Designer boutiques

The elegant Georgian-style buildings of Yarm house a varied choice of chic boutiques. Add in the picturesque riverside nearby and it’s no wonder BBC Breakfast viewers voted this the UK’s Best High Street.

NewcastleGateshead sparkles with designer labels: Vivienne Westwood on Hood Street; Armani and Hugo Boss at Cruise and Miu Miu at Strand, both on Princess Square.

The smart suburb of Jesmond, with its bijou boutiques and cafés, has been described as ‘a mini Notting Hill’ by City Life magazine.

Outlet Shopping Centres

If you want it all for less, head for the discount designer outlets at Royal Quays in North Tyneside or Dalton Park near Seaham in Durham, where hunting for top-name bargains is all part of the fun.