Synonymous with academic excellence, punting and satchels, Cambridge’s shopping scene, rather like its nightlife, tends to get written off as a bit of a disappointment.
Ever since I was a teenager, lured by the siren song of cheap fast fashion, I have been drawn to its shopping centers and chain stores that might have been copied and pasted from any UK city. Fast forward to today, and having worked as the editor of a local lifestyle magazine for the past year, I’ve been eschewing the high street in favor of the city’s overlooked and often underrated indie scene.
With tourism a key staple of Cambridge’s economy, the city center has become overrun by tourist shops and official university merchandisers, while many of our most iconic brands have long shed independent status and been swallowed under new ownership. But stray beyond King’s Parade and the historic core (but do, by all means stop to pick up a Chelsea bun from local institution Fitzbillie’s), and you will find an independent scene that is alive and thriving if you know where to look.
Best for souvenirs: Cambridge Market
The historic market square has been the epicenter of trade in the city since the Middle Ages. Today, under its rainbow-coloured awnings, 100 different stalls host an ever-changing flurry of traders. It’s a great spot for lunch, best enjoyed on the fountain at the market’s center, where you’ll be spoilt for choice with everything from Greek gyros to currywurst (German sausage with curry sauce) and fresh Cambridgeshire strawberries. While the skyrocketing rents of the city center continue to create a homogenized high street that can exclude small businesses, the marketplace community is a haven for creativity and homegrown artisans selling their wares. Pick up a handwoven basket or zero-waste cosmetics from The Essential Soaps handmade in Cambridge. My favourite stall regular is Glenys Self and her collection of handmade jewellery which make the perfect gift for a loved one back home. Competitively priced, I rarely leave the house without wearing my pair of lightweight gold vermeil hoops (£12.50).
Best for design: Fridge
A shop that’s as cool as its name, you’ll find this preloved clothing boutique on one of my favorite streets in Cambridge. The crowds naturally…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Stories – Lonely Planet…