St Anne's Square is in the centre of Manchester, and in many aspects is part of the heart and soul of the city. The name is given by the church on the southern end of the square. If one is into shopping, St Anne's Square is a shopper’s paradise with literally hundreds of retail outlets on the square, the surrounding streets and arcades, and not to mention Arndale Shopping complex, less than 200m away, through the Royal Exchange Arcade on the eastern side of the square. Every single branded UK retailer into clothing, jewellery, shoes, accessories, and gifts is within a short walk from the square. And the spectrum includes the budget outlets as well as the VERY upmarket ones.

On the western side of the square is Waterstones, one of the best UK retailers of books and my constant supplier of my Rough Guides. A second even larger branch of Waterstones is on Deansgate (less than 200m away), and in these two bookshops you can find any book you want (or if you can’t, they will order it for you). In addition, you are spoiled for choice for a continental-style café if you wish to have a shopping break for a quick snack and coffee (most of these are nonsmoking these days). There is an equally large array of restaurants for every taste and budget, again within a very short walk from the square. And for those Brits who want to escape the dark, gloomy British winters, there are dozens of travel agents selling holiday packages and cheap tickets to every corner of this planet