Shopping in Cornwall, Truro's hidden little gems (Shopping Areas in Truro)

Member Name: rachelnorthover

Product:	Shopping Areas in Truro
Date:	23/05/09 (116 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of lovely little shops and family-run cafes

Disadvantages: A limited number of big-business retailers

Thousands of tourists come to Cornwall every year in search of sun, surf and.......shops??? I don't think so. Truro, incedentally the capital of Cornwall, is certainly not a shopping mecca but when having an amble around this picturesque city with its cobbled streets and thin alley ways, visitors will be pleasantly suprised by some of the little family run shops that still survive within this town.

H&M, Primark, and GAP there is not, but shops such as Cargo are far more intriguing to browse in than those great power sellers. Cargo sells a range of interesting clothing downstairs and a beautiful collection of prom dresses in every colour of the rainbow upstairs. With shops like this, you buy one of pieces where there is no chance of bumping into someone else wearing the same thing.

Other quaint little shops include Phoenix, which sells many beautiful hand made cards and The Emporium which sells gorgeous hand-made fragrant soaps.

The Old Jeans Store on Kenwyn Street is a great shop for men and women to find a large range of high quality jeans including brand names such as Levi and Wrangler. The interior of the shop is rustic and authentic.#

These are only a few of the many little shops you will find in Truro but nowhere else in the country. In addition to these shops are numerous little coffee houses and cafes selling delicious cakes to tempt you during your trip, Charlottes Tea House at the end of Boscawen Street deserves a particular mention.

Lemon Street Market is a relatively new venture and in some ways could be seen as Cornwall's take on the shopping mall. It is the perfect place to find little gifts but there is also has a furniture shop, a barbers, a fish shop selling local produce, an art gallery and a number of wonderful cafes. Uneeka is a shop selling fairtrade jewellery, clothing and gifts, and is a real treat to look around. Visit www.lemonstreetmarket.co.uk for more details.

Truro does have a number of mainstream shops including an M&S flagship store but if this is the kind of thing you are looking for then you are better off going to somewhere like Plymouth or Exeter. The charm and originality of many of the shops in Truro is what is brilliant about it, and lets face it, shops are far more guarenteed in Cornwall than sun and surf!

Summary: Truro is great for having a relaxed day of pottering in and out interesting little shops