Buchanan Street, running between Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street, with its historical surroundings, is always bustling with Christmas shoppers, and has three major shopping malls: the Buchanan Galleries, Princes Square, and the St Enoch Centre.

Frasers department store is over 150 years old, and still in fashion, while the Argyll Arcade (exclusively for jewellery) dates from 1828. There are also many large, modern, department stores, and several markets in the area, making this the biggest shopping centre in the UK outside London.

Glasgow's city centre and grid system make it easy to navigate, much of the main shopping area being completely pedestrianised - no cars among the stores, restaurants and many pubs.