Marks and Spencer have really tried hard to get away from the twin set and pearls look of…read moreyesteryear and now have a good fashionable range with their per una range. The store is very clean and tidy and easy to find your way round. There is a children's section and of course the highly popular food section. Unfortunately the food section in the Basingstoke store is not as well stocked as the store in Reading.

The Marks and Spencers at the Festival Place is a medium sized branch. It has the Per Una line as…read morewell as a housewares section, Mens clothing section, a small children's section, a cafe, grocery store, and women's clothing section. Their customer service is fantastic, we ordered food there and when there was a mistake they more than made up for it with discounts and still making sure the correct order got to us on time. It is quite a busy store, especially on the weekend and around Christmas. If you shop near Christmas time make sure you make use of their 3 for 2 deals!

As a new resident and homeowner in England, John Lewis' High Wycombe store is a life saver…read more This store specializes in home furnishings, curtains and blinds, fitted furnishings, and major appliances. It was a one stop shop for me. We went there on a Saturday and there was so much to choose from that it quickly became a daunting exercise. Especially since it was so crowded. Luckily, John Lewis offers a home advisor. You can get assistance in-store, with an appointment, for free where an advisor will work with you to find what you're looking for. Or, you can pay £200 and have an advisor come to you. We opted for the latter since I wasn't looking forward to going back there anytime soon. There was just way too many people there on the weekend. It did take someone 2 weeks to finally get to our house, but she spent a lot of time with us, asking questions, going through each room, making lists, taking pictures, and getting a sense of our overall needs and aesthetic. We then have to wait 2 weeks more to visit her at JL High Wycombe to see her presentation of suggestions for our home. The best thing about this service is, she becomes project manager of furnishing our house. I will have one contact at JL that will make sure all deliveries are made, are correct, and fit the space. Plus, if I am unsatisfied with anything, she will organize removal and refund. The £200 will go towards the purchase of curtains or blinds. I think it has to be put towards a specific type of purchase at JL. We also had someone from JL sent to us to fit and measure built-in closets in our master bedroom. So we were really fortunate to be able to get assistance with our new home right away and easily. The quality of furnishings looked top notch. In the U.S., I am a big fan of Nordstrom where the customer is ALWAYS right, and feel that I am getting close to that type of service at JL. So I am pleased so far.

This store was refurbished 12/18 months ago and now has a much smaller furniture range but a…read morefabulous ladies clothes section. Lots of choice as you would expect from a John Lewis store. They also have a pleasant 'restaurant' which is more a cafe with pleasant staff, although their knowledge of what is on offer is limited! I also have an issue with the staff in the ladies changing room who were unhelpful and more interested in chatting then assisting customers. However the male member of staff on the ground floor who helped me choose a new iron was knowledgable and very helpful. I was also looking at the store guide when a member of staff came over and helped me find what I was looking for. There is also lots of parking available. So overall I would recommend this branch of John Lewis, the only reason I did not rate this 5 star is because of a few poor staff.

Massive department store on Reading's high street, John Lewis has everything. No cheap knock-offs…read morehere, it's all name brands and it's all expensive. Similar in theme to Macy's or Dillard's or Bloomingdale's in the States, the John Lewis department store is carved up into various sections for menswear, ladieswear, boys, girls, housewares, electronics, jewelry, perfumes and more. Very good service, which is what you are paying for. The electronics department includes televisions, radios and computers, priced at what I think are above PC World and Argos prices. All that said, it's a lovely store and a pleasant shopping experience. If I ever win the lottery, this is where I will blow most of my winnings.

A fantastic, all-in-one, department store…read more The departments were clean and organised, the staff friendly and helpful, the selection varied, and the location perfect for those that want to make a day of shopping as it is surrounded by stores. The bedding and furniture departments were delightful in options and prices, everything from cheap as chips to in my dreams. The clothing has some great sales if you are able to come at the right time, and there seems to never be lines for the dressing rooms (that alone would make anyone a fan). Departments include clothing (mens/women/children), shoes, housewares, makeup/perfume, accessories, electronics, you name it they have it. Great if you need a gift for someone and are at a loss as there is bound to be something here. Should you not be able to make it to the Reading location, John Lewis also has an online gift registry which is sure to make life easier for all. Enjoy!

This is a very large store, spread out over a number of floors you can get anything you need…read morefashion or home wise. A lot of the brands they sell can be pricey, although they seem to have sales every few weeks so you can always save some money. I was lucky enough to be able to go a preview night before it opened in 2011. They also have an outlet store in the Kennet Centre where they previously were.

Excellent shop and good food cafe area with reasonable prices. Cafe area is light and airy and…read moremodern. Excellent baby facilities here too with crayons , bibs and spoons. High chairs available as well. Good views out on to the park.

quality is no longer priority all clothes Chinese or Bangladeshi, sizes are awful and so is cut of…read moregarments .They also wash up poorly. many years ago they proudly displayed signs stating 90% of items sold British made. M And S will surely disappear from the high street you can't sell this rubbish for long

Marks and Sparks. I've heard so much about M&S from Mrs. K. (my wife is a Brit who moved to the…read moreStates), I had to make sure to stop by here at least once. Marks is the quintessential British department store. With departments selling everything from clothing to kitchen appliances to bed and bath soft furnishings, plus a major supermarket of food, it's possible that you could shop M&S and never need to go anywhere else. They literally sell everything but cars! Very good quality stuff. Not just the clothing (which tends to run more towards the expensive side than the moderate end), the food options are plentiful. Lots of ready-to-heat items and things that need little preparation. I managed to find exactly what I needed - a decent pair of sneakers and a warm sweater. I also stocked up on a few eats too. Yay, Marks and Sparks! I'll be back.

High fashion, which reminded me of Macy's or Sax's Fifth Avenue in the States. Lots of "famous"…read morename brand clothing at undiscounted prices for those who simply must wear whatever it is that's in season this season. Needless to say, that's not me. This store also has a furniture and housewares department with prices that just about gave me a nosebleed. But if that's you, this is your store. Ask about the personal shopper and the "gold shopper" lounge. Woo!

This is a great Debenhams.its massive, and really has everything you could hope for in a debenhams!…read more The staff are superhelpful, and when I recently went in to get some makeup needed to cover a blackeye(darn muggers!) for an interview, they were much nicer than the ladies in Boots in trying to help me find the best solution!

Wilkinsons is great, everything you could want or need in one shop. I have often found myself…read morepopping in for something but cannot walk away without some bargains, the prices are excellent and often have a great deals. Things you actually want and need aswell unlike some shops which only offer things you dont really want but buy as they are on offer. They sell everything you could need, first is beauty products from make up to hair dye, cleaning stuff, bedroom furniture and paint, food, childrens toys, photo frames, books, fake christmas tree's, perfect gifts, gazebos and garden furniture. They only do baskets, which you will end up filling to the brim with complete bargins, the shop is well laid out and easy to navigate, staff are never very far away and always on hand to help.

A large Wilkinson store, with a surprising amount of stock…read more Its like a lower grade homebase, which sells the similar items but simply cheaper versions. Quite impressive for the breadth of products stocked, including toiletries and pet food, to paint and seasonal items as well as hardware for the home. A nice coke cooler provides coke cola, at just the right price and temp, as well as a decent confectionery area. Checkouts always well manned and the lower levels of service on the shop floor are covered by much lower prices. However much of what they sell isnt such a bargain as its much lower quality good, so be carefully and grab a good item for a decent price rather than a poor one for a low price

Wilkinsons in the Chiltern Centre in High Wycombe is a great place for bargains especially in…read morehousehold goods. It sells lots of different things usually at very good prices. I found children's books as much as £3 cheaper there so it's always worth a look. They often have special offers or good reductions in their sales so it's lways busy in there. The location isn't great as with the new Eden shopping centre open the Chiltern Centre has lost a lot of it's shops and the place feels a bit empty now. Hopefully they fill some of the empty stores and it will continue to fare better.

Don't think I ever do a shopping trip to Wycombe without visiting Wilkinson's. Generally everything…read moreis good value, and they cover a wide range of items. Particularly good for gardening items in the spring and summer. It has recently had a bit of makeover in the household department, which means things are better displayed and easier to find.