The best shopping that Durham has to offer

A holiday or short break is not complete without browsing the shops on offer. Here's a guide to some nice boutiques and farm shops for you to explore in Durham.

Fill your suitcase with rare clothing, vintage accessories like shoes, purses and jewellery, pimp up your kitchen cabinets with some new cups, and indulge in some locally produced food. Durham has a great selection of boutiques and farm shops, and here's a guide to some of the best ones.

Shopping is, for many, an important part of a short break, and sometimes you might be looking for something you can't buy at home. Do you crave something a little different or maybe a unique accessory to top off your outfit? Then try one of these small and charming boutiques. The streets of Durham's city centre are filled with them, so you'll be spoilt for choice.

Scarlet Ribbons 3 Neville Street Scarlet Ribbons offers a wide range of quality vintage and retro clothing in both womenswear and menswear. You'll also find a great selection of accessories here to complete any outfit. You can easily spend hours at this treasury, which is open seven days a week.

The Art Shop and Kemble Gallery 62 Saddler Street Here, you can purchase everything from art and crafts materials, to ready-made art, both originals and prints. Much of the artworks are of course themed around Durham, making the perfect reminders of your trip here. This charming shop is also an attraction on its own, as it is part of the pilgrim route to the cathedral in a building over 500 years old.

La Cookshop 9 Saddler Street If you're looking for kitchen supplies, try your luck at La Cookshop and you will surely be satisfied. This speciality shops has many brands to choose from, including everything from kettles and teapots to kitchen trolleys and utensils. With well-known brands at affordable prices the chances are great that you'll find a bargain at this place.

Scorpio Shoes 70 Saddler Street This original purple shop says it has been kitting out cultural rebels and the independent spirit for over 50 years. In short, Scorpio Shoes strives to have a focus on the niche subcultures. Keywords are individuality and independence hand-in-hand with high fashion. If you're looking for eye-catching footwear, this is the place. Find leading brands such as Dr Martens, Vans, Converse and many more.

When out shopping in Durham, you simply have to drop by one of the many farm shops. Indulge in local produce, from organic vegetables and tasty cheese to freshly caught fish. If you're not traveling with a huge suitcase then you might want to eat something before visiting one of the shops. Or else you'll probably buy more than you can bear, as looking at what they have to offer will truly make your belly rumble.

Durham Farmers' Market 501 Foster Street

Enjoy good, local food all year around at Durham Farmer's Market. It's a producer-only market, which means that only the farmers themselves can sell their produce and all of them are located within 70 miles of the town. It's open every Saturday, in addition to Wednesdays during spring, summer and autumn.

Cross Lanes Organic Farm Barnard Castle

If you're concerned about organic food, this is a safe, and not least, a good choice. This place is chosen as a Top 10 Destination Farm Shop by BBC Good Food, if you should be in doubt. It has an organic café-restaurant, as well as the farm retail shop offering commodities and food from local producers. This is also a great place to bring the kids to play in the outside area and look at the wandering geese, pigs and sheep. Its nothing less then a fantastic wayt o spend a day with the family.

When entering any of these stores, it is hard to come out empty handed meaning that there is a great chance of having a lot to carry at the end of the day. Therefore staying at Radisson Blu Hotel, Durham is very convenient for dropping of your bags in between all the shopping, as it's located right in the middle of the action. That way you can spend your time and energy on discovering the many gems this city has to offer.