Victoria has a superb shopping scene, with anything that would be found in a larger city, plus a few things that wouldn't. So many artists and artisans call this place home that unusual and one-of-a-kind items are everywhere. Aboriginal art, crafts and foodstuffs are also widely available.
What's more, Victoria has a love-affair with all things British: scores of shops specialize in imported British wares, textiles or food. Many stores also operate in well-preserved Victorian or Edwardian buildings.
Victoria's British heritage is very much in evidence in the shops along Government Street. Lots of English woollens and bone china, Scottish tartans and Irish lace are available here, while a restorative cup of tea is never far away. Government Street also has many stores that specialize in Canadiana, First Nations art, original jewellery and fashion. Government Street is located in downtown Victoria, between Johnson and Humboldt Streets.
Trounce Alley and Bastion Square
Both Trounce Alley and Bastion Square can be accessed from the same section of Government Street. Turn down Trounce Alley for European fashions and gift shops or cross the street and head for Bastion Square for more shopping, restaurants and great views of the Inner Harbour.
Chinatown
Victoria's Chinatown is the oldest in Canada, and the second oldest in North America (after San Francisco). Most of the buildings date back to the 19th century. Browse the shops and artists' studios along Fan Tan Alley and imagine them as the illegal gambling dens of yesteryear. The restaurants in Chinatown serve delicious and authentic Chinese dishes, while grocers stock a wide variety of Asian cooking ingredients.
Fort Street
Fort Street is also known as "Antique Row." Find a wonderful array of items here, much of it British in origin: silver, military memorabilia, rare prints, fine china, antique furniture and Victorian bric-a-brac. The street is also home to art galleries and auction houses that hold regularly scheduled auctions for art, antiques and collectibles, in addition to unique local shops and boutiques selling clothing and fine foods.
Old Town
Old Town was built up between the 1860s and the 1890s. This is the oldest section of Victoria. It encompasses a number of popular shopping districts, including Market Square, Johnson Street, Chinatown and Bastion Square. Market Square is a block of particularly charming heritage shop fronts surrounding an open public square where festivals and other events are held throughout the year. On Johnson Street, flower boxes hang from the rooflines of shops carrying local and international fashion, British and First Nations merchandise as well as specialty baked goods.
Oak Bay Village
The genteel enclave of Oak Bay Village has been described as "more English than England." Its charming main street boasts an array of high-end shopping choices ranging from art, antiques and Vancouver-Island-made crafts to fashions, giftware and imported sweets. Recoup and refuel after a day of shopping in one of Oak Bay's many tea rooms, restaurants, cafés or pubs.
Oak Bay Village is a 10-minute drive east of downtown Victoria.
Mattick's Farm
Mattick's Farm caters to urban tastes in a rural setting. Lush lawns, plantings and towering Douglas-firs make shopping here a uniquely tranquil and relaxing experience. Specialty shops cater to gardeners, chefs and wine lovers. Art lovers flock to the Gallery at Mattick's Farm, which specializes in original artwork by Canadian and international artists and also sells distinctive jewellery, ceramics and glasswork.
Mattick's Farm is a 20-minute drive north of downtown Victoria.
Sidney (Book Town)
It's rare to find 10 bookstores within a four-block radius. It's even rarer to find such a cluster in a small town. That's why the town of Sidney has come to be known as "Book Town."
Like the original "Booktown" in Hay-on-Wye, England, Book Town, Sidney, caters to a wide range of tastes and budgets. Whether it's a rare edition or a bit of light summer reading, chances are good visitors will find something of interest browsing the shelves in Book Town.
Sidney is a 30-minute drive north of downtown Victoria.
Show Less