As I mentioned in one of my previous reviews of a Clifton Village business it is often those at the…read morehigher end of the price spectrum who tend to cling on to the past a little longer than the rest. Focus on the Past on Waterloo Street is a prime example. The first thought that comes to mind for me is 'old stuff being sold for loads of money'. Now this may seem like a layman's jaunt at any antique shop but I'm actually no stranger to such stores. Many an hour have I spent perusing the worlds of my ancestors in various dimly lit rooms and backyards. I am no stranger to the world of antiques. This place really strikes me as one that has got a little carried away with itself. Admittedly there are some beautiful items of furniture on offer but it just seems way too steep for what it is.

With its attractively chaotic-looking jumble of items on the pavement, this shop is good fun for a…read moregood rummage and explore. There is absolutely heaps of stuff for sale here, from the more expensive things like big pieces of antique furniture, through complete teasets, to pictures, bits and bobs of crockery, and jewellery. The jewellery section is marvellous: strings and strings of beads, and broaches by the dozen. The owner is very friendly and doesn't mind at all if you're clearly just in there to admire and mooch around. He strikes me as an owner who knows each and every item in stock and could tell you more about it all if you asked. I'd definitely come back here to browse for gifts or maybe if I was looking for bits of furniture for my house.

This second hand shop on Gloucester Road is a maze of bargain furniture. I managed to pick up a…read morebeautiful old mahogany table for £40 (granted, it took a bit of negotiation, but at least he was willing to talk about the price). The shop has got 3 rooms and a large back yard. In each you can find anything from tables, chairs, wardrobes, to odd metal brackets, mirrors, and general rare items that make each second hand shop unique and an experience to peruse. The man who runs it is averagely friendly - ask him what you're after and he'll take you to some corner of the shop where he might just have the exact thing you were looking for - that sure happened in our case. He'll only get a little bit grumpy when you start haggling the price, but it's worth a try. They also buy furniture - he'll give you a good price for it, but as above, it's always worth talking about the price to make it more appealing to which ever side you're coming from. A furniture shop that's well worth a browse.

This place is a bit of a hidden gem, but it's well worth a visit. They sell pretty much everything…read moreyou could want in here at a pretty decent price. The best bit of advice I was given was that you can haggle your socks off with them and get it for even cheaper! They openly promote you to hand in your unwanted furniture, which means I will most definitely be using when I have to move out of my student digs and back into my parents house! Just be careful where you tread in here as there is literally things scattered on the floor and on every flat surface.

Rossiters in my opinion is what is good about England. This department store is a Bath institution…read moreand has been around for years. Twenty years ago I used to frequent here before I emigrated. I am pleased to see that it still exists.

I have bought a few things here in the past, including a lamp, bedside cabinet and a throw for the…read morecouch (which my girlfriend made me get, even though the infernal things always fall off and are more hassle than they're worth). However, it's not all that cheap here, as is the case with a lot of the Bath stores, I guess, but the quality is unquestionable. The staff are always on hand to show you where things are, but are pretty clueless about actually recommending anything. It's a good place to browse if you need some extra furnishing for a new place, but don't expect to be overwhelmed with desire.

Other people here have mentioned the hardware store on one side (they mix Dulux paint which is very…read morehandy by the way) but I just want to mention the garden centre which is on the separate building across the pedestrian/cycle path (which reminds me - do note the different coloured bricks and cycle images on the floor and watch out for cycles). The garden centre is pretty well stocked for peripherals, but also has a nice selection of instant colour seasonal plants as well as some fruit and herbs for kitchen gardens. Their willows and topiary are a bit old fashioned and I would recommend going to a specialist nursery for trees (try Chew Valley Trees) but this is great for a gardening hit in town.

This sprawling department store feels like one giant throwback to the 1970s. The design is dowdy,…read morecome here after going to Ikea for a real shock. You'll hear very British muzak plays over the speakers, interrupted occasionally by an announce who kindly reminds you to validate your parking when paying for your goods. Quaint to the point of being weird, and also almost always completely empty. Enough of analysis of the style of the shop, I should probably tell you if it's any good. There are sections for homeware and DIY, as well as a garden centre. You can get more or less anything for the home, a few things you didn't know you needed, and a few things no-one would ever need. There's an entire row of various things for your milkman to leave the milk in, to give you an idea of the range. It's not that cheap unfortunately. I think all there costs must go on the staff (who are very helpful), of which there seem to be a greater number than there are customers most of the time.

It's worth making the trek up Gloucester Road to pay a visit to this second-hand furniture store…read more Despite it's size Another Time Around packs in plenty of old, unwanted or unneeded furniture so that its customers can benefit from cheap prices and do their bit for the plant at the same time. Goodbye Ikea, hello vintage bed frame! I came here looking for a bedside table and while I didn't find what I was looking for on this occasion I would certainly come back to scout for more furniture the next time. The shop also runs a scheme where, for a small fee, when you buy a product from them they will come and remove your old bed/sofa/dinning table - handy for those who don't drive!

Another less well-known gem further up Gloucester Road, Another Time Around boasts an array of…read moresecond-hand furniture. Aptly named, the shop sells good quality tables, chairs, wardrobes, chest of drawers and beds at a reasonable price. Rather than spending lots of money on something lifeless from Ikea, why not pay a decent price for something which has a little more life story to it, and in the excellent knowledge that your piece of furniture is already assembled, meaning you won't have to spend hours reading poorly translated instructions and turning what is meant to look like a sofa into a desk!

I don't particularly like the term junk shop as this place is full of decent quality furniture and…read moreantiques, but it feels like a junk shop in that things are balanced precariously on shelves and sofas and the feel is similar to stumbling into Aladdin's cave. I had a nosy in here after moving house. I saw some sofas on display so thought I would sneak a peek at the other treasures on offer. Thing here range from the practical, such as furniture, cabinets and the like, to erm, ornamental - there are lots of old plates with kitsch paintings on hanging on the walls. If you like your living space to be cluttered with vintage trinkets then definitely check Elizabeth's Place out.

If you're struggling on the cash front, and/or have recently moved into unfurnished accommodation…read moreand need cheap furniture, this is the place for you. Selling a variety of second hand furniture at reasonable prices, from beds, to tables and chairs to sideboards and cabinets, Elizabeth's Place is ideal for stocking up on those missing furnishings you require. The shop also sells household tit bits, such as ornaments and crockery, and has a great little store room filled with clothes, which is open for rummaging. And if you're a cat lover, look out for the affectionate black cat - he tends to reside amongst the furniture, but unfortunately is not for sale...

If you're fresh on the Bedminster scene and are looking for some cheap furniture to spruce up your…read morepad, follow the reams of locals to Asda Bedminster and once you get there, cross over the road. You'll soon see an assortment of furniture sprawled out onto the pavement: this is the wonderfully economical Bristol Bargain Furniture shop. Here you'll find a selection of both second hand and brand new furniture: tables and chairs, video units, coffee tables, computer desks, drawers - you name it, this place will have it. The shop also sells a variety of beds and mattresses, both doubles and singles, and operates a free local delivery service catering for the majority of customers who don't have a van on demand. I bought a lovely little chest of drawers made from hard wood here which cost me a fiver, to give you an idea of the bargains you'll find. Staff are great too - chatty and very willing to help.

This is a well known family run furniture shop right in the heart of Bath city centre. Firstly, the…read morequality of items here is fantastic and they sell everything you might need for your home from mirrors and beds to dining tables and chairs all laid out over a couple of floor in an intimate showroom feel. The second most legendary thing about Silcox, Son and Wikes are the sales they have twice a year at Christmas and the Summer. People queue from the night before to grab a bargain such as a £1000 bed down to £100 which you can't beat! The service is excellent, always helpful and knowledgeable, and the furniture is timeless as well as contemporary and modern. Something for every household.