Shopping in Victoria
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Victoria, British Columbia.
Victoria, BC's capital city and the largest metropolitan area on picturesque Vancouver Island, is a city with a personality all its own. Named after the legendary Queen Victoria, the city is every bit as elegant and refined as its namesake, while still maintaining a one-of-a-kind, personable charm. This British-inspired town sits on the southeast shore of the island, providing both visitors and residents with amazing natural scenery and a temperate climate. The city itself is both large enough to have all the amenities of an urban area and small enough to avoid being daunting and overwhelming. As such, it's no wonder Victoria is one of Western Canada's top tourist destinations, attracting an average of 3.5 million visitors a year.
While Vancouver Island is known for its outdoor adventures, Victoria's vibrant city life makes it an idyllic getaway for city slickers too. Shopping is a popular pastime among tourists here, and the city quite literally offers something for everyone.
DOWNTOWN VICTORIA
The focal point of Victoria's tourism industry is the downtown area surrounding the harbour. Attractions and hotels are abundant here, not to mention several ferry lines, so it's no surprise that shops pepper the cobblestone streets that extend like bicycle spokes from the waterfront.
Government Street, which runs parallel to the harbour and extends far into the depths of downtown, is one of Victoria's most iconic shopping streets. Victoria is perhaps Canada's best representation of the country's rich British Commonwealth history and nowhere in Victoria is this more evident than on the sidewalks of Government Street. Scottish kilts, Irish jewellery and English bone china can all be found here, alongside classic British tourist items like sweets, shortbread, biscuits, tea towels and teas.
Government Street isn't only for ex-pats and anglophiles, however—Canadiana-style tourist shops also make their mark here, offering items like maple syrup, stuffed beavers and First Nations artwork, and on Sundays, Government Street hosts a public market highlighting works from local artisans. Even people intent on not spending too much money will enjoy a stroll along Government Street, where buskers and street performers entertain any day of the week and the colourful crowds make for interesting people-watching opportunities.
Just off Government Street, Trounce Alley is a small pedestrian-only shopping area offering a mixture of brand-name and locally owned shops and restaurants. Fashion lovers enjoy window shopping and browsing the globally influenced clothing shops, while other shoppers will appreciate the selection of giftware. Nearby Wharf Street is sometimes known as Artists' Alley; during the tourist season the street is heavily populated with street stalls offering one-of-a-kind merchandise, from organic foods to jewellery to furniture. Bastion Square, which is located between Wharf and Langley streets, hosts a daily market with food, flowers and local artwork.
At the intersection of Government and Johnson streets is Market Square, a historic landmark dating back to the late 1800s and located in the oldest section of this city. Market Square boasts over 35 independent retailers and eateries, and is known as a focal point for both Victoria's self-proclaimed fashion and design districts, so clothes lovers and home owners alike will find something to take home with them. Lower Johnson Street itself is worth a gander—known as "LoJo" to locals, it's a beacon to trendy shops and colourful Victorian buildings.
Nearby Chinatown—Canada's oldest Chinatown, by the way—is a little farther north on Government Street and makes an ideal strolling location for several reasons: the historic 19th-century buildings, the ornate Gates of Harmonious Interest at the entrance of the neighbourhood, the colourful murals and the maze of shops, street market stalls and restaurants on Fan Tan Alley. Not surprisingly, imported merchandise is the focus at stores in this area, but they also carry a selection of souvenirs specific to Canada.
Fort Street, which runs east from the harbour, is known as Antique Row, so it's easy to guess what type of shops dominate the landscape here. Because of the selection of historic goods, Fort Street is another shopping area that pays strong homage to Victoria's British heritage—the majority of the merchandise here is classically Victorian, meaning the type of Victorian that dates back to the 1800s. Items like artwork, furnishings, home accessories and rare books are available.
The Bay Centre, formerly known as the Eaton Centre, is a shopping mall conveniently located in downtown Victoria that's easily accessed on foot. The indoor mall makes a popular rainy-day shopping getaway; it offers mainly brand-name chain shops, as well as a major department store and a full food court.
OTHER AREAS
Just outside of downtown Victoria is the Mayfair Shopping Centre, a large mall that has over 120 retailers. There's little evidence of Victoria's signature charm here—most stores are big-name chain and department stores—but nonetheless, there are still some good deals to be found. Speaking of deals, the nearby Uptown shopping centre has them in abundance—big-box discount stores are prominent here, as well as a selection of premier fashion outlets, electronics stores and supermarkets.
A less daunting shopping experience can be found at the University Heights Shopping Centre, which is located close to the University of Victoria. Over 40 stores are located here, offering visitors items like clothing, shoes, accessories, books, electronics, house wares and more.
However, those looking for a unique shopping experience outside of the touristy downtown core needn't despair—Victoria's outlying neighbourhoods are more than just malls. Located a 10-minute drive from central Victoria, picturesque Oak Bay Village describes itself as "more English than England" and offers a selection of shops and services that uphold this motto. Antique shops are abundant here but there's also the chance to pick up a souvenir or two. Travelling north of Oak Bay will lead visitors to similarly charming villages where small-town shops sell original items. Sidney in particular is known for its array of independent book shops. In fact, it's even been dubbed Booktown by people local to the Victoria area.
Mattick's Farm is another out-of-the-way shopping destination that is still considered part of the Victoria cityscape. Fifteen different retailers have shops and stalls in this rustic, rural-style destination. A large art gallery is also located on the farm, with a selection of fine local artwork that makes a popular souvenir among visitors.
While Vancouver Island is known for its outdoor adventures, Victoria's vibrant city life makes it an idyllic getaway for city slickers too. Shopping is a popular pastime among tourists here, and the city quite literally offers something for everyone.
DOWNTOWN VICTORIA
The focal point of Victoria's tourism industry is the downtown area surrounding the harbour. Attractions and hotels are abundant here, not to mention several ferry lines, so it's no surprise that shops pepper the cobblestone streets that extend like bicycle spokes from the waterfront.
Government Street, which runs parallel to the harbour and extends far into the depths of downtown, is one of Victoria's most iconic shopping streets. Victoria is perhaps Canada's best representation of the country's rich British Commonwealth history and nowhere in Victoria is this more evident than on the sidewalks of Government Street. Scottish kilts, Irish jewellery and English bone china can all be found here, alongside classic British tourist items like sweets, shortbread, biscuits, tea towels and teas.
Government Street isn't only for ex-pats and anglophiles, however—Canadiana-style tourist shops also make their mark here, offering items like maple syrup, stuffed beavers and First Nations artwork, and on Sundays, Government Street hosts a public market highlighting works from local artisans. Even people intent on not spending too much money will enjoy a stroll along Government Street, where buskers and street performers entertain any day of the week and the colourful crowds make for interesting people-watching opportunities.
Just off Government Street, Trounce Alley is a small pedestrian-only shopping area offering a mixture of brand-name and locally owned shops and restaurants. Fashion lovers enjoy window shopping and browsing the globally influenced clothing shops, while other shoppers will appreciate the selection of giftware. Nearby Wharf Street is sometimes known as Artists' Alley; during the tourist season the street is heavily populated with street stalls offering one-of-a-kind merchandise, from organic foods to jewellery to furniture. Bastion Square, which is located between Wharf and Langley streets, hosts a daily market with food, flowers and local artwork.
At the intersection of Government and Johnson streets is Market Square, a historic landmark dating back to the late 1800s and located in the oldest section of this city. Market Square boasts over 35 independent retailers and eateries, and is known as a focal point for both Victoria's self-proclaimed fashion and design districts, so clothes lovers and home owners alike will find something to take home with them. Lower Johnson Street itself is worth a gander—known as "LoJo" to locals, it's a beacon to trendy shops and colourful Victorian buildings.
Nearby Chinatown—Canada's oldest Chinatown, by the way—is a little farther north on Government Street and makes an ideal strolling location for several reasons: the historic 19th-century buildings, the ornate Gates of Harmonious Interest at the entrance of the neighbourhood, the colourful murals and the maze of shops, street market stalls and restaurants on Fan Tan Alley. Not surprisingly, imported merchandise is the focus at stores in this area, but they also carry a selection of souvenirs specific to Canada.
Fort Street, which runs east from the harbour, is known as Antique Row, so it's easy to guess what type of shops dominate the landscape here. Because of the selection of historic goods, Fort Street is another shopping area that pays strong homage to Victoria's British heritage—the majority of the merchandise here is classically Victorian, meaning the type of Victorian that dates back to the 1800s. Items like artwork, furnishings, home accessories and rare books are available.
The Bay Centre, formerly known as the Eaton Centre, is a shopping mall conveniently located in downtown Victoria that's easily accessed on foot. The indoor mall makes a popular rainy-day shopping getaway; it offers mainly brand-name chain shops, as well as a major department store and a full food court.
OTHER AREAS
Just outside of downtown Victoria is the Mayfair Shopping Centre, a large mall that has over 120 retailers. There's little evidence of Victoria's signature charm here—most stores are big-name chain and department stores—but nonetheless, there are still some good deals to be found. Speaking of deals, the nearby Uptown shopping centre has them in abundance—big-box discount stores are prominent here, as well as a selection of premier fashion outlets, electronics stores and supermarkets.
A less daunting shopping experience can be found at the University Heights Shopping Centre, which is located close to the University of Victoria. Over 40 stores are located here, offering visitors items like clothing, shoes, accessories, books, electronics, house wares and more.
However, those looking for a unique shopping experience outside of the touristy downtown core needn't despair—Victoria's outlying neighbourhoods are more than just malls. Located a 10-minute drive from central Victoria, picturesque Oak Bay Village describes itself as "more English than England" and offers a selection of shops and services that uphold this motto. Antique shops are abundant here but there's also the chance to pick up a souvenir or two. Travelling north of Oak Bay will lead visitors to similarly charming villages where small-town shops sell original items. Sidney in particular is known for its array of independent book shops. In fact, it's even been dubbed Booktown by people local to the Victoria area.
Mattick's Farm is another out-of-the-way shopping destination that is still considered part of the Victoria cityscape. Fifteen different retailers have shops and stalls in this rustic, rural-style destination. A large art gallery is also located on the farm, with a selection of fine local artwork that makes a popular souvenir among visitors.
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