I was afraid I might die. The ceiling of this place has bits literally falling off. Exposed metal…read morewith paint chips the size of dinner plates just falling to the ground. It is in need of some SERIOUS repair. That being said, it is like all of the other discount stores around, you will find good(or not so good ) deals, one thing that absolutely surprised me was their shoes. They started at sz 4 and went up to a size 8. I'm not at all sure if there is a difference in our shoe sizing, but that just seemed rather odd to me.

I spent nearly an hour in here yesterday as I love to browse all the different departments and…read morethere is so much stock to look at. Situated in the Market Hall above Wilkinsons this shop is massive. I love the the way that the stock changes all the time and that you can always find a bargain, whether it is a pair of shoes, a handbag or a new throw for the couch. The different depatments include womens, cildrens and menswear. Although they do homewares and often small items of furniture aswell. I love to look at the children's toys although the range can be quite limited in our store and I have seen better in other towns. The fitting room are huge although I am not keen on the doors which seem to be quite small with a huge gap at the bottom not good if you bend down to far. I only realised yesterday that our store stocks children's bedding in particular baby sleeping bags which I wish I has known before I had bought my daughter a new one last week. I also love the range of photo albums that they always stock and can't resist coming away without one everytime I am here. They are definitely at least half the price of any equivalent shop elsewhere in town. I would defintiely recommend visiting here if you have at least an hour to kill and everyone loves a bargain.

I always shop here for handbags and gifts for the women I know. You can often find really nice…read morepieces of jewellery that look a different and stunning. The handbags are fantastic quality for the price which isn't that much. I just paid £20 for a huge leather handbag. The staff stay out of your way while you are browsing so it isn't like you are being pressured into shopping. A lovely shop!

Monsoon for clothes, Accessorize for great jewellery. Worth a visit at sales times. The stuff for…read morelittle girls is very appealing, and better than some of the cheap pink stuff around.

The first Fair Trade shop to open in Carlisle. Well worth supporting. Tucked away in a lane next to…read moreHSBC. You can find jewellery, hand made cards, wrapping paper, foodstuffs (more range than Fair Trade goods you find in supermarkets). Has a large range of Fair Trade clothing also.

Adorable store. What a delightful surprise. Though a bit challenging to find, once you get there,…read moreyou will not be disappointed. They have unusual merchandise and because everything is FairTrade, there is no guilt. Great GIFTS~!

This is your typical large fast fashion retail outlet. I have only ever seen one outside of the UK…read moreand that was in King of Prussia, PA. Sadly my luggage was HEAVY and I didn't dare tempt myself then. Onward, Primark is packed full of current trend items for men and women. From the latest designs in today's fabrics to who ever the hot star is current catch phrase emblazoned on a tee shirt. They had a fairly comprehensive lingerie and makeup section, though they didn't go over a 38G in their sizing. All in all, I wasn't in the mood to shop and that might have coloured my mood, but it's an OK store.

I really do love Matalan for their really great prices. Although I do feel that you have to be…read morecareful with what you buy as I have had a few cheap vest shops completely reshape themselves in the wash. Apart from that I have never had a problem with any other item from here. They stock childrens, mens and womens clothes including shoes all at really low prices, and if there is a sale on then it is even better. The lingerie is a particular fave of mine as there is always an offer on the knickers where you get three pairs for a fiver. You do need a Matalan card to make a purchase but you can sign up for free in the store and they often have member only offers aswell such as two tops for £6 which was on recently. I adore the Homeware section as they stock everything from gorgeous prints to cheap tea towels and most of my kitchen accessories are from here. They are always right on trend with their colours and patterns. The bedding is really good and I am still using a duvet set which I bought from here five years ago and it looks as good as new. There can quite often be quite a queue but it does move quickly and the staff are always happy to help. If you can't find a certain size they will go and have a look in the back for you and more often than not do come back with it.

Matalan has a huge range of clothing, so you can usually find something. The clothes are cheap, but…read morecan fall to bits quite quickly, so for some things it's worth paying a bit more to have it last longer. The queues here can be massive. You need to have a Matalan card to shop here. Matalan does have a classy range of homeware and interior furnishings. Their duvets and pillows are very good value. Be careful when you park not to leave your car after going to Matalan and nip into town. I got fined for doing that; they've changed the rules recently. Silly really, I've never seen that car park anywhere near full.

The cafe is great. They make these weird toasties, its like a sandwich with cheese grated on the…read moretop, so like cheese on toast but its cheese on sandwich. Is this a carlisle thing? Ive never seen it anywhere else, ever! Best for tea and scones with jam and cream! yum.

M&S is a good shop, with great customer service from the staff. The clothes department are very…read moregood, although the sizes sometimes are a bit crazy. But there are plenty of different items to chose from, in different styles and colours. The food hall has a wide range of products, from snacks and sandwiches, through to fresh fruit and vegetables, and microwave meals. It can be quite pricey, but you can taste the quality.

I used to love shopping in BHS but I don't go in as much as I used to. I feel that they haven't…read morereally moved with the times and the store is so difficult to navigate with a buggy. Their clothes seem to be targeted towards the older lady, although a couple of years ago I got a gorgeous pair of ballerina flatties in the sale really cheap. They are brilliant for work and are still looking quite new although I wear them everyday. At Christmas BHS has a great gift range and it is even better when they have the 20% off days in the run up to Christmas. YOu can get some really good bargains and they do have some good novelty items and stocking fillers. I do really like to look at the lighting section upstairs but it can be quite expensive. They do tend to have some very quirky lampshades that can add a lovely and different finishing touch to a room though.

Of the places in carlisle where someone can buy children's clothes, this is one fo my favourite…read more Like all BHS stores, it has good quality products for reasonable prices. It may not always be the most fashionable but you know what you're getting will last. With children's, ladies and shoes downstairs and men's and household upstairs, it's not difficult to find your way round. There is also a little restaurant on the ground floor for a much needed break after too much shopping!