There are many reason albany rd post office is one of the best in Cardiff…read more The large floor space with multiple staff windows help the flow of customers getting the post sent. They have travel money exchange that can handle larger sums. The shop has a good stock of all types of stationary and postage packaging from letters to boxes. An onsite photo booth and external ATM cash machine are also available.

This is a great little post office that sell precisely everything that you want it to, and they…read morehave a particularly good stationary section. By no means as busy as the post office in the centre of town, this is a great one to pop into if you want to avoid the queues and spend your afternoon doing something productive instead. There is something British and charming about any post office, I think. In this age we live in swiftly moving towards a paperless society, then maybe one day these premises will, all around the country, become obsolete. Perhaps they'll just be empty brick shells that sell stamps to collectors and pencil sharpeners (although only artists would buy them). Balls of fluff will gather in the corners. But no! We cannot let this happen, we must support our local establishments. Without the postal system, how would housewives have affairs? How would charities give you free pens? We would all have boarded up little slots in our front doors. Support! Support! Support!!

This post office is friendly and local and quite charming, actually. They are quite busy, although…read moremanage to serve customers quickly and politely. Better than most banks then. This is a small example of the local post office, it's particularly friendly and quaint. This is a classic little post office that sell precisely everything that you want it to. By no means as busy as the post office in the centre of town, this is a great one to pop into if you want to avoid the queues and spend your afternoon doing something productive instead. There is something British and charming about any post office, I think. In this age we live in swiftly moving towards a paperless society, then maybe one day these premises will, all around the country, become obsolete. Perhaps they'll just be empty brick shells that sell stamps to collectors and pencil sharpeners (although only artists would buy them). Balls of fluff will gather in the corners. But no! We cannot let this happen, we must support our local establishments. Without the postal system, how would housewives have affairs? How would charities give you free pens? We would all have boarded up little slots in our front doors. Support! Support! Support!!

This place is hands down the friendliest little post office in all of Cardiff. Other local post…read moreoffices can make anybody other than fully paid up pension-drawers feel like outsiders, as though they need another three decades as a customer before they're greeted with warmth afforded the lived-here-all-my-life old-timers. In Victoria Park Post Office, however, the chatty postmistress will know your name inside a couple of weeks of visiting, and that can only make the ordinarily drab experience of queuing to send a parcel a touch cheerier. The shop side of things is less of a necessity, given the abundance of convenience stores along Cowbridge Road, but stocks a handy range of stationary and packing materials nevertheless. When post offices closures are aligned with the destruction of local community spirit, you normally think of tiny hamlets and sleepy villages. But this end of Canton would be far poorer without this encouragingly welcoming outlet.

This post office is set in an area which has been quite run down for a while now. Finally though…read moreit's getting back up onto it feet with the increasing popularity of the bay, and small businesses such as this are beginnning to heal. There is something British and charming about any post office, I think. In this age we live in swiftly moving towards a paperless society, then maybe one day these premises will, all around the country, become obsolete. Perhaps they'll just be empty brick shells that sell stamps to collectors and pencil sharpeners (although only artists would buy them). Balls of fluff will gather in the corners. But no! We cannot let this happen, we must support our local establishments. Without the postal system, how would housewives have affairs? How would charities give you free pens? We would all have boarded up little slots in our front doors. Support! Support! Support!!

I avoid the post office in the city centre for a variety of reasons, mainly because I don't want to…read morespend an hour waiting to mail one letter to the States. So I take all of my post to this charming little branch on Bute Street in Cardiff Bay, near Mermaid Quay. This post office has the friendliest and most helpful staff, and I often find myself spending a few extra minutes chatting to Nigel and his lovely team. It has a small-town feel to it, like a place I would've taken my post in the mid-1950s. Like most Royal Mail branches, it's best to avoid this post office between the hours of 11.30 and 1, as the lunch rush means the line nearly extends out the door. Just visit around 10 am or 3 pm and you'll often find nobody there. Another reason to stop by: the charming and sweet retro greeting card selection. Not retro-style, but actually from the 80s and 90s. I buy all of my cards here because they beat a Clintons creation any day of the week. You just have to see it. Trust me.

Oh, I truly adore this post office. It's like walking back into a time when finding countries in…read morewardrobes was possible. Although this is a small example of the local post office, it's particularly friendly and quaint. This is a classic little post office that sell precisely everything that you want it to. By no means as busy as the post office in the centre of town, this is a great one to pop into if you want to avoid the queues and spend your afternoon doing something productive instead. There is something British and charming about any post office, I think. In this age we live in swiftly moving towards a paperless society, then maybe one day these premises will, all around the country, become obsolete. Perhaps they'll just be empty brick shells that sell stamps to collectors and pencil sharpeners (although only artists would buy them). Balls of fluff will gather in the corners. But no! We cannot let this happen, we must support our local establishments. Without the postal system, how would housewives have affairs? How would charities give you free pens? We would all have boarded up little slots in our front doors. Support! Support! Support!!

This is a small post office on St Fagan's Road, Fairwater, Cardiff. Family run with all the usual…read morepost office facilities, the staff are always friendly and helpful with your enquiries at the counter. I use this post office regularly as it is quite close to me, I never have to queue very long and the staff always smile. Usual post office activities of stamps, sending letters, parcels etc, pay bills, get cash at the counter, greetings cards for sale and also a small grocery section for your forgotten items or top up shopping. No car tax facility at this office though so I have to travel further to an alternative office.

This is an exceptionally handy store in Pontcanna which has somehow managed to keep it clientele in…read morethe age of local supermarkets sprouting up left right and centre. Back in the day, Pontcanna was full of little corner shops, and now only a few remain, and this is the only one that's not rundown and tired. Pontcanna Stores is an independent Spar, of sorts. It sells a wide range of food and drink, including fresh fruit and vegetables and frozen food. basically, when you can't decide what to cook for dinner and Tesco is too far away, this is your place. This store is also a Post Office; they joined forces many years ago after knocking through their dividing wall. Now this is a well used hub of postage labels and envelopes. A very handy shop, which is run by some lovely people. It's also very tidy and well laid out, and surprisingly large once you're inside.

You can tell when you are in the posh part of town when the corner shops have displays for…read moreexclusive studio family photography in the window, like Pontcanna Stores does! It is possibly a little misleading to call this outlet a corner shop, because in reality it is a lot bigger than your average grocers, and of course, does a whole lot more. It's a Post Office, newsagent, grocers and off-license, that maintains a really high standard throughout. Run by an Asian family, they inevitably work really hard. With the supermarkets upping the ante each year it's just as well. I wonder who will ultimately win the battle for grocery business, (the multi-trillion squillion market for food)... will we ultimately realise that the supermarkets are breaking up our communities, and start voting with our feet and hearts... paying that little extra to shop locally, but saving on fuel and reducing our carbon footprint? Or will the Asian shop-kepper win the battle on their own... ever ingenious, and always willing to work until it hurts and beyond... will they simply not give up the battle until it's won? I hope so.

Although this post office is annoyingly out of my way, I still forgive them every time I finally…read moremake it there with sweat dripping down my neck, and they greet me with lovely smiles. Darn them. This is a classic little post office that sell precisely everything that you want it to. By no means as busy as the post office in the centre of town, this is a great one to pop into if you want to avoid the queues and spend your afternoon doing something productive instead. There is something British and charming about any post office, I think. In this age we live in swiftly moving towards a paperless society, then maybe one day these premises will, all around the country, become obsolete. Perhaps they'll just be empty brick shells that sell stamps to collectors and pencil sharpeners (although only artists would buy them). Balls of fluff will gather in the corners. But no! We cannot let this happen, we must support our local establishments. Without the postal system, how would housewives have affairs? How would charities give you free pens? We would all have boarded up little slots in our front doors. Support! Support! Support!!

This is a classic little post office that sell precisely everything that you want it to. By no…read moremeans as busy as the post office in the centre of town, this is a great one to pop into if you want to avoid the queues and spend your afternoon doing something productive instead. There is something British and charming about any post office, I think. In this age we live in swiftly moving towards a paperless society, then maybe one day these premises will, all around the country, become obsolete. Perhaps they'll just be empty brick shells that sell stamps to collectors and pencil sharpeners (although only artists would buy them). Balls of fluff will gather in the corners. But no! We cannot let this happen, we must support our local establishments. Without the postal system, how would housewives have affairs? How would charities give you free pens? We would all have boarded up little slots in our front doors. Support! Support! Support!!

Small post office with a difference! In addition to stocking the usual post office staples of…read morestationary, cards etc... this sub post office had devoted 50% of its premises to being an internet cafe! Called 'hub@thesub'. Customers could surf the internet for £1 per 30 minutes with tea and coffee being available. When I visited, the place was very busy with people printing, downloading etc... Although a simple idea it seemed very popular and may be a concept imitated by other sub post offices fighting for survival (and good for them)!

The sign above McGinley's reads; 'McGinley's World Famous Fish and Chips'. Now, I'm not sure about…read morethe 'world famous' bit, but I know that this particular fish and ship shop is pretty well known in Cardiff... and I guess that this is all that matters... I can't imagine that fish and chips travel so well! I guess that the 'world famous' claim has got more to do with appearances than anything else. It certainly lends this really well presented fish and chip shop an air of superiority, and is in keeping with the look of the place. Unlike so many of the other fast food outlets in the area, McGinley's have opted to paint their shop front in black gloss, as opposed to the really bright colours that are often chosen by the others. There are no flashing lights, neon signs and a plethora of signs and notices here! Inside it's a similar story. McGinley's have opted to keep things simple but classy. They have a state of the art stainless steel serving counter and a tiled waiting area where you can stand and watch your dinner being made. All of the fish is cooked to order, and so is always really crispy and fresh. McGinley's is a popular choice for families and students. They do a Jumbo Fish option that is a particular favourite. The pieces are so huge that they can be shared, making the prices eminently affordable.

Since this chip shop has been under new management the food has been fantastic and the service is…read morefast and friendly too! Prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are excellent making it great value. I will definitely be using this chip shop as my regular now, even if I do have to travel past other chip shops - it is worth it.