London is tops for shops

London has been voted the world's best capital city for shopping. It won seven out of 24 store categories and was also runner-up in 13 areas.

Harrods was voted best for food and the General Trading Company was best home design shop.

Berry Bros and Rudd was best for wine, James Purdey & Sons for guns, Anderson and Sheppard - whose customers include Prince Philip and Prince Charles - for suits, Lobb for shoes and JJ Fox and Robert Lewis for tobacco.

Runners-up in the survey for Forbes magazine included the toy shop Hamleys, Foyles the book store, gourmet retailer Fortnum and Mason and Asprey & Garrard, the jeweller.

New York also scored seven top places, but it was runner-up in only seven categories. Paris won five categories and Milan two. Other winners came from Boston, Massachusetts, and California.

Forbes said: "This was the first poll of its kind. The winners include less familiar names as well as famous stores."

A separate survey shows that men will spend more on Christmas gifts than their female partners. On average, the biggest romantic spender is expected to be male, aged 16 to 34, who has been in a relationship for one to two years but does not live with his partner.

The least extravagant shopper is a married woman with no children who has been in a relationship for more than 20 years.

The survey, by RBS Advanta credit card company, also showed the longer people are in a relationship the less money they spend on Christmas gifts.

Couples in a relationship for one to two years spend an average of £101 to £200 compared to £51 to £100 for longer relationships.