Bath Place is a pretty little side street off Taunton High Street…read more There are lots of small gift shops here including card shops, stationers, jewellers and a sandwich shop and Deli. There is also a good independent book shop, Brendons books and Peaches, a small alternative shop selling clothes and jewellery, that I often visited when I lived in Taunton.

I think Bath Place is one of the reasons why people come to Taunton to find that unique gift or…read moreobject for the home. It is situated in the High Street, down an alleyway which many people miss which is a shame. It has everything from a body piercing parlour to a co operative for local arts and crafts called makers and an absolutely brilliant fish shop selling fresh fish. It is a quaint part of Taunton with the Old Library Pub seating area jutting into it. It has a great shoe shop Omah and an ethnic shop called Peaches. It also has a great card shop and lastly but definately not least has the Wi which opens twice a week who sell great chutneys and cakes and plants and such. It even has a little tea shop. Great part of Taunton.

I go into this shop all of the time, hoping that I'll find something that I just have to have. The…read moreshop is filled with clothes - some gypsy, funky, very girly stuff with all kinds textures to the fabrics. I think every outfit in the place makes some kind of statement. I just haven't found a statement that I'd like to make with any of it yet. There are some beautiful things here though, with price tags to go with them. There is lots of jewelry and some greeting cards, and gift type things. What I really love is the little chandeliers that hang by the stairs on display, and the huge selection of fun scarves. There are lots of pillows upstairs that deserve a good look. Some are just beautiful. I can spend hours in this shop. The staff tend to be stand-offish, although not really unfriendly. I've been frequenting this shop for over a year and have not yet had someone ask to help.

Abbey China is a small shop at the top of Cheap Street. In addition to china, the shop carries…read morejewelry and some evening type beaded handbags and beautiful belts. This shop always has so much affordable costume jewelry, that I can't walk by without going in. They carry items from the Butler Wilson line and offer great sales several times a year. The staff is wonderful about ordering items from London and will even phone and speak to the designer while you're there, to make sure that you're happy with the request. This is the place I go when I need a gift for a teenage girl or woman.

A book-lovers paradise!…read more We heard about this place when staying at a nearby B&B. Apparently, it's the largest second hand book seller in the UK, and after visiting I can truly believe this. The Book Barn is a massive warehouse on an industrial estate not far from Bath. It doesn't look much from the outside, but enter at you peril and be prepared to be overcome with the musty smell of second hand books - and what better smell is there, if we are honest?! Shelves are stacked floor to ceiling with every genre of book that you could possibly imagine - cookery, health, travel, science, religion - every topic under the sun. The fictional novels take up most of the space and are loosely categorised alphabetically. It can be a little overwhelming but the staff will run a search for you if you are looking for a particular author, and there are a couple of computers available for public use. The best bit about these books? They are all priced at £1!! I challenge you to come out with less than an armful! There is also a children's area and a rare book section, obviously with a slightly higher price tag. There is a cafe here too selling everything from hot drinks, to freshly baked cakes, cooked breakfasts, and light lunches. A great place to make a start on one of your new purchases. This really is book heaven. Bring a large bag and be prepared to lose a few hours in here!

I'm going to Bookbarn tomorrow and have been several times...its heaven!…read more Literally the biggest library of books you've ever seen in a huge converted barn just outside of Bristol...all books are £1!!! They have free parking and a small tea shop with homemade cake and big old sofas. There is a vintage book section as well with rare books at still very cheap prices. The last time i went i bought 16 books i kid you not. Out of those included the complete works of Shakespeare for £1 (mint condition) complete works of oscar wilde (less mint condition) and the best thing ever: the complete sonnets of Shakespeare which had a sweet message written inside from 1962 where a man bought this book and gave it to her on their 20th Anniversary..and here it was going home with me in 2014. Love that so much. You really can spend hours here, books are put into genres and you are given a map when you come in, sofa's and chairs dotted around for you to casually read along with wheel-able shopping baskets. The staff are super friendly and helpful, it's a bit rough around the edges but super cute, exactly the kinda place i feel at home. If you don't see me for 3 days, i've been in bookbarn :)

I love homebase it is a bit of a DIY shop for women. it is so much cleaner and better organised…read morethan B and Q and Focus! Homebase is a huge DIY type store it sells all sorts og things like lawn mowers, strimmers, bathrooms, flooring, paint, tiles, gardening stuff , plants, sheds etc. Homebase is a bit more expensive (generally) that other DIY shops. The store is organised into section and rows to make it easy to find things. There are lots of different types of trolleys depending on what you intend to buy. I prefer Homebase for lots of reasons. firstly it is clean tidy well lit and organised.l secondly they have toilets which are great when you have young kids that are after an excuse to leave when they are bored!! Homebase at frome has plenty of parking and in my experiance the staff are very helpful. They also run a points system where you can get point on your purchases and then use them to get money off in the future.

Great friendly shop with a very helpful owner, who supplies a superb range of magical gifts. There…read moreis something here for all ranging from the esoteric, new age, Pagan and the magical. Thank you.

Love this place. When we wanted Green Man cufflinks, the shop owner kept in touch and notified me…read morevia twitter when they came in. Cool! :D

A bright, well laid out shop from the BHF franchise of Charity Shops, this store sits along the…read moremain Werstway precint throughfare. Double-fronted with good window displays it manages to avoid inside that 'musty' smell that often characterises second-hand shops, and has a fresh modern interior. There are quite a few bargains to be had - the store sells clothes for all ages, shoes, ladies and gents accessories, books, toys and bric-a-brac. However, clothes prices ain't as cheap as they used to be and the money-saver in me can't help thinking from time to time that an item could be had for cheaper on ebay. Although in fairness I think this of all charity shops nowadays! One range that is different to many is the brand new items they sell - both small designer bric-a-brac items, and ladies fashion jewellery. The jewellery is rather nice, although a bit pricey for my taste. I have often found that the best bargains are to be had in the second-hand books - and if you return them for re-sale once you've read them, you can feel doubly virtuous!

Quirky and individual jewellry store with a wide selection of stock at affordable prices…read more Fun place to browse for present inspiration

I have to say this lovely little shop always ensures I get a nice present for my wife at Christmas…read moreand for her Birthday. The ladies are always so nice and helpful and the range of quality goodies on sale always ensures my wife is pleased with her present from there. It's good to shop local and support business there as Bridgwater has had it's share of closures way before the Credit crunch bit!