Edinburgh is named as the best city in Britain for Christmas shopping

Edinburgh is named as the best city in Britain for Christmas shopping

12/04/2019

Revealed: Edinburgh is ranked the best city in Britain for Christmas shopping, with London 16th – and Sheffield rated the worst

  • Researchers analysed festive shopping experiences in 20 cities across the UK 
  • An algorithm was created to determine their Christmas-shopping credentials
  • Factors included the scale of Christmas markets – and the chance of snow

Edinburgh is the best city in the UK for Christmas shopping, according to a new study – with Sheffield ranked the worst.

Researchers analysed 20 British cities taking into account factors such as the number of shops, how busy they are, the scale and rating of Christmas markets, the availability of parking, traffic and even the chance of snow.

The Scottish capital was found to offer the best festive experience thanks to its cobbled streets, ‘striking architecture that goes perfectly with the season’, an abundance of shops and a ‘sprawling’ Christmas market.

Edinburgh is the best city in the UK to go Christmas shopping, according to a new study

BEST UK CITIES FOR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

1. Edinburgh

2. Glasgow

3. Oxford

4. Newcastle

5. Belfast

6. Bournemouth

7. Southampton

8. Manchester

9. Brighton

10. York

11. Nottingham

12. Bristol

13. Cardiff

14. Birmingham

15. Liverpool

16. London

17. Swansea

18. Leicester

19. Leeds

20. Sheffield

Source: Premier Inn 

Addressing Sheffield’s lowly ranking, the researchers acknowledged that the city is a favourite shopping destination for those in Yorkshire, but ‘when taking into account the Christmas market, and the ease of the overall festive experience, the city doesn’t quite come up trumps!’

The research was carried out by hotel chain Premier Inn, which created a unique algorithm to see which cities offer the most ‘festively stress-free shopping experience in the UK’.

Coming second on the list is Glasgow, with researchers saying it has ‘festive cheer, manageable crowds and traffic, and a stellar Christmas market’.

Third is Oxford thanks to its ‘highly rated Christmas market, fewer crowds, great parking and an abundance of shops to find those all-important gifts’.

Claiming fourth place is Newcastle, which has a ‘higher chance of snow and a great Christmas market’ and shops that ‘aren’t too spread out’.

Coming second on the list is Glasgow, with researchers saying it has ‘festive cheer, manageable crowds and traffic, and a stellar Christmas market’. Pictured is Princes Square

Oxford, pictured, is third thanks to its ‘highly rated Christmas market, fewer crowds, great parking and an abundance of shops to find those all-important gifts’

In fifth is Belfast, which boasts a ‘highly regarded’ Christmas market, along with a fair chance of snow, a large number of shops and stress-free parking.

The rest of the top ten is made up of Bournemouth (sixth), Southampton (seventh), Manchester (eighth), Brighton (ninth) and York (10th).

London only came 16th in the ranking with researchers explaining: ‘London gets so busy, and is so spread out, that a day’s shopping can get tiring.’ 

Ranked near the bottom is Leicester in 18th place, with researchers blaming a paucity of parking options. 

Second-bottom is Leeds, as the study found ‘it currently just can’t compete with the likes of Edinburgh when it comes to the Christmas market and overall festive feeling’.

Addressing Sheffield’s lowly ranking, the researchers acknowledged that the city is a favourite shopping destination for those in Yorkshire, but ‘when taking into account the Christmas market, and the ease of the overall festive experience, the city doesn’t quite come up trumps!’

Claiming fourth place is Newcastle as researchers found it has a ‘higher chance of snow and a great Christmas market’

In fifth is Belfast, which boasts a ‘highly regarded’ Christmas market, along with a fair chance of snow, a large number of shops and stress-free parking 

A Premier Inn spokesperson said: ‘Christmas is the ideal time to support the UK’s high streets and enjoy the shopping and entertainment that goes with it.

‘However, it can be a daunting task trying to compete with large festive crowds. By creating this expert algorithm, we hope we can help consumers to avoid key shopping stressors, and instead have an enjoyable experience.

‘It came as no surprise to us that Edinburgh topped the list, with the city being the ideal winter destination.

‘Its cobbled streets, striking architecture and abundance of shops making it the perfect place to tick gifts of the list and soak up the very best of the season at the impressive Christmas market.’

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