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Love or loathe the festive period, few can escape the long slog of gift buying. Sometimes it’s best to hit a shopping centre that has all the stores you need, rather than spend days trawling the streets for presents. And we hate to be that person, but Christmas is around the corner.
If you happen to live in Northern Ireland, you’re in luck, because the Victoria Square Shopping Centre in Belfast has just been crowned the best shopping mall in the entire UK for 2026. So when the time for Christmas shopping rolls around, you’re in highly capable hands.
The huge commercial development is home to over 70 shops, an Odeon cinema, 16 restaurants and is known for its Willy Wonka style glass dome. It beat finalists including Manchester Arndale and Merseyway Shopping Centre at the Sceptre 2026 awards.
The shopping centre, which opened in 2008, has been a mainstay in Belfast for many years. Its recent store additions include Bershka, Krispy Kreme, Levi’s and jewellery brand Astrid & Miyu – the first in Northern Ireland. Popular makeup brands Space NK and Sephora also recently opened in the centre, another first for the region. Sceptre’s judges said the hub made a ‘very worthy winner of Retail Destination of the Year’.
In terms of its Christmas credentials, there are many. A Santa’s Grotto opens at the centre next month, which can only be reached via the festive train ‘The Victoria Square Express’. The experience is accessible, and they offer quiet sessions every Sunday from November 8 to December 20 from 10am to 11am.
There’s also a seasonal fair, where independent makers set up a stall to sell their wares. If you’re feeling extra lazy, you can also even get your presents gift wrapped on site.
Full list of finalists for Sceptre’s Christmas Campaign of the Year 2026
- Frasers Plus Luton
- Hildreds Shopping Centre
- Jackson Square
- Lion Yard Shopping Centre
- London St Pancras International
- Manchester Arndale
- Merseyway Shopping Centre
- Victoria Square Belfast (winner)
Did you see that Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter is one of Time Out’s Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World for 2026?
Plus: Belfast is officially the best place in the UK for street art.
Visiting the Big Smoke over the festive period? Here’s our guide to Christmas in London this year.
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