across the country. Here are our favourites, along with some lovely places to stay nearby.
The Royal Arcade, Mayfair, London
Elaborate stucco wall arches and ornate cast-iron balconies are among the architectural highlights of this Mayfair arcade, unveiled in 1879. Its first tenants included a shirtmaker regularly visited by Queen Victoria, and Edward Goodyear, a florist favoured by the royals. While both are long gone, the current shops would also most likely have got Victoria’s stamp of approval: the British brand Ormonde Jayne goes big on luxurious home fragrances, the chocolatier Charbonnel et Walker has a royal warrant and Simon Griffin Antiques specialises in pristine silverware (royalarcade.london). Native Mayfair, an 11-room hotel in a former mews house, is a 20-minute walk away.
Details Room-only doubles from £275
• Other great places to stay in London
Royal Arcade, Norwich
Norwich’s Royal Arcade is an architectural marvel near the city’s market
CHRIS BALL PHOTOGRAPHY
George Skipper, the architect of this grade II* listed arcade, was Norwich’s version of Gaudí, famed for his skill for combining Victorian and art nouveau styles — spotted in the intricate tilework and stained glass above the entrance. Once inside, make for Langleys Toys, Models & Games — the go-to spot for Hornby model railway sets — and watch talented designers at work at Sonkai, the jeweller that makes the chains worn by Norwich’s Lord Mayor (royalarcadenorwich.co.uk). Combine a visit with a wander around the hundreds of stalls at nearby Norwich Market and get cosy later at the Assembly House, a snug Georgian hotel known for its themed afternoon teas.
Details B&B doubles from £170
Morgan Arcade, Cardiff
The Morgan Aracade in Cardiff is the city’s best-looking
NAOMI LLEWELLYN
Cardiff has more Edwardian and Victorian arcades than any other city. Its prettiest is the Morgan Arcade with a serpentine glass roof and giant Venetian windows along with beautiful plasterwork and ornate pillars that bring to mind a Grecian temple. Shoppers can rummage around for new releases and old favourites at Spillers Records, purchase some fine footwear at the fabulously named Brogue Trader shoe shop and head to Crumbs Kitchen for some of the city’s top vegetarian dishes (thecityofarcades.com). Once you’ve splashed some cash, visit the National Museum Cardiff whose current exhibitions include Art of the Selfie (museum.wales). Stay nearby at the luxurious Parkgate Hotel.
Details B&B doubles from £114
• Other great places to stay in Cardiff
Central Arcade, Newcastle
Newcastle’s Central Arcade offers a wealth of vintage shopping
ALAMY
The interior of this triple-domed arcade is covered with thousands of dainty tiles that cost £100 each when it was built in 1837. Other standout elements include its striking pastel-coloured mosaic flooring and barrel-vaulted roof. Peek inside the arcade’s oldest store, JG Windows, to see an extensive range of musical instruments and sheet music, and hunt out vintage clothing such as old Newcastle United tops at Waceland (newcastlegateshead.com). Time your visit for Sunday to wander along the weekly Quayside Market afterwards where you can grab homemade fudge or one-off prints. Rooms at the nearby Hilton Newcastle Gateshead have brilliant views of the Quayside’s seven bridges.
Details B&B doubles from £95
The Argyll Arcade, Glasgow
The 19th-century Argyll Arcade was the site of one of the UK’s first tearooms
ALAMY
This elegant Victorian arcade dates back to the 1820s and has a beautiful cast-iron hammerbeam roof. While it was once home to one of the first tearooms in the UK, today trinkets replace tea and it’s packed with more than 30 luxury jewellery and watch boutiques, from big-name brands such as Gucci to small, family-run jewellers including the diamond specialists Mr Harold & Son (argyll-arcade.com). Stay at the nearby House of Gods hotel, in a listed building from 1908, and you’ll be minutes away from autumnal strolls along the River Clyde.
Details B&B doubles from £99
• Other great things to do in Glasgow
Victoria Quarter, Leeds
Leeds’ Victoria Quarter is known for its high-end shops
Original features inside this fabulously extravagant arcade include intricate art nouveau mosaics representing the industrial development of Leeds, mahogany shopfronts and terracotta domes. It also houses Britain’s largest piece of stained glass, added as part of the 1989 redevelopment, and has some of the city’s swankiest shops, including Ace & Tate for designer eyewear, Jeffery West, proud British bootmakers, and the first Harvey Nichols to open outside of London. Make the Radisson Blu Hotel your base to be close to the free Leeds Art Gallery, both just an eight-minute walk from the arcade.
Details Room-only doubles from £70
Windsor Royal, Berkshire
The Windsor Royal arcade sits within a historic train station
ALAMY
The Windsor Royal shopping arcade, inside an old railway station, has plenty of history to look out for — from the original Victorian clockface above the Jubilee arch, which features the coat of arms of the Great Western Railway, to original wrought-iron benches. You’ll also find shops such as Kiltane, known for its cashmere scarves, and the florist Martyn Crossley for beautiful bouquets. The 108-room Castle Hotel is a short walk away and has lots of stories of its own: in the 1700s the hotel’s innkeeper was awarded the first of its eight royal warrants. Windsor Great Park is nearby for walks; it’s especially pretty during autumn when its Japanese maples and English oaks provide welcome bursts of colour.
Details B&B doubles from £200
Have we missed your favourite shopping arcade? Let us know in the comments below
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