Norwich Lanes, Norfolk
This maze of cobbled alleyways is a real treasure trove of independent shops and cafes, many of which are housed in medieval merchants' houses. Shop for beautiful contemporary jewellery in Aurum (21 Bedford Street, aurumdesign.co.uk), revamped and retro gifts in Follies (14 Bridewell Alley, facebook.com/FolliesofNorwich) and Fairtrade products in All's Fair (8 St Gregory's Alley, alls-fair.co.uk). Throw into the mix Jarrold (1-11 London Street, jarrold.co.uk) a Norfolk institution which has been voted the nation's favourite department store, and you've got yourself one of the country's most compact, atmospheric and overlooked Christmas shopping destinations. Keep the nostalgia vibe alive with a visit to the arthouse Cinema City (picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Cinema_City), which will be showing classic Christmas movie It's a Wonderful Life throughout December, or treat yourself to finger sandwiches and scones at the delightfully old-fashioned Biddy's Tea Room (15-15a Lower Goat Lane, biddystearoom.webs.com). For more information on shopping in the Lanes see norwichlanes.co.uk and vintagenorwich.co.uk.
Chatsworth, Derbyshire
A cut above your average stately home gift shop, Chatsworth (chatsworth.org) has no less than five outlets to choose from. Buy green-fingered gifts and festive foliage in the Garden Shop, stylish ceramics from the Interiors Shop and seasonal produce (including Christmas puddings, and venison and pheasant from the Chatsworth Estate) in the Farm Shop. Make a day of it by combining your shopping with a visit to the house, which will be decorated with beautiful trees, garlands and candles, or a winter walk in the sculpture garden followed by roast chestnuts and mulled wine in the stables courtyard. On weekends in December there will be craft activities, Punch and Judy shows and magicians for children, while adults can tour the house after-hours on one of the Christmas Twilight Evenings, with mulled wine and entertainment followed by late-night shopping in the Orangery gift shop, and an optional dinner (15, 16 December, £15 or £60 with dinner).
Louth, Lincolnshire
This traditional Wolds market town is famed for its selection of local shops and fierce resistance to incursions from the big supermarkets and chain stores. With traditional shop fronts decked out with festive lights, it offers an atmospheric and less frenetic alternative to soulless retail parks. There's a good choice of homeware, jewellery and antique shops, but the town is best known for its food shops, making it East Anglia's answer to Ludlow in Shropshire. Stock up on local specialities such as Lincolnshire sausages, turkeys and plum bread, before visiting Santa in his grotto in the New Market Hall. On 16 December the town's shops will stay open till 8pm for a Christmas shopping event with evening market, live music and street theatre, and on 18 December the town will play host to a Christmas arts, crafts and farmers' market (10am-4pm).
One-street wonders, London
Avoid the mayhem of Oxford Street by seeking out one of London's many bijou shopping streets. Just a tube stop away (Holborn) from the huge department stores of the West End are the enticing shops of Lamb's Conduit Street. From old-fashioned tailors to bicycle shops, this Bloomsbury haven offers eclectic retail therapy for jaded shoppers. Don't miss Folk, fantastic for fashion (Nos 49 & 53, folkclothing.com); Persephone Books, which specialises in beautifully bound books by female writers (No 59, persephonebooks.co.uk); and Kennards (No 57, kennardsgoodfoods.com) for bespoke hampers and other foodie treats. Around the corner in Great Ormond St, new store Volte Face (No 21, facebook.com/VolteFace01) has cleverly designed gifts, such as horror film colouring books.
Another great little shopping enclave is Columbia Road, near Brick Lane in east London. The 60 independent shops and galleries here, specialising in everything from garden gifts to graffiti art, usually open only during the Sunday morning flower market (though a few open weekdays), which can be a bit of a bun fight, but special late-night openings on Wednesday evenings in December will give shoppers a chance to browse at their leisure (columbiaroad.info).
Exmouth Market in EC1 is another one-stop wonder, a pedestrianised thoroughfare lined with shops selling everything from rare discs to contemporary jewellery. Best of all, you're never more than two steps away from a great cafe or restaurant for a refuelling stop (exmouth-market.com).
Highgrove, Gloucestershire
The gardens of Prince Charles's Highgrove House are closed to the public in winter but you can book a slot for a visit to the Highgrove Christmas Shop for the sort of gifts you won't find in your average high street store (until 16 December, booking essential, highgroveshop.com). Inspired by the interests of HRH, the shop stocks items with an organic, environmental or horticultural slant. Beautifully packaged preserves, handmade chocolates, cashmere gloves, scented candles, organic toiletries, gorgeous picnic sets and some rather nifty gifts for gardeners, most at fairly sensible prices, make this a tempting prospect with the added bonus that all profits from the shop go to the Prince's Charities Foundation. You can also pre-book lunch or afternoon tea in the Orchard Room restaurant which will be serving a festive menu throughout December.
Coborg Studios, Edinburgh
This artists' studio and gallery in a converted granary in Leith provides working space for more than 70 artists producing everything from mosaics to fine art. The gallery will be open on weekends in December, giving shoppers the chance to buy one-off pieces. Pick up a quirky cupcake moneybox from ceramicist Sandra Ogg, funky resin cufflinks and bangles from Kaz Robertson, and gorgeous gift wrap and printed tea towels from papercut and textile designer Emily Hogarth. The gallery will be open on 10, 11, 17, 18 December (coburghouseartstudios.co.uk).
Bowes Museum and Barnard Castle, County Durham
The beautiful grounds of the Bowes Museum in Teesdale will play host to a Christmas market (18 December, bowesmuseum.org.uk). Expect stalls selling festive food and drink, jewellery, confectionery, wreaths and gifts, and lots of seasonal entertainment. If you don't find what you're looking for, the excellent gift shop stocks a good range of books, homeware, jewellery and children's toys which take their inspiration from the museum's outstanding art collection, highlights of which include paintings by El Greco, Goya, and Canaletto. The museum is in Barnard Castle, an ancient market town with an impressive array of independent shops. Try FE Wilkinson (40 Horsemarket, wilkinsonofbarnardcastle.co.uk) for outdoor kit from binoculars to hip flasks, and the excellent antique shops on The Bank, the steep street that leads down from the Market Cross, for everything from jewellery and books to clocks and candlesticks.
Jewellery Quarter and Christmas market, Birmingham
Brum hosts the largest authentic German market outside of Germany and Austria (daily until 23 December). Now in its 11th year, the market features more than 180 wooden chalets sprawled across Victoria Square, Chamberlain Square and New Street, selling everything from baubles to German beer. Expect live music and lashings of glühwein (christmasinbirmingham.com).
The city's atmospheric Jewellery Quarter (jewelleryquarter.net) also features more than 100 specialist retailers and will be decked out in its seasonal finest. Buy artisan jewellery direct from the makers and allow time to visit the beautiful Georgian square of St Paul's, with its Jewellers' Church where a series of magical Christmas Music by Candlelight concerts will be held (19, 20, 22, 23 December, tickets from £9.50, excathedra.co.uk).
The Harley Gallery, Nottinghamshire
If the current craze for crafting has passed you by, why not leave it to the experts? The Harley Gallery (harleygallery.co.uk) near Worksop, in the grounds of the Welbeck Estate, has become something of a creative hub for the East Midlands, with two gallery spaces and a shop stocking handmade – and affordable – ceramics, jewellery, accessories, children's books and toys, many of which are produced by local craftspeople. Regular workshops in the run-up to Christmas cover creative skills from bookbinding to making your own lino-cut Christmas cards, and there will also be a chance to browse the modern art collection on display from Welbeck Abbey.
Margate old town, Kent
Margate's revitalised creative quarter is home to a quirky collection of one-off shops specialising in vintage and retro clothing, homeware and gifts. Stock up on cool stationery, contemporary crafts and stocking fillers at Blackbird (2 Market Place, blackbird-england.com) or mod memorabilia, clothing and accessories at Helter Skelter (13 Market Place, helterskelterboutique.com). Turner Contemporary's shop has fun festive items, from binbags that look like Christmas puddings (£10 for 12) to a flying Santa Christmas card made of balsa wood (£5.50). For details of late-night shopping and Christmas events in the old town, see margateoldtown.co.uk.
