Best antiques shopping streets<\/h2>\nVictoria Street, Edinburgh<\/h3>\n
With its higgledy-piggledy array of colourful shopfronts, gentle curve and proximity to the castle, Victoria Street in Edinburgh\u2019s Old Town is a pleasure to peruse. There must have been something about its architecture that inspired JK Rowling, as many believe it to be the real-life Diagon Alley from her Harry Potter<\/i> books. Robert Cresser\u2019s brush shop may no longer be here, in business from 1873-2004, but curious independent shops endure.<\/p>\n Stock up on artisan cheese at IJ Mellis Cheesemonger<\/a>, stroke Scottish tweed at Walker Slater<\/a>, find fun homewares at Museum Context<\/a>, which sells unusual gifts including Harry Potter<\/i> merchandise, imbibe whisky at The Bow Bar <\/a>or bottle some cordial or gin at Demijohn<\/a>.<\/p>\n Affordable art by up-and-coming artists fresh out of Edinburgh College of Art can be found at The Red Door Gallery<\/a>\u00a0 at number 42. \u2018There weren\u2019t many shops in the centre that provided art by local graduates,\u2019 says gallery director Lindsey Brown. \u2018Victoria Street is a big draw in Old Town. People like the history of it.\u2019<\/p>\n Since the regeneration of Hastings in recent years with the opening of the Jerwood Gallery<\/a>\u00a0and a restored pier, the town has seen the arrival of more high-quality independent shops. The atmospheric High Street, the original thoroughfare despite its narrow disposition (a \u2018twitten\u2019 as locals call it), has benefited greatly.<\/p>\n Visitors make a beeline for Alastair Hendy\u2019s beautiful emporium AG Hendy & Co<\/a>\u00a0whose window displays have become quite the attraction. \u2018The architecture in High Street is unique,\u2019 he says. \u2018Behind the Georgian fronts the buildings are Tudor inside. There is a nice winding feel about it and a good cross-section of shops.\u2019 Also on the street is Robert\u2019s Rummage, piled high with antique and vintage odds and ends, and Goods Depot<\/a>\u00a0with its great mix of decorative antiques. A must-see is the Flower Makers\u2019 Museum, a family business that has been making fabric flowers for films for decades. Round off a visit with brownies at Judges Bakery.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Famed for its Saturday flea market and generous antiques offering, Walcot Street in Bath has seen big-name interiors and homeware stores arrive latterly but the stretch of street wrapping round into London Road has retained its independent artisan edge, especially with Bath Aqua Glass<\/a>\u00a0in residence.<\/p>\n Traditional antiques can be found at Michael Saffell Antiques<\/a>, Haliden Oriental Carpets<\/a>, Old Bank Antiques Centre<\/a>\u00a0and at the market, with on-trend homeware and art available at The Fig Store<\/a>\u00a0and Verve<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Fine Cheese Co<\/a> is a long-standing Walcot incumbent and a firm favourite, and grabbing brunch at Cafe Walcot<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a light-filled, loft-style space down a side street \u2013 is highly recommended. \u2018There is a strong independent spirit here,\u2019 says Michelle Aitken of Verve, which has been trading for three years. \u2018We wanted to add to the artisan area.\u2019<\/p>\n From the curious shop, J Birkett, at its base, to the vintage tea room Bunty\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0halfway up, to Timepiece Repairs\u00a0<\/a>clock shop and the cathedral at the top, Steep Hill in Lincoln has much to tempt.<\/p>\n \u2018There are small, quirky shops,\u2019 says Roy Ellis, who has had his clock and watch shop on the hill for 35 years and is usually busy repairing said timekeepers from across Britain and Europe. \u2018I think J Birkett is the most unusual shop in the country. Mr Birkett has been here for 55 years and sells all sorts of odds and sods. He has ex-government parts, so if you need something for an old valve radio or television, chances are you can get it at Birketts.\u2019<\/p>\n Built by the Romans and formerly known as Ermine Street, Steep Hill was renamed due to its vertiginous slope (there are handrails in place to assist climbers) and the pretty cobbled street with its listed medieval half-timbered buildings is worth the climb, not only for its architecture but its pubs, tea rooms, cafes and independent shops.<\/p>\n Jews\u2019 Court Books deals in historical and second-hand books from a 13th-century building believed to be on the site of a medieval synagogue, as there was a prominent Jewish community in Lincoln from the 1100s. Meanwhile Ben Poole at Imperial Teas<\/a>, who has been trading on the hill for over 27 years, will demonstrate the fine art of making a cup of tea. \u2018It\u2019s like a little village community of its own. Everyone knows everyone,\u2019 Roy adds. \u2018If one shop closes, another opens.\u2019<\/p>\n Petworth has long been known as an antiques town but its prettiest promenade has only recently become an antiquing hotspot in its own right.<\/p>\n Tiffany Lewis opened her antique furniture and homeware shop Tallulah Fox<\/a>\u00a0in September 2013 and during the past five years has watched as more antiques shops and galleries have joined her. \u2018It was quite a quiet street with a lot of empty shops when I arrived,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n Shortly after Tiffany opened her doors, along came Kevis House Gallery<\/a>\u00a0and Arts and Crafts specialist Patch Rogers,<\/a> who has recently handed his premises to Petworth stalwart John Bird<\/a>. Independent art dealer Forest Gallery\u00a0<\/a>opened two years ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Once bustling with greengrocers and bakers, by the 1990s Catherine Hill was anything but thriving. \u2018It was quite down at heel when I arrived,\u2019 says Ciara Nolan, who has run Poot Emporium for 12 years.<\/p>\n Trees had taken root in what is now the wool shop known as the Frome Yarn Collective<\/a>. Happily, today the cobbled incline is one of its major draws. And while those climbing up might need to pause for breath halfway, instead of boarded-up shops they can now linger in one of its many independent boutiques. Buy stylish children\u2019s clothes and toys at Sisters Guild<\/a>, vintage and antique homeware at Life of Riley, fine stationery and homeware at Resident<\/a>, brushes and light bulbs in the beautifully styled Frome Hardware<\/a>\u00a0and invest in modern craft at Kobi & Teal<\/a>. Reward your efforts at L\u2019Aperitivo<\/a> at the summit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/04\/Victoria-st-Edinburgh-92f843a.jpg?quality=90&resize=1024%2C1025"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>You might also enjoy:\u00a0<\/h4>\n
Walcot Street, Bath<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Catherine Hill, Frome<\/h2>\n
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