This shop is aimed more at the older lady who still wants to look good. The clothes in here are…read moreclassic yet trendy pieces which wear well. Vogue sell an interesting range of pieces and I've found a couple of nice jewellery items in here. Admittedly I'm only ever in here if I'm at the Abbey Centre with my mum and she's looking for some new pieces so I don't personally shop in it myself, but from having a look around the clothes here aren't actually as bad as you would imagine. Now no, there not exactly my style, but give me another forty years and you never know! It's good at least that there are shops like these in the Centre and the shops aren't all completely aimed towards younger styles and trends.

This shop is at the higher end of the price range. It's a shop which sells designer gear and is…read moregenerally aimed at older ladies. There are a number of branches of this shop in various locations and like the others; this branch seems to do a fair bit of custom. The clothes aren't really to my taste, but I'm not in their target market and I do know that it is quite popular with the likes of my mum and my aunts etc. I've been in here a fair few times when my mum is after some new piece to add to her already extensive clothing collection, and the staff are generally very pleasant, the shop is well laid out and always clean, tidy and easy to navigate around. Bearing all these positives in mind it's easy to see why the shop is so popular with female shoppers. Maybe when I'm older I will appreciate it more.

I really want to like this shop, but there's just something about it that puts me off it. I'm not…read moresure what it is, possibly the huge 'River Island' brand name that seem to be plastered all over a lot of their clothes, or it's maybe the generic, unindividual clothing that they sell, whatever it is I just know I'm just not their biggest fan. Now I don't mean to be totally negative about it, as just because I don't particularly like it doesn't mean they don't sell good clothes, I just never really find things I like in here. However for the less easily pleased shopper you can find a range of women's clothing as well as men's wares and they have a small accessory section too. To give them their dues, at least the staff are pleasant enough and will either give you a helping hand if you need it, or leave you in peace to shop alone if that's what takes your fancy.

Although this isn't really my cup of tea, Next do sell some gorgeous clothes. One really good thing…read moreabout Next is their brilliant Sale where you can pick up some absolute bargains if you get there in good time, though I have heard stories about people cueing up all round the Abbey Centre just to get a chance to get in here for the 12 O'Clock sale (yes, at midnight, the eidjets!) anyhow, Next sell run of the mill, fashion for men and womens and childrens clothing. In this branch the womens and childrens section is on the bottom floor and the mens is on the second, as is the case in most shops. I have to admit, my tastes must be changing as I was quite taken with some of the clothes in here recently, but it's not really my price range as I'd rather spend my money on other things (like holidays etc.) and the prices here are a little o.t.t. in my opinion. For those who are willing to pay the price, I guess it's a good shop. I know my dad loves the jammie bottoms from here (don't tell him but I steal them some times, they're just too comfy!) Next time I think I'll spend a little more time looking around, flip maybe I'm getting old!

This shop is brilliant for fashionable and trendy, up to date ladies clothing. It's perfect for all…read morebudgets as they have their new season stock which is expensive, but not overly so and then they have their sale rails which are always bunged so you can always find something whatever amount of money you have! Dorothy Perkins does a good maternity range which not every shop does so I'm sure this is very convenient for pregnant mothers. They also offer student discount all year round, win! They also sell some lovely shoes and gorgeous jewellery so you can find your perfect outfit all in one shop which means less shopping more time for getting ready and going out, woohoo! Come on girls, lets get shopping!

I generally don't tend to shop in here, although Quiz does sell some nice clothes. I tend to go for…read morethe more 'alternative' look and as Quiz generally sells mainstream fashion it is unusual I'll find something I'm after in here. Saying that though if you're tastes aren't as odd as mine, or if you're just after a pretty wee dress or the likes then often you could do a lot worse than shopping in here. The prices here are around the same as most other High Street stores, in fact they're probably a good bit cheaper compared to some places, so if you're on a budget but fancy something more upmarket than Primark, Quiz would be quite a good choice for a nosy around to check out their latest wares. The staff are standard, not cheeky but they don't exactly go out of their way to help you either. All round average shopping experience, more often than not I'll leave empty handed.

A shop for the larger ladies, Evans recently opened its doors here and since has done a thriving…read morebusiness. Although the clothes unfortunately couldn't be described as high end fashion it certainly does the job in that it caters well for plus size ladies and makes clothes shopping that whole lot easier. If you don't fancy a trek around the shop then you can browse through their items online and you can return items to your nearest store, how's that for handiness! If you're wondering about sizes, the clothes cater for sizes 14 -32 and as far as shoes go they offer size 4 to 11 and they also offer two different widths E or EEE for those with a wider foot. As far as lingerie is concerned the sizes range from C to G cups which should suit even the most voluptuous of ladies. Evans is a great shop for curvy ladies, Even Beth Ditto has created a snazzy new collection for the shop which is worth checking out.

The area around the Abbey Centre has grown over the last few years to become as much of a draw as…read morethe shopping centre itself. My first stop is always the huge branch of TK Maxx. How I love that shop, with its shoes and home wares and clothes and jewellery and stuff, stuff, stuff. Always a bargain to be had - I even lugged a huge chest of drawers out of there once. After paying for it of course. Curse those efficient security guards. There is a branch of every high street shop you can think of - Mothercare, Pets at Home, M&S, Tesco, JJB Sports, Matalan to name a few. I always like a look around Matalan where there are some bargains in ladies and children's clothes and a selection of birthday cards and invitations which has to be seen to be believed. Make a quick pit stop in McDs and you'll be ready for round 2 in the shopping centre itself. The Abbey Centre is pretty big, with several different 'wings' coming off the central point. Highlights for me are River Island, the bargain emporium that is Primark, Top Shop and Wallis. Apart from clothes, I also like going to the Abbey Centre for books - Stewart Miller and Easons always have offers on new releases. Chick lit I'm afraid to admit but someone has to read them.

Ah, my good old friend, the Abbeycentre. How I love it…read more Just a short trip up the road from me, I have been shopping here for as long as I can remember, and take a browse around its' many shops at least once a month. There is a large amount of on site parking, so you can usually get parked with ease (unless you go stright after Christmas when the January Sales are in full swing) then its an absolute free for all! There are many shops here to suit all pockets, from sport shops, to fashion clothing, from banks to mobile phone and gaming shops, from card and gift shops to butchers, you will get pretty much anything you want at the Abbeycentre, without the headache travelling into the city centre can bring. There is even a new Poundland store for some of the old bargain hunting. And long may it continue!