Birmingham is a shoppers' paradise, with glossy, modern shopping centres, restored Victorian arcades and a range of markets offering everything from designer labels to second-hand bargains.
All the main high-street stores are here along with smaller boutiques and special interest shops. The recently opened Bullring is Birmingham's newest shopping destination. Built at a cost of more than £500 million, it offers about 160 shops, boutiques and restaurants covering an area equivalent to 26 football pitches in the city centre.
The Bullring is home to the hugely successful Selfridges, whose stunning design is based on an Armani chainmail dress and has become an instant visual icon of Birmingham.
On the other side of the city centre is the lavish Mailbox building, which houses designer stores, boutiques, restaurants, hotels, apartments, businesses and the BBC in Birmingham all under one roof.