So I broke my key in my door a while back and panicked that I would never be able to get back into…read moremy warm house again! Cut to a man who might as well of been wearing a superman outfit to me as he managed to not only get me back in my house, but provide with a new key to continually allow myself into my humble abode. I'm not far from town, so instead of ringing I went to the store. Everything for key to entry was sorted by a very understanding, helpful man. I was so cold waiting that I will always be in debt to them for getting me into the womb that is my house. The place also does funky key designs, alarms, safe that they will install for you and digital key services.

Despite all of the great things the human race has managed to do, we still insist on losing our…read morekeys at various junctures throughout our lives. It is this foolishness that has kept the locksmith trade alive. This is a gem of a shop that's right down the far end of Dominion's Arcade if you enter from Queen Street. It feels like an exclusive club after the hustle and bustle of Queen Street has been left behind. It's a really small place that does exactly what it promises for a reasonable price. It's one of the very few shops that seems to have stood the test of time in the area and remained standing as an independent and reliable trader. There's generally only one person behind the counter and it doesn't tend to get too busy so it's always a personal service where you feel in safe hands.

If you need to get a key cut in the city centre area, Timpson is your obvious choice. This little…read moreshop, tucked away near the 'back' entrance to the Indoor Market (on St Mary Street), has been around for years. They not only offer quick key cutting while you wait, but can also do shoe repairs, locker repairs, passport photos, car key programming, engraving services (for pet tags, trophies, etc), jewellery and watch repairs, and a locksmiths service for homes, businesses and vehicles if you get locked out! It's also open earlier than most shops - from 8.30am onwards - which is handy. There's another branch of Timpson on Queen Street if you're over the other side of town (up near Capitol Centre, near Queen Street Station end of the road)..

I've already said that Brownings on Albany Road is a fantastic place to get your keys cut or your…read moreshoes mended and it's run by a lovely, lovely man. However, I don't visit Albany Road very often anymore, so I'm more likely to get that kind of thing done while I'm in town, and Timpson is the best place to do that. While slightly more expensive, the service is just as good, although it can get pretty busy in there on weekends. The store is really tiny too, so it can get really cramped. Their watch repairs in particular are excellent, with batteries that last much longer than those I've had replaced in other stores. They also sell funky keys in different colours and patterns, which it's really handy for me, as I seem to have a ridiculous number of keys, and spend ages at the door trying each one.

Was locked out with my 5 year old son. Within 25mins they were here and I was let in. Really great…read moreservice in an emergency

From the owner: Keytek Locksmiths Cardiff offers 24-hour local emergency services in Cardiff and the surrounding…read morearea. We have a 1-hour emergency call out service with our friendly local expert locksmiths providing a solution with maximum efficiency and minimal fuss, whether it be your vehicle or home.

Some people would laugh when they tell you that Cardiff Lock and Safe Ltd is in the right place in…read moreCardiff. (It's on Clifton Street in Splott, which is reputed to be a bit dodgy!) Now! I've lived in a few cities in my time, like Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and London, and for me Splott seems to be a leafy suburb with a lot of charm in comparison to some of the genuinely tricky areas in any of these other cities. It's even got one of the best deli's in Cardiff... so it can hardly be described as a slum! I've lived in all of the places where inner-city tension is rife, and where all of the riots took place back in the early 80's. This includes Mosside, Toxteth, Brixton and St Paul's... Splott is conspicuous by it's absence in this list! There's no denying that protecting your home is a smart move. Burglaries are reasonably common in Cardiff. Cardiff Lock and Safe Ltd offer complete home solutions as well as providing security equipment for commercial customers. I always think that the equipment that these guys sell is expensive, but that's because a lot of what they stock is pricey wherever you go to buy it. In reality, these guys are pretty cost competitive on most things, and the range of products that they carry is impressive. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and professional, making Cardiff Lock and Safe Ltd well worth a visit if you need to sure up your home.

Timpson is a quick and easy option if you need your shoes repaired or need to get a key cut while…read moreyou're in the city centre. This branch is only a small shop (as most are), but is located in a prime spot on pedestrianised Queen Street (near Windsor Place - up towards Capitol Centre end of the street). They not only offer shoe repairs and quick key cutting, but can also sort passport photos, car key programming, engraving services (for pet tags, trophies, etc), and watch repairs, and they offer a locksmiths service for homes, businesses and vehicles if you get locked out! It's open from 8.30 onwards, a bit earlier than a lot of other shops, which is handy if you want to get things done on the way to the office.

I don't know what it is about the men who work in key-cutters and cobblers that makes them so…read morefriendly. Brownings is no exception. I had to get two spare keys cut for my new house, so on a trip to Albany Road I dropped them in here first thinking that I could pick them up on the way back. There was no need, however, as he stopped whatever else he was doing to cut them there and then, chatting happily to me about Cardiff and the weather and other things as he worked. I was surprised at how cheap it was too, as I've previously found that it is shockingly expensive to get keys cut. Aside from cutting keys, you can also get shoes repaired and engraving done at this store. It sells a nice range of gifts too. Most of them are things like lighters and keyrings that are designed to be engraved, but there are lots of other things besides and gift cards too.

I feel compelled to write a review about this great little Canton tool shop because the friendly…read moreguy who runs it got me out of a DIY pickle once... I was trying to put up some blinds in my bedroom, but needed to cut them to size . Being a bit helpless in these matters, I ended up going over the road to this place for a saw of some kind. The guy in the shop was lovely, and when I told him what I was attempting to do he offered to cut it to size for me - so off I went back to my flat to get the blinds, which he then sorted out for me. Talk about customer service! I'd highly recommend this little independent shop over the bigger chains such as B&Q, where the staff are often elusive, dismissive and indifferent. Here you get a personal service with a genuine smile!

The Tool Box is run by the husband and wife team of Maggie and Russell Cotty, who bought the…read morebusiness eleven years ago. Although they stock a wide range of really affordable tools and gardening equipment, business has been pretty slow... that was until last month! Spring happened overnight. Gardens that had been dormant for about six months sprang into action, and put on enough of a spurt to make up for the desperately long winter. Nature will always overcome! So, the people came out in their droves and bought all of the equipment they needed to get on with their gardens and maintenance jobs... and then it all went quiet again.... A prelude to the World Cup may be? They also offer key cutting and lock smithing by the way!

Ever been locked out? Or locked in. I'm pretty good at doing both. I've been rescued by Firemen -…read moreoo-er - and been less than decent with a front door slamming behind me - eek! This is a Cardiff-based locksmiths which provides round the clock, seven day a week emergency cover. Run by Simon Curley, these locksmiths don't charge a call out fee, and cover Cardiff and a 50 mile radius. They can help whether it is an emergency or you simply require a free security check. Curley understand the importance of feeling safe in your own home. Curley Locks are CRB certified (CRB = Criminal Records Bureau). If you are a victim of a crime, Simon will assess future risk and advise you on the steps necessary to reduce the risks of a crime happening to you again. Simon has had a great deal of experience in helping victims recover and will offer compassionate understanding as well as practical advice. They can also provide a mobile key cutting service to the whole South Wales area.

When my bag was stolen on Sunday 3rd June containing my house and car keys, plus mobile, the police…read morecalled Curley Locks Locksmith for me. Simon Curley arrived within 10 minutes and quickly changed both the yale and mortis locks on the front door giving me 3 new keys each. He was fast, efficient, polite and friendly and cleared up any mess left from the drilling. It was an excellent job. He is definitely the person you need in an emergency. Thank you very much Curley Locks! West Cardiff