Liverpool One is a shopping area that opened in 2008. It has a newly-built arena and a wide variety of shops and services so it caters for all ages and budgets. The main area of general high street shops is South John Street, which includes menswear shops, womenswear shops and also shops for children, such as the Disney Store, the Entertainer and the Build-a-Bear Workshop. At both ends of South John Street, you will find two major department stores: John Lewis and Debenhams. The shops of Liverpool One pan out to Paradise Street and as far as Peters Lane, which is particularly geared towards those with a higher budget, with shops such as Whistles, Karen Millen and Ted Baker. Not only does Liverpool One have clothes shops, but there are also shops such as Game and HMV if you need a DVD or a game, the Apple Store if you want to have a quick go on the latest iPod or iPad, Waterstone's or WH Smith for books, Habitat for homewear, phone stores, jewellery stores, banks and many more! There's even a brand new Tesco with two floors located on Hanover Street.

If you are walking round the shops and need a quick bite to eat or a coffee, there are a number a places such as Costa Coffee, Starbucks and a Thornton's Café. Or if you feel like a milkshake with absolutely any chocolate bar or cake in it, you could stop off either by the Odeon or in Peters Lane. It doesn't matter which end of Liverpool One you are at, there will always be somewhere to grab some food if you are feeling slightly peckish.

The main feature of Liverpool One is the top floor of South John Street. You will find an Odeon cinema and a great number of restaurants such as Café Rouge, Zizzi, the Red Hot Buffet and Las Iguanas, and also Pizza Hut and Nando's for a cheaper meal. Across the walkways overlooking South John Street, you will come to Chavasse Park, which is a must-see place during holidays as there are often events and things going on around Christmas and the Summer. During the Winter of 2009, there was a big wheel situated on top of the Park; it is now permanently fixed at the Albert Dock next to the Liverpool Echo Arena. During the Summer Months of 2010, there has been a 'Paradise in the Park' event, in which people have been able to go on fairground rides, stalls, play crazy golf, and sit in a beach bar and even a small beach area with sand, deck chairs and a paddling pool.

If after all that excitement and you feel as though you're in need of the toilet, Liverpool One offers extremely clean and modern toilets located on Wall Street (linking South John Street and Paradise Street). It costs 20p to use them, but my tip is if you don't fancy paying to use the loo, I tend to use either the toilets on the top floor of Debenhams, or on the first floor of Waterstone's.

Liverpool One is certainly easy to get to, whether it's by car, bus, train or coach. If you are driving, the main indoor car park is Quality Park, which takes you straight onto the main shopping street. Although, this can be a little pricey so there are other parking areas located around the city centre you may find are more affordable. If using the bus, the majority of buses take you to Paradise Street Bus Station, at the heart of Liverpool One. If you are travelling by train, it is very easy to get to from all train stations in the city centre. If coming from Liverpool Central Station, turn left when you come out and walk straight down Hanover Street until you reach Paradise Street Bus Station. If coming from Liverpool Lime Street Station or the Coach Station, the best way to get to Liverpool One is a short walk through Queens Square and Williamson Square.

As a scouser myself, I do all my shopping in Liverpool One and rarely find a shop elsewhere that Liverpool One does not have to offer. I can think of only very few disadvantages, namely the fact that it is an outdoor shopping centre so you are likely to get wet on a rainy day. Furthermore, although Liverpool One caters for all budgets in terms of shops, you could argue that there are a lack of very cheap food places. Although there are no fast-food places in Liverpool One itself, the nearest McDonald's is very close, on the corner or Paradise Street and Lord Street. There are a number of subways dotted around the city centre and the nearest KFCs are in St John's Shopping Centre and Great Charlotte Street, only a 5 or 10 minute walk from Liverpool One.