Gloucester is home to a wide variety of retailers giving you variety and value. High Street favourites such as M&S, Debenhams, Boots and H&M sit alongside a wealth of independent stores, particularly in the historic Westgate Quarter.
Gloucester's two shopping centres, The Mall and King's Walk joined together to put on a Christmas Parade on Saturday November 15th that included Father Christmas and his helpers, The City of Coventry Corps of Drums, Spongebob Squarepants, Patrick the Starfish and The Mall Monster.
Christmas late night shopping begins on Thursday 4th December. Support your local economy and avoid the costs and hassles of journeying out of town. Enjoy the Gloucester shopping experience! Shop Local, Shop Gloucester.
Special car parking rates for Christmas
Special car parking rates have been brought in for Sunday parking at city centre car parks.
In previous years standard parking charges have operated on Sundays at car parks across the city in the run up to the festive season.
This year the council has agreed special rates of £1 for an hour, £2.50 for a whole day and £1 after 4pm for late night shopping on Thursdays. These charges come into effect from 23rd November.
Council Leader Paul James, commented:
"We have introduced these concessionary rates as a way of helping local businesses. Sunday is a popular shopping day in the run up to Christmas and we want to do what we can to help traders in the city."
"With so much to do in Gloucester we can see people wanting perhaps to spend a whole day in the city and we believe our reduced daily rate will be very popular"
Visit www.themall.co.uk and www.kingswalk.co.uk to find out more about the shopping centres' programme of events during the year and for advance notice of activities planned for the 2008 festive period.
For more information about Christmas events and activities taking place in the County of Gloucestershire, please visit Explore Gloucestershire's website
For more information about Christmas events, restaurants, lights and shopping, please visit SoGlos.com – The online magazine for Gloucestershire
For further information about Christmas in Gloucester please visit www.greatforchristmas.co.uk or call 01452 396572
This information was updated on 28th November 2008
Please note: Event times, markets and other schedules may be subject to last minute changes.