TRAFALGAR TRAILS: Where to shop and eat

Jamila Gordon, Contributor

From the iconic, Harrods, which first opened its doors in 1849 to the ever popular Marks & Spencer to the United Kingdom's leading value-for-money fashion retailer, Peacocks - London is the ultimate shopping destination. London offers large indoor shopping centres (NOT malls, please don't call them malls unless you want to pick a fight) to vibrant street markets to quirky shops of all kinds. You are sure to find something that will make you ring out that credit card.

If you are looking for somewhere to shop in Stratford (home of the 2012 Olympic Games), your best option is the Stratford Shopping Centre. It is about 14 minutes from the Olympic Aquatics Centre. It's a huge shopping centre with 62 stores, located in the transport hub of East London. The bargains here are said to be worth fighting for, so expect large crowds!

Just some six miles from Stratford Shopping Centre in Victoria, you can find a massive space-like snazzy new shopping venue. Cardinal Place is like a new-age glass capsule which covers over a million square feet of shopping. Shoppers who are on the hunt for unique, trendsetting clothing and who do not want to be bothered about the price tags nor the total at the cash register, I would recommend you visit the Thomas Neat Centre and pick up a few items from the latest street-wear collections of brands mostly favoured by young, wealthy socialites. Most shopping centres in the United Kingdom open at 9 a.m. and close by 5:30-8 p.m., depending on the location.

If a dome-like structures with centrally controlled temperature and hundreds of people looking at clothing isn't your ideal shopping experience, you may want to visit Elevator Gallery which is a contemporary artist-run space, housed in the attic of a former chocolate factory. It's a good place to pick up some contemporary art pieces. Another eclectic shopping option is the Bottle Apostle. This is an excellent wine shop with a huge selection of wine from around the world, where samples and tastings make the wine-buying experience all the more pleasurable. It's open late from 12 p.m. till 10 p.m., making it a perfect after dinner, night-time shopping treat.

Those who will be exploring Birmingham in the summer of 2012 will be heading to what is called by some "the bold new shopping capital of Europe". Debatable, I am sure, but the shops in Birmingham offer everything you could ever want in an attractive and compact city centre with many great cafés, bars and restaurants to keep you going.

Jewellery Quarter

Birmingham's biggest shopping magnet is its Jewellery Quarter. About 40 per cent of the United Kingdom's jewellery is made there. It is home to more diamond rings, finishing touches, tokens of love than anywhere else, at a price that can't be beat, making it a place that future brides and grooms can't afford to ignore. Many of the Jewellery Quarter retailers have workshops on the premises ensuring something special and exclusive can be commissioned on site! It's part of the appeal of going direct.

In Birmingham, Bullring and Pavilions are the major shopping centres, with opening hours from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. You can take a break from the bustling indoor shopping by strolling on one of their three main outdoor shopping streets. New Street, Corporation Street and High Street offer movie theatres, cafés, restaurants, street entertainers amid a wide array of well-known international brands.

If your Olympic budget doesn't allow for shopping, window-shopping and enjoying the other sights of London will offer an equally enjoyable experience.

Located in nine countries, Trafalgar Travel's technologically savvy software's access to negotiated rates and award-winning service gives you security in knowing we are truly your international travel partners.