Unique Shopping in Inverness

Unusual places to go shopping in Inverness

Inverness has its fair share of good high-street shops. But, forget those, you can shop in them any time. If you are looking for a great day of shopping, we have put together a list of hidden gems in Inverness that are worth a look.

Why do we love shopping?

A spot of retail therapy does exactly as the name suggests! It does us the world of good. Our bodies release dopamine, the ‘feel-good’ hormone when we shop. And it doesn’t seem to matter what we are buying, as long as it’s not food shopping.

It feels good to indulge ourselves a little sometimes. Spending your hard-earned cash on something for yourself makes you feel rewarded and in control. Even if what we are buying is just a new pair of comfy slippers for a tenner or a jumper to keep us warm on the commute to work. Studies have shown that it’s not what you buy but the experience of shopping and the reward to come. As long as it’s in moderation! And, of course, bagging a bargain makes us feel even better which is why any sale in any shop is always so popular.

So, grab our list of unique places to visit and see what you can find when shopping in Inverness.

Leakey’s Second-Hand Bookshop

Housed in a Gaelic church, Leakey’s is worth a visit. It is Scotland’s largest secondhand bookshop and has over 100,000 selected volumes. Just a 20-minute walk from us here at Kingsmills Hotel, it’s a fabulous experience wandering among the shelves of books looking for a long-forgotten tome. And if you get hungry or thirsty while you’re there, they have a bistro-style cafe on the mezzanine with an open fire (yes you read that right).

Castle Gallery

Promoting quality art in the Highlands for over 20 years, the Castle Gallery is situated in the lee of Inverness Castle. The building dates back to the early 18th century and the gallery is in a section that has been sympathetically restored. There is a large selection of art by both Scottish and British artists, across two floors. Knowledgeable, friendly staff are on hand to help customers with any purchase or enquiry.

The Merchant

If you fancy a bit of antique shopping in Inverness, then head to the Merchant. Whether you are looking for a nice piece of antique furniture or for something smaller as a gift for a loved one, the Merchant has it all. And, based on customer feedback they are the best antique store in the surrounding area.

The Drawing Room

This lovely boutique shop is a small, family business that opened in 2007. They stock a variety of gifts, jewellery and home furnishings specially selected for their quality and style. They are also the exclusive stockists in Inverness of Emma Bridgewater Pottery, East of India Gifts and Joma Jewellery. And they make and personalise items to order in the shop.

Chisholms Highland Dress

Chisholms Highland Dress is run by an Inverness family and has been making kilts for generations. For Highland dress in all its rich variety, the traditional choice of Highlanders themselves is Chisholms. They have the reputation of the ‘Saville Row’ of kilts and are known for their sharp tailoring too.

Highland House of Fraser

Steeped in the tradition of Highland Dress, this lovely, traditional shop is situated on the west bank of the River Ness. They have a wonderful selection of Scotland’s finest clothing, textiles and gifts. They have been making bespoke kilts for over 50 years, continuing the tradition of the finest hand-sewn kilts. And they offer a rental service should you need it.

Inverness really is a fabulous place for a shopping trip. As well as all of these wonderful, unique shops, there’s the Victorian Market, a high street full of well-known retailers and Eastgate Shopping Centre.

So why not join us for a weekend? We love a bargain too so we have plenty of deals to tempt you, including our extra special Shopper Offer.