Nobbies Hobbies is a real Bedford Institution, it's been around since before I was born and if a…read morenuclear weapon hit bedford I imagine this little store would be the only thing to survive. If you're heading towards the cinema then head to nobbies and grab value for money snacks instead of the over-priced tat on sale at the cinema.

Over the many years I lived in Bedford this once little shop has developed over the years into a…read morelarge convenience store which sells all those things you need from a local shop. There was once a Post Office but this closed due to the Royal Mail cuts and changes to local post offices. The shop has now been developed to incorporate a Fish and Chip shop which appears to have a roaring trade at present (probably aided by the fact that a campus for the University of Bedford is over the road) The owner is friendly and welcoming and always aiming to satisfy. If he doesn't have it and you can wait I'm sure he would endeavour to get it for you. From newspapers and sweets to things for the garden - try Nobbies Hobbies and you will more than likely be surprised

Yes I like this newspaper. I've won a couple of prizes by sending texts to their competitions and I…read morecan access it as a digital edition online in London. The first prize was a cleansing, relaxing facial at an upmarket salon in St Albans one Sunday with peaceful music in the background. The second prize I won was a foot massage at a spa (I can't remember the technical word for this). I was going on a long holiday to Australia but was able to nominate a friend who took advantage of the prize. Excellent!

I read 'Fitzrovia News' as 'Tower' for over thirty years,…read morebefore I was encouraged to contribute as a writer, & distributor. It is bang up to date, informative,witty, occasionally controversial... but always inclusive to locals who wish to be part of the bigger picture. Great local paper / Join / write for it too!

I recently discovered Fitzrovia News after a friend gave me a copy. I was amazed to find out it is…read morewritten entirely by volunteers and people who live in Fitzrovia. What I like about the paper is that it doesn't pull its punches yet at the same time caters for a wider variety of tastes. It's one of the few community papers that takes a firm stance on things that matter to people living in central London. The paper has interviews with local celebrities, analysis of local political issues. It's not afraid to have a go at big business. It doesn't moan about them. It attacks them! The letters' page is full of opinions about anything and everything in Fitzrovia. If you live, work in or visit Fitzrovia, it's essential reading.

Well, I picked up a copy of Leisure Kicks magazine in Subway fast food at Aldgate in The City on my…read moreway to work. It was free and displayed on one of the shelves. I don't normally bother entering competitions where one just types one's name into a website as I never seem to win. Good job I did with Leisure Kicks magazine! I had a telephone call from Nasar saying I'd won a surf simulator prize in Nottingham. I told him that Nottingham was a long way for me to travel for this prize (I'm game for tickets in London and a little way out) and Nasar was very helpful and flexible and called me back the same day telling me I'd won 'King of Shaves' prizes! Parcelforce delivered it today and I'm delighted. Loads of exotic shaving creams, ointments and razors with refills. I've taken a photo of me with my prize and emailed it to Leisure Kicks with a quote as they requested. Excellent! I assume Portamento is small business but they are very efficient. Leisure Kicks is a sports and leisure magazine. The staff at this branch of Subway are very lovely - I go in to buy a cheap coffee in the morning. I noticed they were 'Halal' today which I don't really approve of but I may just nip into a Subway outlet in future to see if this fantastic magazine is available without purchasing food or drink. Delighted with customer service from Portamento, prize and pleased I've won a website (online) competition at last.

All your ex-pat needs in one totally random place!…read more Hot News has shelves full of Australian, New Zealand and US foods and drinks to satisfy your homesick cravings. And I'm not just talking Vegemite. This place has all the obscure cereals, chocolates, beers, spirits and snacks you've been missing, and if it's not on the shelf, you can ask the friendly owner to order it in for you. It is pricey, but no way near as much as the old Australian Shop in Covent Garden. We spent £50 and got: Nutri Grain, 2x Kraft peanut butter, Cherry Ripe, Summer Roll, 3x Twisties, Cheezels, Violet Crumble, Chicken Crimpys, and a 6 pack of VB. If you aren't Australian, that may sound like nonsense, but believe me when I say, finding this place has made me a far happier Aussie in London :)

This is such a tucked away spot, in the basement of a sort of mini-mall, but perfect if you're…read moreheading to the Cineworld opposite and want something a lil more interesting to eat. They have super basic sandwiches and cheap drinks if you're on a budget, but also imported snacks from the US and Australia. These are a little more costly but worth it for the experimental value. Reese's cereal with Hershey's chocolate milk? (Way better than you'd expect!) Even if you just want to browse, you'll find lots of intriguing items to look at. And best of all, the staff are really friendly: not your typical newsagents - and I speak from experience ;)

Good service but expensive though…read more I live in Sydenham and wanted to support a local business, so I went to PMS Printers with my namecard printing. They are double sided colour printing against white background. I can do the same job in Hong Kong for £30 for the lot, but it cost me 5 times more expensive here in London. In total I got 200 x 2 cards printed and one of the lot is laminated Sent them the design and they respond straight away, we had many difficulty getting the colour right but we did it in the end. Since I live no less than 10 mins walk away I offered to go in and pick it up. They were done in 3 days I struggle to go back to them for the price I paid, but you get the job done

Really friendly, fast and reasonable. Glyn is really happy to talk through your job and make great…read moresuggestions. I have used them a few times and have always been delighted.

The trouble with W H Smith at the moment is it doesn't know what it is. Is it a book shop, a…read morenewsagents, a sweet shop? So they try to cram everything in that they think someone might need. This means you have to walk an assault course to get to the back of the store. This branch in Uxbridge has actually got a lot of floor space but you couldn't tell on first glance due to the massive displays and no space in between. I would hate to have to push a buggy around, your poor baby would have Cards and magazines crashing on it's head. The one thing I do like about this shop is the self service tills. You don't have a depressed member of staff trying to sell you half price chocolate. As you scan your own stuff. Much better when you nip in for a birthday card. This does have a great selection if birthday cards. But every time I leave I'm thankful I made it out alive!

The best for buying papers or magazines. Usually pop in to pick up the free DVD or CD from the…read moredaily mail. Has a post office on the upper floor. The back of the store could do with more space, but most stationary and other basics are aesy to find.

Yes fantastic free paper as I've won quite a few things out of it and can pick it up in the Kilburn…read moreHigh Road. Over the years have won tickets to a top West-End play called Man & Boy starring one of the Suchet brothers, an England Managers book worth about £15, fabulous comedy show last Christmas at La Scala in King's Cross (can't remember the artist) but even a Daily Mail reader like me found it funny. I did win tickets to a champagne reception, concert and tour of Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath at a charity event attended by the then Mayor of Camden, Jonathan Simpson. Apart from the fact that the live Soul music was too mournful for me and the Mayor was rude to Simon and I (I've never voted Labour anyway) it was lovely to be in The Orangery of Kenwood House and have a tour round. I've had a free lunch from The Camden New Journal but it loses one star as it's so left wing.

New Journal Enterprises publish three weekly free newspapers in London; Camden New Journal (The…read moreCNJ) which covers The London Borough of Camden, West End Extra for The City of Westminster and Islington Tribune for The London Borough of Islington. New Journal Enterprises is London's only remaining independent newspaper publisher (all the others are now part of large media organisations) and this is probably down to the fact they they are more interested in running good quality local newspapers rather than making huge profits, for this reason they are well respected not just by residents that read their local papers, but also by the newspaper industry and have won many awards over the years. The Camden New Journal was launched in the 1982 by Paul Foot, Frank Dobson and Eric Gordon and has been going strong ever since. I feel so lucky to live in an area that is covered by such a brilliant local newspaper and it's free! Here are links to the three New Journal Enterprises local newspapers: Camden New Journal (http://www.camdennewjournal.com) (Camden Council) West End Extra (http://www.westendextra.com) (Westminster City Council) Islington Tribune (http://www.islingtontribune.com) (Islington Council)

The Guardian is part of this media group. The Guardian is a British daily newspaper. It was founded…read morein Manchester in 1821 as The Manchester Guardian. The name was changed to The Guardian in 1959 when they then moved to their headquarters in London. Whether you agree or disagree with the views of the press is up to you. I love historic media of any kind. This newspaper was geared towards the working class. I've definitely grown up in a working class environment and appreciate the struggle that this daily newspaper brings to the forefront. There's no doubt it's the most popular newspaper in the UK with millions of readers. Your time is valuable so what you spend your time reading is important. A favorite tag line is "The More You Know ". I find it educational to read different points of view in other countries. Four Stars for The Guardian.

I've come across reviews for people's favourite bus routes before but seeing there's some for…read morenewspapers comes as a bit of a surprise ... As it happens I am a long standing fan of the Guardian, it still seems more independent than many other newspapers around and has mastered the transition from pure printed format to digital. You obviously pick a read that aligns with your underlying belief system rather than one that makes you choke on your breakfast. I only buy the Saturday edition these days which has become thinner as it has become more expensive - three quid for a newspaper!?! Still, I try and read most of it and feel I still get decent value for money. The colour supplement is a favourite and beats most Sunday papers' magazines. But there's so much more to the Guardian these days. I have been to some amazing talks and panel discussions at their offices that add a real life grounding to current topics. There is a sense of community you don't generally get with a media outlet.