Raced around, taking in a few shops (6)
I believe the answer is:
arcade
'few shops' is the definition.
'arcade' can be an answer for 'shops' (I've seen this before). I am not sure about the 'few' bit.
'raced around taking in a' is the wordplay.
'around' is an anagram indicator.
'taking in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'raced' anagrammed gives 'arcde'.
'arcde' placed around 'a' is 'ARCADE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for arcade that I've seen before include "Covered passage of e.g. shops" , "Here one may find shops" , "Covered way with shops on either side" , "games area?" , "Covered (shopping) walk" .)