There are loads of great shops in Plymouth that can supply just what you are looking for. Whether you are a visitor to the area or are looking for something special, there is bound to be somewhere that you can find it in Plymouth. The usual problem is choosing where to look. The city is well spread out and there are at least a dozen shopping areas with up to 40 shops in each, so it can take a while to search, but a good website can help a great deal.

Most of the shop directories give you an idea of the address of a shop, but hardly ever tell you what they sell or let you into the treasure trove that you can find behind some shop doors. What you need to do is to first look on a website that gives you an insight into the shop interior, and their special products and services.

City Centre

Naturally, most of the major shops in Plymouth are based in the City Centre where there are all the usual chains supplying all manner of goods. With over 500 shops plus the new Drake Circus shopping centre with another 50 or so, there is a vast selection of goods on offer. It is one of the best shopping centres in Devon and Cornwall. Most shops are open 7 days a week and the City centre is easily accessible by road, rail and on foot.

Most of the shops are in Armada Way, New George Street, Cornwall Street and Royal Parade which are largely pedestrianised for easy access. However, around the Pannier Market at the western end of the centre, there are over 200 smaller independent shops that provide more specialist and unique products and services.

Around the City

Plymouth also has hundreds of specialist independent shops, generally out of the city centre, found in some of the smaller shopping areas. They provide great customer service and offer a much wider choice of goods than can normally be found in the city centre chain stores. Many of them are almost hidden unless we happen to live close to them, but with the help of good websites you will be able to find just what you need.

The best websites help you can locate the types of business that you are looking for without the need to travel, because each shop has a detailed description, unlike many other business directories. There are details of products and services, opening hours, phone numbers and web site addresses all in one place, so you can check before you travel. If shops have their own websites you will find direct links to them without having to undertake endless searches yourself.

Some great shopping areas

Some of the other Plymouth shopping areas that will repay a visit are in,

• Stoke,
• Millbridge,
• Hyde Park,
• Mutley Plain,
• West Park,
• Marlborough Street,
• Plympton Ridgeway,
• Plymstock Broadway,
• St Budeaux,
• Crownhill,

and just a short walk from the city,

• Ebrington Street
• The Barbican.

Of course there are also hundreds of other shops all over the city either in small groups or on their own, and in time many of them will be listed on the Shops in Plymouth website. Checking on-line first will mean that you can find what you are looking for.