Queen Street, Cardiff
Queen Street is the main shopping thoroughfare in this newly regenerated city. The pedestrianised road offers a stress-free way to shop in the centre of Wales' largest city (below right).
Here, fashion is well represented and if you like to look good - even while climbing one of Wales' mountains - hunt out Animal (tel: 44 29 2022 7091) in the impressive Queens Arcade (below left; tel: 44 29 2022 3581). A Hamilton jacket (GBP44.99/HK$725) in midnight blue will keep a man warm on any trek while the dark chocolate Alcina T-shirt (GBP14.99) for women has street-cred.
It can get pretty cold in Wales so it's lucky there's a branch of Fat Face (tel: 44 29 2023 7108) in the Capitol Shopping Centre (Queen Street, tel: 44 29 2022 3683). This store specialises in outdoor gear with style. A pair of women's rugged lace-up suede boots with faux fur trim costs GBP45. A leather weekender bag is GBP125.
Upstairs, Blue Dot Gallery (tel: 44 29 2034 1222) has limited-edition paintings, sculptures and glassware to liven up your living room. Some works sell for as little as GBP100.
Hawkin's Bazaar (Queens Arcade, tel: 44 29 2034 3700) satisfies curious minds with books dedicated to trivia and facts. It also sells a dizzying range of novelty items, not all of which are tasteful. However, for the traveller who likes to enjoy the great outdoors, there's an 'extreme' barbecue kit (GBP9.99) with a recipe book and first-aid kit - in case you get carried away with the camping spirit.
If your romantic life needs a lift, Christopher George Jewellers (Queens Arcade, tel: 44 29 2023 1244) has wedding rings made of 18-carat Welsh gold; the yellow gold and diamond ladies solitaire ring (GBP819) will turn heads. Every wedding ring is inscribed with the Welsh word 'Cariad', which means beloved.
Jewellery of a more everyday kind is available at The Natural World (Queens Arcade, tel: 44 29 2064 4377), as is a range of goods for anyone interested in wholesome pursuits. Ambitious gardeners will like the large bonsai kit (GBP26), which comes with seeds, compost, scissors and tying wire. The shop also has a nifty herbal-tea kit for anyone who wants to harvest their own spearmint, chamomile or rosemary leaves.
To create a stylish home environment in which to enjoy your cuppa, head to The Pier (Queens Arcade, tel: 44 29 2022 5545), where you'll find a tiered table (GBP36) in whitewash with a matching armchair (GBP71.20). Sink into it and put your feet up after a day's shopping.
