The essential guide to the best places to shop, eat and relax in Wolverhampton. Find the best restaurants, cinemas and nightlife spots along with general need-to-know information including shopping hours and going out tips.

The pedestrianised city centre is where Wolverhampton's mix of national chains and independently-run shops are mostly located. Marks & Spencer and Boots are on Dudley Street, near the Metro Station. HMV is in the Mander Centre.

Tettenhall's Upper Green offers a village atmosphere and a range of traditional and boutique shops.

Wolverhampton's award-winning markets (open Tue, Wed and Sat) are in the south-west of the city centre, off Salop Street. The outdoor market has fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and specialist stalls selling olives, flowers and Indian spices, while the indoor market is the place to go for antiques, collectibles and crafts. Other markets can be found at Bilston and Wednesfield.

Shopping hours are 9am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm or 11am-5pm on Sunday.

Wolverhampton's best department store is Beatties, a five-floored monster, off Victoria and Darlington Streets.

Markets off Salop Street, tea and cakes in Beatties' café

Given Wolverhampton is the fifth-largest university in the UK, it's no surprise that the city has a wealth of bars and clubs. Lichfield Street has many chain pubs (Moon Under Water, O'Neills) along with one-off bars such as The Bank and Goose in the City. Other bar-studded streets include Queen Street (Walkabout, Eurobar) and Stafford Street (Hogs Head plus others) near the university campus. Do try the locally brewed Banks' bitter.

The student Arena Theatre welcomes up-and-coming performing arts talent, from comedy and dance to poetry and theatre. The programme is ambitious and lively. The Grand Theatre welcomes touring West End theatre and musicals, as well as ballet and opera. The Civic and Wulfrun Halls welcome classical orchestras, world music and rock bands. Comedy talent and live music come to the Little Civic Hall.

For those who like a flutter, Wolverhampton has floodlit horse-racing at Dunstall Racecourse and greyhound and speedway racing at the Ladbroke Stadium.

Art-house movies in The Light House, live music at Wulfrun Hall

Thanks to a substantial Indian and Pakistani population, Wolverhampton has over 15 Balti and Tandoori restaurants. School Street and Stafford Street offer many types of cuisine - Chinese, English, Greek and Italian. Fast food places congregate on Dudley Street and Market Street, while Darlington Street has Made In Thai.

There is a good selection of curry houses on Broad Street and Cleveland Street.

Expect to pay less than £10 per head for a standard pub lunch/curry, while a more upmarket three-course meal will set you back between £20 and £30 per head.

Winner of the curry chef of the year award, the Bilash Tandoori serves freshly cooked Bangladeshi cuisine to discerning customers. Try the famed Murghi Diya Donia (chicken with coriander) served with stir-fried noodles.

No matter how hungry you are, you will leave satisfied thanks to the lunch buffet (all you can eat) of 20 dishes and the evening buffet of 40 dishes.

9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Council administration, education.

City centre (administration), University of Wolverhampton campus.