Posted on 20/11/2019 by David
Most of us fall into one of two camps when it comes to Christmas gift buying.
One camp plans and saves, and has all the presents bought, wrapped and labeled by the end of September. The other, well, they’re the ones running about in the week leading up to the big day, desperately hoping that the must-have item of the year hasn’t sold out!
Luckily, whichever camp you fall into, there are plenty of independent shops in North Wales, where you can pick up a treat for your nearest and dearest - and yourself, while you’re at it!
Why not make a day of it? Just about all of them have somewhere near for you to go and have a festive hot chocolate or a mince pie. Here is a selection of some of the best Christmas shops in North Wales.
The Tweedmill, St Asaph
Mention St Asaph to anyone from North Wales, and they’ll probably point out The Tweedmill, and for a good reason. It’s a great place to go shopping any time of the year, but it really comes into its own at Christmas.
If you are going to pick up some new decorations, you’re in luck here. With a massive choice of artificial trees, lights, baubles, and all of the tinsel you could shake a stick at, it’s the perfect place to head to if you want to get yourself into the festive spirit.
While you’re there, you can pick up gifts for the whole family, with colossal clothing, homewares, and gift departments. You can even get your orders in for your Christmas dinner from the farm shop!
Once you’ve filled up your baskets, pop into the on-site coffee shop for coffee and cake, or, if you fancy something a bit more special, the Blas Clwyd Restaurant, where you can enjoy a luxury afternoon tea.
Take the kids with you, and they can enjoy a festive brunch or afternoon tea with the big man in red himself. Head to the Tweedmill website for more information and to find out how to book.
Jacksons Boutique Garden Centre, Trelawnyd
This little gem of a garden centre is just off the A55, near Prestatyn, and is a festive wonderland. Packed with Christmas knickknacks and decorations, it's easy to get lost while browsing the many displays!
Be warned, though, it gets VERY busy on the weekends in the run-up to Christmas.
Once you've worked up an appetite choosing the best tree or decoration, head to the Potting Shed Cafe for a panad (cup of tea) and a mince pie, or a spot of lunch.
The garden centre is also host to a whole myriad of events and things to do throughout November and December, including afternoon tea with Santa, late-night shopping, and more. Check out their Facebook page for an up to date list of what’s going on.
Anna Davies, Betws-y-Coed
Not strictly a Christmas shop, but with a vast selection of Welsh gifts, perfect for the whole family, and of course, you can’t get much more of a Christmassy location than Betws-y-Coed.
Spend a while browsing the store (pick up anything from Cashmere scarves to jewellery) before heading out into the village for a hot chocolate with the beautiful backdrop of the Gwydir Forest. The village is picture perfect at this time of the year!
Snowdonia Nurseries and Garden Centre, Glan Conwy
This family-owned business has sweeping views over the beautiful Conwy Valley and is The Place to go at Christmas. For over twenty years, the Evans family has waved their magic wands and turned it into a winter wonderland than even the biggest Scrooge would love.
Wander through the artificial tree forest, resplendent with twinkling lights before checking out their beautiful festive dioramas. This year, they’ve embraced a gorgeous coastal theme - think mermaids and seashells!
Santa pops in on the weekends leading up to Christmas too, and entry to see him is free, although donations to local children’s hospice Ty Gobaith are warmly welcomed.
Finish off your visit with a bite to eat at the Olive Tree Coffee Shop, which stocks a range of freshly made sandwiches and cakes, as well as breakfasts and light bites.
Here are some pictures of our recent visit to Snowdonia Nurseries:
North Wales Garden World, Kinmel Bay & Glan Conwy
With two sites to choose from, you're never far from the festivities at North Wales Garden World! Boasting a huge Christmas department, with a large variety of real and artificial trees for you to choose from. There are all sorts of decorations, from cute musical ones and scented candles to quirky signs and figurines.
From the beginning of December at weekends, children can visit the winter wonderland, where they can decorate their own Christmas frame, write their list with an elf before enjoying a story and having a photo taken on the iconic sleigh from ‘Get Santa’ - all for the bargain price of £6.95!
Once you’ve picked up all of your festive accessories, treat yourself to one of the 48 different flavors of ice cream available at the Ice Cream Parlour. If you fancy something a little more warming, visit Butterfly’s Tea Room (Kimnel Bay) or get cosy at Planters Tea Room onsite at Glan Conwy.
Let us know on our Facebook and Twitter pages if you come across any top spots for Christmas shopping.