This is a fantastic card shop in the centre of Bath on Milsom Street, it hasn't been here very long…read moreonly a few years but it has already made it's mark for really high quality cards and gifts. It's a large shop filled floor to ceiling with cards for every occasion, for him and for her, funny and sentimental, occasions such as moving home and leaving job are also catered for with a wide range of syles and choice. They also do a wonderful range of wrapping paper, really beautiful pieces with complimenting tags and bows or ribbons as well as lovely albums and diaries. I would say some items are rather on the pricey side but you are paying for quality so it's not unreasonable.

Named after the song in one of the most wonderful yet tragic motion pictures of our time (with just…read morea hint of sarcasm there), Hakuna Matata is Easton's head-shop - your one stop for all that is associated with smoking dope, getting high and the Rastafarian community. In this shop you can find all the expected grinders, papers, lighters, stash boxes and magazines affiliated with marijuana that you would expect, plus a few extras you may not have thought of. They have a very broad and wonderful smelling incense and scent collection for starters, and a good collection of Indian-based art postcards. More gems that I found (excusing the pun) were some healing crystals and the guide books to go with them. This isn't just a collection of getting high tat, but rather a well thought out stock of gifts and treats based around a more relaxed and easy going way of life.

Not just another " head shop " But an amazing gift shop also offering craft and clothing from many…read moreparts of Africa, Urban clothing at reasonable prices, greeting cards, sandals, jewellery including body piercings, and of course the biggest selection of smoking paraphernalia in Bristol, A one stop experience for all your gifty needs, Llewsob

The second The Entertainer in Bristol - find the original smaller store on the edge of Broadmead's…read moreshopping centre next to Boots. This one is bigger and feels like it is verging on Toys R Us territory - more plastic and brands than a feel that you are in an exiting toy shop. Staff are helpful at finding you things - understanding that I had no idea who Ben 10 was (but my nephew knew him very well - phew!) which is just as well as after a few circuits in here you tend to give up. Just not fun. Still, it is still better than Toys R Us.

As much as the taste of a Werthers Original reminds me of being five years old, so does the memory…read moreof walking into the old fashioned toy shop around the corner from my house. The shelves were lined with simple tricks and toys to entertain even the most petulant or hard to please child. Zoom forward twenty years and a walk around the joyful Avon Models is always guaranteed to take me right back to my childhood. Tucked away in a corner of the indoor section of St Nicholas' Market, it would be all too easy to walk past this stall unnoticed, but I beg that you don't. Not just for kids, this is a great place to find stocking fillers and gag gifts. Whenever I look through their build-your-own kits, sets of dominoes and paint-by-numbers I am positively swept over by a wave of nostalgia. Not to sound too old before my time but if you have children, tear them away from their Wii's and iPod's and get them down to Avon Model's for true old fashioned fun!

If your looking for that extra special toy, the more handcrafted look, or something you know the…read moreother children wont have then this is a good place to visit. A good selection of ealy learning toys is one of the best features of this shop. Everything is just a little more personal in here, and it feels as if you are looking for a toy for a special birthday. For the little Brunels growing up in Bristol the craft toys will provide a great source of entertainment.

In a world full of plastic toys and computer gadgets Playfull Toyshop is the perfect antidote. This…read moreshop is probably not for everyday toys - but is great for presents or special occasions. Not knowing the first thing what it's like to be a child in the 21st century I'm incredibly grateful for the helpful staff at Playfull Toyshop who took a great deal of time helping me pick the ideal gift for my new Godson. These toys are long-lasting, and the prices reflect that, so make sure you choose wisely.

If you want to go to Blooms Garden Centre how about making a day of it and looking round the Craft…read moreVillage attached. In the Craft Village there is a diverse range of craft outlets to look round. For the budding artist there are a couple of ceramic painting places where you can chose a plate or ornament and spend an hour or two happily painting away. There is a canvas printers, phtographers studio and sand art. There is also a butterfly house and a small kids soft play centre. If you fancy a break there is a cafe too so all in all the makings of a lovely day out.

This is a hidden gem in Swindon. It is situated at the back of a garden centre, just off of…read morejunction 16 of the M4 motorway. I would say that it is a brilliant place to take children for something different. There is a children's play area in the middle, where the children can play whilst you take a break and have a cup of coffee. All around the play area are small retail units, specialising in lots of different craft things. You could for example make a piece of pottery. Children could make a handprint. You can buy things like knitting wool and get advice on what you need. There is a photographers where you can have professional photos taken and there is also Butterfly world, where you can wander amongst lots of butterflies.

It's good that there's a sanitising station by the door, and the staff seem like they're very…read moreconscious of wearing masks. The staff member with the short blonde hair (he him?) did an excellent job despite being alone in the shop when we were there.

My lord, i love crafty shops. This is like a mecca for…read morecrafty people! I've shopped around for various craft supplies and hobbycraft isn't as expensive as i thought it would be, it has the added bonus of being all under one roof. I don't agree with previous comments that it's a shop for lazy people, if you are short on time then it's the best place. Smaller more personable hobby shops which are lovely will inevitably be more expensive and smaller in size including options for stock so it depends what you are after. i used to buy online from independent sellers but you do get less for your money and if you are intending to sell your items you create like i do, every penny makes a difference. Another good place to check out is local garden Centres, would be surprised the things i've found! They sell an abundance of Christmas crafts, ribbon, buttons, pendants, beads, modelling craft, decoupage, flower arranging, kids crafts and art work, cake decorating icing/ materials and that's just down stairs! It does get very bust on weekends, deducting a star for the times i've had to wait in the que for half and hour or more. They do seem to lack the correct number of staff in my opinion but the staff they do have are helpful as can be. If you are just starting off looking for a new hobby or unsure where to go with some craft ideas, just go for a visit, your not obligated to buy anything. You'll get 1001 ideas and inspirations :)

Hobby Craft is basically a craft shop for lazy people, who don't really take craftwork that…read moreseriously. For if they did they would almost certainly shop around and get things cheaper, better and more specialized. For what it is though (craft shop for lazy people) it is pretty good as they have a wide selection of materials and pretty much everything you need under one roof. I have to admit using this one in particular as it is nice and big and I know they will have the specific item I'm looking for. If only the prices were that little bit cheaper. Sorry, scrap that, if only the prices were a lot cheaper, it would be a pretty good chained store. As it stands at the moment it is quite frankly a rip off.