Primark, Manchester

Primark is impossible to miss. It's the most prominent shop in Piccadilly Gardens, and has a massive sign proclaiming its presence on the side of the building.

A weekday trip into this shop will reveal the Mancunian masses. Don't even bother trying to shop here on the weekends unless you like a challenge. Here is where you'll see a lot of scallies buying too-small clothing and speaking in broad accents. You'll also see a cross section of many other Manchester residents and tourists alike, all drawn by the sheer value of the goods here.

What to buy: There is a very good reason it's so packed, and why you'll see a plethora of Primark bags while wandering around town. The quality of the clothes is decent (for women, men and children), and the prices are unbelievable. I recently picked up a pair of sporty capri trousers for £3.50, and a pair of trainers for £5. Jackets are typically about a tenner.

Ground floor: Women's wear and Men's wear
Top floor: Ladies' lingerie, shoes, Children's / Babies' wear, Homewares.

The basement is home to TK Maxx, where you will find brand name clothing, shoes, accessories and housewares at discount prices. Worth a browse.

What to pay: Depends on how much you buy. Approx.:
Trousers: £3.50 - £10.00
Tops: £2.00 - £8.00
Shoes: £3.00 - £20.00 (boots)
Hair accessories: £1.00 - £3.00
Sunglasses: £2.00 - £3.00 (note: the quality varies but the pair I bought pass for a much more expensive pair)

Ultra-Cheap, disposable fashion. The kind of stuff you wear for six months because it goes out of fashion or it has disintegrated.

Not a pleasant shopping experience.

What to buy: T-shirts, cardigans, beach wear, socks, shoes.

What to pay: Cheap - like 2 pounds a t-shirt, four pounds a pair of jeans cheap.

Primark sells good quality clothing and very reasonable prices. You will not find any designer labels in here. I went into Primark to see if I could find matching tops for the models to wear at Soltex. I worked my way through the High Street but found balck and white halternecks for £2.50 each. They had plenty of lycra, wash and wear well and have sizes from 8 to 22!

What to buy: If you are looking for holiday clothing, sarongs, bikinis, sandals etc this is the shop for you. They are also good for jackets and jumpers too! They cater for men, women and children of all shapes and sizes.

This is a brilliant shop if you are working on a budget or have lots of kids!

What to pay: Much less than you would spend anywhere else.