Boots is the pharmacy/health and beauty equivalent of a supermarket. It's got a pharmacy section on…read morethe top floor, with pretty much every medicine you could think of and well-trained staff. The ground floor has health and beauty products ranging from sanitary products to bubble bath to make-up. Pretty much all mainstream brands are in here and Boots own-brand products are often exactly the same as more expensive equivalent brands, but half the price. They do a small range of food and drink for snacks and lunchtime, which tries to be healthy, but is just the same as you can get in most high street shops that are trying to diversify into lunches. Keep an eye out for lunch deals where you can get a sandwich, snack and drink combo deal for a good price.

No trip to England would be complete without a stop at a Boots…read more When have you ever rememebred to pack *everything*? For me, that answer is never! So off to Boots for some great smelly soap & shampoo - I like their Boots Brand Lilac fragrance the best And while you're there, pick up some water or some fun nail polish, or a 220v hairdryer.... or whatever Boots has it all!

This newly opened Boots has replaced their longstanding store just ten seconds further down. I'm…read moreincreasingly confused about why the good people of Boots spent the time and money to make this venture - as it is seems to be exactly the same inside! You may think that every Boots in the country is going to be the same; generic, bland but ultimately useful. But you'd be wrong! This Boots is FANTASTIC. It's absolutely massive for a start so you're bound to find whatever cosmetic or pharmaceutical product you're after. And best of all it has the most helpful and friendly staff of any shop in Bath. Whenever I've been in, one of the shop assistants has been at hand to help me find me exactly what I'm after or recommend something new to me. This Boots also has a great range of cosmetics and perfumes which I've never seen in any of their other stores. My best buy here has been the new Prada perfume at £35 which was sold out everywhere else I'd been.

No doubt trying to capitalise on the recent opening of Westgate 'shopping centre' - quite literally…read morethe most pointless and film-set (as in Bath stone slapped over a makeshift metal frame) like collection of shops I've seen in a long while. Boots should have stayed in their original position, which was a much bigger store, and saved themselves a packet of money. The layout has been kept more or less the same, though, which is a boon, as I got to know my way around the other one pretty well when hunting for cold remedy and the like. It's just that I hate coming into Westgate. Bah.

Superdrug is a great little shop, it doesn't have as big a range as Boots but has lots of bargains…read more I love the gift range, they have a good selection of sets and at very good prices. They have a good range of magazines, confectionery, and food and drink. It doesn't really get too busy in here, so service is usually pretty good. The range of make-up and perfume is quite good, and they have a lot of essential toiletries too. They do have good multi-buy offers on brand products sometimes, which is great. It's worth trying some of the Superdrug own ranges too, because they are pretty good and very good value for money! Sometimes they have 5% off stamps, which is great to get while you are picking up some essentials. Staff are friendly and helpful, ask if you need anything.

A quiet - even at lunch times - store just out of the way in the centre of Oxford, this is a good…read moreplace to go for toiletries at good prices. It's well-stocked, convenient, and staff are friendly. It benefits from not being as busy as other stores in the vicinity.

Located in the recently opened East Oxford Health Centre, Jenners Pharmacy is adjacent to two…read moredoctors surgeries, with another close by, hence they are always reasonably busy, though you shouldn't have to wait long. Staff are friendly and service is reasonably quick. They also have an automated system which retrieves you prescription medicines using a robot arm and a track, which will keep you entertained while you wait!

This was our big Boots that was knocked down to build the Southgate development. The current main…read morestore is on Stall Street and is too small - awful to shop in at weekends, but OK during the week. Staff are really helpful, the stock isn't nearly as good as the old store and a third of teh store is premium beauty (because rich people shop in Bath, probably). Not much space for Christmas stock here, but you can still get your toothbrush and deodorant, and the pharmacy counter always has good advice.

Boots moved into this location around 2007 when the new Southgate development was planned in Bath…read more Initially I hated the new Boots; it wasn't significantly smaller than the old location but the items it stocks seems a lot less. Now I used to it, its not so bad! Staff are very friendly, they provide helpful advise and stocks are usually good on most items I buy. More recently they've put more shelving in the makeup section which makes it much more tricky to just get into the store; maybe the ladies like it but as a bloke, I hate having to dodge my way through shoppers just to get to the lunch section (sorry I've become a grumpy old man :) )

I don't envy Superdrug. While someone certainly has to step up and try to compete with Boots, it's…read morea tough job. Superdrug tries, but falls short. I find the shelves too overloaded and the merchandise display to be a bit overwhelming where Boots is a bit wider and cleaner and, perhaps, friendlier. As for the prices, my inexact survey indicated that they were about equivalent. Sorry, Superdrug.

this superdrug the biggest one in reading. this one has a 3…read moremobile store at the front of the store. there is a perfume store with its own counter and the perfumes are usually good value. there is a chemists at the back of the store and the queues are usually shorter than in boots in the Oracle. there are always good offers on toiletries here including shampoo on buy one get one free, and sensibly priced over the counter medicines. There are also things for the bathroom and house like toasters, sometimes cheap DVD players, and boxes for bathroom storage.

Terrible service, and poorly organised, went to buy razor and cartridges set, took the card…read morerequired to the till only to be told they didn't have the product, after being in line. Surely it would be logical to remove the place cards if the product is not in stock?

I have a Rx med for a eye condition that I think I will run out of. I have the Rx, but they can't…read moreaccept a USA referral. The pharmacist gave me instructions to call and get a special waiver. But from my hotel phone. I have the med, I just want back up. We ll see She was very kind.

One of the best open all hours Chemists for an emergency. Best not to buy condoms and Vaseline for…read moremy skin condition at the same time dressed in bike leathers, but they don't laugh though. Shame there not open to 10pm. It used to be handy if my kids needed anything urgent. Very competent staff indeed, but as commented above they do watch you like a hawk. Probably due to thefts and just trying to guide you.

This is a good enough local pharmacy - nothing out of the ordinary, but you can get most things you…read moreneed in here. The only downside is that you're likely to pop into someone you know, so maybe not the greatest place for STD creams or nit treatment! The staff are helpful, if a little nosy. Sometimes there are 2 or 3 of them watching me while I'm trying to find plasters or cotton buds. I expect they're just bored, but it's still pretty offputting. They're always keen to help with medicine though, and they're used to every sort of ailment. If you're a regular sufferer of manflu, they'll provide much sought after sympathy and dose you up with Lemsip and Soothers. Prices are reasonable and although some things are a bit more than in Boots or Superdrug, the difference is only a matter of pence, and if you live near here, it's completely worth avoiding the battle through tourists in town and the neon business of chain pharmacy superstores.

This Boots store, located in a retail park, is not as large as it's compatriot in the city centre…read morebut is still well stocked. As it's a bit out of the way, it's an excellent choice to visit for some bargains, especially in the recent Christmas sales, or if you're paying a visit to the nearby Tesco. Parking is easily available outside and the staff are friendly and quick to offer help.

Laura got me on to this little pharmacy type place. It is poifect for stocking up on essentials…read morebefore a festival. If you go to Boot's you often end up paying through the nose (although the advantage points and offers are some consolation) but at Savers you just get what you need, no frills, no tempting offers because everything is already so cheap. It sells hayfever medicine cheaper than anywhere else in town and there are all the main brands of shampoos, hair dyes and moisturisers etc at cut prices. I don't know how they do it but it's worth taking a detour if your toiletry stocks are running low.

Savers! A shop that's got the bare essentials of any big supermarket, at a discounted price. Sounds…read moregood already eh? I come here when I need anything for the home. They stock washing basics, toiletries, make up, baby bits, and now they've started stocking some food too! On top of all the things here that are already cheaper than usual, they always have offers on. The main draw are their prices; I just paid 89p for Vaseline, the new Loreal Perfect Colour 10 hair dye for £3.99, and 20 bin liners for 69p. It isn't as if you're getting lower quality for a lower price, as all their items are of known brands. A really great shop to save some pennies!