I ventured to Reading on an excursion from Uxbridge expecting to find a fairly monotonous, dull…read moretown. That's what I found in all honesty except for one or two gems. This place was one of the gems. More specifically than Oxfam it is an Oxfam Music Shop and it's really one of the best offerings Oxfam has. There are boxes filled with records of all genres from bluegrass to techno and a good selection of CDs and music books too. The prices are much better than you'd find in London and more akin to a charity shop than a record store. For me the best part was the classical music selection. 10 records for £5. That's 50p for an LP. Insane. I was giddy, I couldn't take too many back with me but I managed to find 10 with some supremely awesome arrangements and wonderfully designed covers. At 50p you can just pick 10 random records and take them home to listen to, if you don't like it you can redonate it at no really great loss and if you do then it's a bonus. I really wish I lived closer so I could go back time and time again. Also, erm, the staff were supremely hot. I mean it's kind of a cliché that hot indie types would work in an Oxfam music store but they do. Seriously.

This interesting charity shop is set just off Broad Street and sells primarily CDs, DVDs, sheet…read moremusic, LPs, EPs and other vinyls. Sometimes there can be some real classics to purchase, and when I was in there a customer enquired about an Iron Maiden LP which I think was priced around £35, so some collectors items can be had. I bought two pieces of sheet music which they priced at 99p each (both single songs). They have music for piano, recorder, organ, keyboard, double bass and guitar. I was very tempted by a Placebo CD for £3.99 in excellent condition although I refrained. Definitely worth a look if you're into music, and also want to help a worthwhile cause.

If you're into your vinyl, then get into this place. Buying and selling second-hand records from a…read morepokey little place on the outskirts of town, you can stumble across some rare records in this place. The opening hours can be a little erratic, but you'll spend hours browsing through the piles and piles of stuff. The chap running the place is very friendly and gave me a decent sum when I flogged off all the old records that I had lying around. Unusual, but worth a visit.

A great selection of Guitars, Effects Pedals and all other accessories you could want and very…read morecompetitive prices. The range of both electric and acoustic guitars is impressive and the stock of amps / speakers is also pretty good. The staff know their stuff and always point out the bargain buys as well as the main items.

Large media store with a big selection of movies, cds and games, and a small section of mobile…read morephones. If you have a pushchair or wheelchair you have no way to get to the second floor though.

This store is now a Zavvi since the rebranding but still a good store with no real difference, its…read morereally big and has an absolutely massive selection of DVDs, it also sells merchandise such as t-shirts and books and obviously CDs and games too though not so many of these. The prices are good and the staff are friendly.

This place is bad. The owner of the shops banned me for basically having a learning dissability and…read moregetting a tiny bit reckless. Tried to appeal through emailing customer service and they don't care. Whenever i'm nearby they watch me for no reason and that's very intimdating. Makes me feel like there puprosely discrimnating against me. Security was also physical for no reason. Hasn't even replied to most recent email with customer service. Better to go to the WH Smith in Reading Station rather than the one in Broad Street who are a lot more understanding and never banned me. If the owner of broad street WH SMITH is reading this. look up pathological demand avoidance https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/demand-avoidance

Great selection, not only of books, but also all sorts of other stuff that you wouldn't expect from…read morea bookshop. I was able to pick up a ream of printer paper as well as a nice computer headset (that they did NOT have in PC World!). Prices are good, if you stick to the discounted and buy-one-get-one items. There are also random stacks of book collections, shrink-wrapped for £5. Otherwise, they're the standard list price. The shop is on two floors, with an escalator to go up (nice) and stairs to go down (amusing, in a Las Vegas casino "keep the customers in" way). Plenty of staff who are approachable and happy to not only point you to what you are seeking, but they will go there with you to make sure you can find it.

Well sorted little bookshop, you won't find unusual books there - it's too small for that. But most…read morecurrent mainstream Christian books will be there, plus a selection of Bibles and greeting cards.