Cambridge Shopping Guide
Cambridge has excellent shopping facilities, with several shopping centres, hundreds of high street chains, a large number of independent locally owned shops and vibrant market, all scattered around the city amongst striking university buildings and Cambridge's beautiful parks.
Shopping Centres
Cambridge has three main shopping centres: the Grafton Centre, the Lion Yard Shopping Centre and its newest shopping centre the Grand Arcade, which actually adjoins Lion Yard.
The Grafton Centre is situated to the East of central Cambridge. Burleigh Street and Fitzroy Street are adjacent to it and contain many more shops.
Lion Yard Shopping Centre and the Grand Arcade are in central Cambridge,
There are also two major retail parks, Cambridge Retail Park which is situated off Newmarket Road and the Beehive Centre which is a stone's throw away, just off Coldhams Lane.
Main Shopping Areas and Streets
In Central Cambridge the main shopping areas are clustered around Market Square, bordered by Market Street and Market Hill. Nearby King's Parade has a number of upmarket boutique-type shops facing onto spectacular views of King's College and the east side of its famous Chapel. Also off Market Square, Rose Crescent has a variety of upmarket boutique-style shops.
Regent Street, St Andrews Street, Sidney Street, Bridge Street and Magdalene Street all form one continuous thoroughfare right through the city centre.
Mill Road has a distinctly Bohemian feel and has many interesting locally owned shops selling everything from exotic food to furniture and wide variety of cafes and restaurants serving cuisines from all over the world.
Cambridge Market
Cambridge's market has existed since the middle ages and is open daily from 10am to 4pm. During weekdays and Saturdays, the market stalls sell a wide variety if items including fruit and vegetables, flowers, clothing, music, books and local souvenirs and paintings.
On Sundays, the market is largely arts and crafts oriented but also sells a variety of foods including locally grown produce.
Shopping Categories
You can browse most of Cambridge's hundreds of shops by choosing from the following categories:
- Amusement Arcades
- Antiques
- Arts and Crafts Shops
- Baby Products
- Bicycles and Bicycle Repairs
- Book Shops
- Camera Shops
- Cane Goods and Basketware
- Cards and Gifts
- Cash and Carry Wholesalers
- Catalogue Showrooms
- CDs and Records
- Charity Shops
- Chemists and Pharmacies
- Childrens Shops
- China and Glassware Shops
- Confectionery
- Consumer Electronics
- Convenience Stores
- Cosmetics and Beauty Products
- Department Stores
- Discount Shops
- Fashion and Clothing
- Florists and Flowers
- Function and Banqueting Rooms
- Games and Puzzles
- General Stores
- Glass Products Manufacturers
- Goldsmiths and Silversmiths
- Health Food
- Hiking and Outdoor
- Household Stores
- Jewellers
- Launderettes and Dry Cleaners
- Leathergoods Shops
- Luggage Shops
- Mail Order and Catalogue Shopping
- Mobile Phones
- Models and Collectibles
- Musical Instruments
- News Agents
- Office Supplies
- Party Supplies
- Pawnbrokers
- Perfume Suppliers
- Post Offices
- Secondhand Shops
- Shopping Centres
- Sports Shops
- Supermarkets
- Surfing and Skateboards
- Surplus Shops
- Toys
- Travel Agents
- TV and Video
- Video and DVD Hire
- Weddings
Department Stores
Cambridge has three large department stores. Debenhams is in the Grafton Centre. John Lewis is on the corner of St. Andrew's Street and Downing Street and is accessible from the Grand Arcade. Marks & Spencer actually occupies two buildings, both off Sidney Street.
More businesses can be found in our Local listings section.