Adaptatrap is a fun place to visit for anyone, musical or not. Its' apt name refers to the first drum kits, which were known as 'Traps' (short for 'contraptions') onto which anything could be stuck or bolted, as there were no basic layouts then as there are today. Instruments from myriad cultures are brought together in this friendly shop, and the staff make browsers and shoppers feel equally welcome. The stock comprises instruments from Brazil, Australia, Tibet, Ghana, Senegal and several other African countries depending on when you go, there will be instruments from different places, so it's well worth a return visit to see if there are new surprises. On entry you will see a vast array of toy instruments and small hand percussion. There is a good variety of price, catering to those who want fun instruments as gifts and those who are looking for good-quality hand percussion. Further back in the shop are larger instruments Adaptatrap stocks a variety of drums of varying sizes, both hardware and rope tuned, and there are also melody instruments such as the balaphon (African xylophone) and the beautiful kora, an African stringed instrument with similarities to the harp, which uses a large and fabulously decorated gourd as a resonator. The layout largely keeps instruments from different cultures separate, so you can see which instruments come from where, and the staff are very knowledgeable and happy to discuss the origins of the instruments. It's well worth asking questions you can learn a lot about the instruments and the cultures they came from, and the staff can also recommend where to find lessons in many of them. It is as much a world music education centre as a shop, but it's rare that I leave without something it's a great place for fun little presents as well as big instrument purchases. Definitely worth a visit. read more