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1). Covent Garden in the centre of London’s West End is a bustling Italian-style piazza packed with restaurants, bars and fashionable boutiques where a variety of street entertainers can be seen performing for the gathered crowds.
Up until the early 1970s Covent Garden was one of London’s main fruit and vegetable markets.
Surrounded by London’s theatreland, and home to the Royal Opera House and London Transport Museum,Covent Garden is a popular district which attracts millions of visitors every year.
2). Manchester’s Northern Quarter has an eclectic mix of clothing emporiums such as Afflecks Palace which sit alongside cafes and bars in the creative heart of the city centre.
The striking industrial architecture in the Northern Quarter was once part of the global cotton trade but many of the old
mills and warehouses were redeveloped towards the end of the 20th century and now contain a large variety of clubs, galleries, exhibitions, restaurants, hotels and shops.
At night, The Northern Quarter comes alive with lots of live music venues such as the longstanding Night & Day Café, features many International acts.
3). Ouseburn - To the east of the Newcastle Quayside lies the Ouseburn Valley, an area that has been transformed into a thriving cultural quarter. With art galleries, workshops, pubs and eateries – this neighbourhood of Newcastle upon Tyne is alive with cultural and nightlife venues.
The river Ouseburn winds through the Valley, passing most of the sights so a wander along the riverside path is a good way to explore the area.
Described by the New York Times in 2010 as “a lively and offbeat destination”, attractions in the Ouseburn Valley include The Cluny, one of NewcastleGateshead’s coolest pub and live music venues and The Seven Stories centre for children’s books, the only archive and gallery in the UK dedicated to the art of children’s literature.
4). The Lanes - Brighton Lanes historic quarter is a maze of twisting alleyways offering a mix of antiques and jewellery shops alongside four hundred year-old fishermen’s cottages and cosy pubs.
Walking tours of the area take in the film and literary connections as well as some of the ghost stories associated with The Lanes.
The funky shops, restaurants and cafes make Brighton Lanes a great place to grab a coffee to the sounds of some live jazz provided by one of the many buskers.
5). Merchant Square - Merchant City is considered one of the most prestigious parts of Glasgow and is located close to some of the most exclusive shops in the city.
In the centre of Merchant City is Merchant Square, a beautiful covered courtyard with a wide variety of family-friendly restaurants and cafes with bistro-style seating. There are regular events and markets in the square throughout the year.
6). Camden in North London, is most famous for its markets which attract thousands of visitors every weekend and cater for all tastes. Funky clothes, original gifts from independent designers, handmade Jewellery and beautiful homewares sourced from around the globe can all be found in Camden.
The Lock is the original Camden Market and it opened in 1973 as a collection of artisan workshops. It is now open 7 days a week although some stalls are only open at weekends.
The Regents Canal passes through Camden and it is possible to get on the Waterbus from the lock and travel directly toLondon Zoo.
Camden has a wide range of different old and new music venues, pubs, clubs and bars which make it a popular night-time destination with people of all tastes.
7). The Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham Dating back over 250 years and described by English Heritage as a ‘unique historic environment in England, which has few, if any, parallels in Europe’, the Jewellery Quarter is home to over 400 independent retailers and jewellery businesses. Shopping is one of the key attractions for this area as there are over 100 specialist jewellery retailers for classic pieces and beautiful handcrafted jewellery. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is a real jewellery factory little changed since the early part of the last century where you can see demonstrations of jewellery making techniques at the jeweller’s bench.
Dining in the Jewellery Quarter is also popular as there are over 30 different restaurants alongside quirky bars like The Vaultswhich is the vaulted underpinnings of an imposing Victorian building.
8). Cardiff Bay is one of Wales’ oldest multi-ethnic communities as sailors and workers from over 50 countries settled here.
Just a mile from the city centre, The Bay is now a popular part of any visit to Cardiff. Visitors can enjoy a wide range ofrestaurants, bars and shops, experience sailing or watersports on Cardiff Bay, or explore attraction such as the Wales Millennium Centre a top performing arts venues in Europe, the Norwegian Church , where children’s author Roald Dahl was christened. More daring visitors can also try their hand at white water rafting at the Cardiff International Sports Village.
Regular free festivals and events, such as the International Food and Drink Festival and Cardiff Harbour Festival, take place throughout the year.
9). Albert Docks - The variety of events, attractions and eateries at the Albert Docks make it a great place for a day or night out in Liverpool.
Situated in the largest group of Grade I listed buildings in the UK, the Albert Dock houses two hotels as well as many award winning visitor attractions such as the Tate Liverpool, the award-winning Beatles Story, Merseyside Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum.
You can join a number of Liverpool tours from The Docks, including a city and water tour on The Yellow Duckmarine or the Yellow Boat Cruise around our south docks.
There’s also a great selection of bars and restaurants.
10). Victoria Quarter - The Victoria Quarter is situated at the heart of the Leeds shopping area and is home to the first Harvey Nichols store outside London.
Housed in elegant Grade II listed buildings and home to some of the world’s leading fashion brands, the Victorian Quarter has a mix of breath-taking architecture and a continental atmosphere which continues to attract visitors.
11). Grassmarket is a small area which joins some of the most historical attractions in Edinburgh with some of the best shopping and eating.
The name Grassmarket takes its name from the old market square at its heart which until the early part of the 20th Century was one of Edinburgh’s main markets for horse and cattle and was also a setting for public executions making it a popular area forghost tours.
Poets, storytellers, dancers, musicians of all kinds have always been attracted to Edinburgh’s Grassmarket and the area is full of Scottish designers, artisans and independent merchants selling everything from gourmet food and drink and luxurious knitwear to cutting edge fashions, antique books and unique gifts.
12.) Spinning Fields brings a new premium contemporary dining and entertaining experience to Manchester with an eclectic mix of flavours and styles available at around 25 different cafes, bars and restaurants.
The post Open Spaces: Top 12 vibrant City Centers and Piazzas in Britain appeared first on Anglotopia.net.