Really nice little shop that provides all the books you can think of and all the stationary you…read morewill ever need and more!! The best bit for me though is that they usually have a 2 for £2.50 on the irn-bru which is great for me and they sell vitamin water I love that they sell it.

Nice store, impeccably maintained. It has a particularly nice selection of books about the Isle of…read moreMan, including some CD's of Manx music and some DVD's (not sure if they work in other regions of the world. Friendly staff that lets you browse peacefully until needed.

Isle of Man has numerous thrift shops, Crossroads Boutique and Dress Agency will accept top…read morequality items on consignment. They accept up to 10 items at a time, the donor completes a form with their contact info, if items are sold the donor receives a check at month end. If after four weeks, the items are not sold, the items are kept as donations to the shop. Consignment items must be clean and in very good condition. The shop is nicely merchandised and Crossroads does great work, so even if the items do not sell, happy to donate them to the cause. They offer special occasion wear and vintage clothing, shoes, accessories, men's, women's and childrens wear plus gift items, collectibles and jewellery. Donations always welcome! The staff is very helpful. Also, Crossroads' charity shops offer volunteer and training opportunities to young people.

It will come as no surprise to many that Bridge Book Shop is one of the best places on the Isle of…read moreMan to get a book on Manx history and culture. It's the other things that will surprise. Still, let's start with the books on the IOM, as it's what tourists like me will be looking for. First, there's The Chronicles of Man: Three Volumes of illustrated history chronicling 1900-1939, 1940-1971, and 1972-2014. There's also the four volumes of Richard Davis' Those Were the Days, a collection of Isle of Man images. They also have IOM books for kids, If you've fallen in love with Spuds and Herrin, cheese and gravy, Manx Cheddar cheese, kippers, or Queenies on your trip, there are some Manx recipe books. Manx language books, and several, of course, based on motorcycle racing (and the famed IOM TT races). All right there, and so many I was glad to buy. Then, the big surprise: They've got vinyl records ... so if you've brought a hairbun-wearing NYC hipster with you, he's in luck. The Stone Roses, Pearl Jam, Björk, and Beck ... to name a few. And, of course, a great selection of books for all. You can also special order. I'll have to wait until I retire and buy a house on the island to take advantage of that. ;)

A great, family-owned shop facing the beach in Port Erin. Pleasant atmosphere, with classical music…read moreplaying in the background. The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. Not a huge selection, but many different categories of books available, along with a selection of art supplies. CD's are mostly classical, with a small selection of Manx items.

Waterstone's has probably one of the biggest units in Strand Street and this is totally cool in my…read moremind as I love looking around book shops, possibly randomly picking up a book and stumbling across something new. There's new books and loads of special offers as you walk through the door, plus I especially like the graphic novels and comics section in the back! There's a big Costa upstairs which makes it a great place to take a load off in the afternoon - good stuff!

This is a good sized pharmacy offering over the counter and prescription drugs. They also sell make…read moreup, bathing products and toys. The staff in here are delightfully friendly and they really gave me good advice and felt genuine. They have good promotions on products such as weighing scales and random gift items. A useful and friendly local pharmacy.

Laxey Woolley Mills is a charming gem of old world artisan and craftsmanship, and a must for anyone…read morevisiting Isle of Man. The owner still weaves everything traditionally on a loom. Laxey Wollen Mills is also the only place in which someone can purchase authentic Manx Wool clothing and home goods whether in Manx Tartan or other classic patterns. They also sell sheep skin rugs and shearling outerwear. I have many wool rugs (blankets, if you're American) and a shearling hat from Laxey Woollen Mills that I absolutely love. I had a few blankets shipped back to the US and nothing is more warm and cozy then having a woollie from the Isle of Man to hide under on a cold winter night. When you visit the Woollen Mills be sure to visit the art gallery on the second floor to see local artists exhibiting works of art inspired by the island. To make an afternoon of your visit, finish up at the Tea Room and enjoy fresh, homemade and locally sourced sandwiches, soups, and tasty treats (located on the second floor).

Laxey Woollen Mills is the only remaining mill on the Isle of Man. I always stop in to purchase…read moregifts for friends. Beautiful pure wool scarves start at approximately £15 and up. Throws, sweaters (aka jumpers), caps, kilts and more! It is not inexpensive but these are handcrafted items which will last a lifetime. This is the real deal, not mass produced. Many items are available in the blue 'Isle of Man' Tartan. A nice tearoom is located on the 2nd floor (no lift). There are a couple of other shops in the building, a gift shop upstairs and women's clothing downstairs. The people who run the Woollen shop are friendly (say hello to Rick the dog!). There are also very cool bronze (?) sculptures around the carpark, worth a look! Make sure you visit the nearby Laxey Wheel while up that way.