High prices and not that friendly. I am not a shoplifter. I am happy to say hello and 'just…read morebrowsing' but do not expect to be cross-examined or constantly told where to find what the staff want me to look at. These shops are for uninterrupted time killing. Then you find curious or attractive books and buy. I don't like being driven out by pushy condescending staff.

Waterstones in Plymouth is the last holdout of bricks and mortar book retailing in Plymouth,…read moreindependent bookshops having basically been wiped out by Internet retailers like Amazon (after having been undermined by eBooks). The prices are inevitably higher, but you get a pleasant environment, friendly knowledgeable staff, a book in your hand and the ability to just browse. It would be nice to have a variety of specialised and idiosyncratic Independent bookshops in the city. Sadly, those days seem to be gone. However, if book retailing has to be dominated by a single chain here, we could do a lot worse than Waterstones.

The W H Smith store in the centre of the city is large and covers two floors. It hosts numerous…read morethings, such as DVDs, stationary and books. It has a selectrion of stuff that can always be ordered if need be and the staff are really friendly and will help you the best that they can. I often come in here during the week, but it is not a good idea to come in here on a Saturday or Christmas shopping as the queues are really really long, noticably longer than other shops. I think it is always clean and tidy and the staff are always friendly, although often you cannot find what you are lookin for.

Handy for picking up magazines etc for your journey but the queues are often long so not great if…read moreyou are in a rush.

The best magazine shop in Plymouth, they also stock a good range of stationery. Upstairs is books…read moreand DVDs, with the top releases in front of you as you go up the escalator. Staff are friendly and helpful, and you can always find one lingering around the shop-floor. The shop also sells lottery tickets, and has a nice supply of jigsaw puzzles. The DVD range caters for more than just blockbuster demand, and includes a good selection of TV programmes and BBC series. If you're a more discerning viewer, then check out the DVDs at W H Smith.

Curiously, W H Smith stands right next door to Waterstones, which is owned by the same company…read more Theoretically, they compete for book sales. WHS offers a lot more than that, though - principally stationary and magazines. For as long as magazines survive efforts by ePublishers to render them obsolete WHS will probably have the biggest selection in Plymouth.

Nothing is too much trouble for Anne and her team and this little shop is an oasis in a busy place…read more Lingering and looking are encouraged. If the books aren't there-they'll get them there almost by tomorrow and will always recommend titles. The big down side is the step flight of stairs up to the shop ,situated as it is above the main street premises of another retailer. But this is the result of the burden of business rate-still almost too much for a small shop like this to carry. So please support them!!!

The Christian Literature Centre is the victim of difficult access, as its up some stairs with no…read morelift, but worth the walk! Full of the latest CDs and books, along with plenty of childrens supplies and some lovely bibles. It's a small shop, but if you want something Christian, this is the place to buy it! If you ever watch the God Channel, you will know just how much great Christian stuff comes from the states. Well, this shop has many imported resources, to save you the hassle of buying from abroad and worrying about import rates and long delivery.

brilliant shop, excellent service from staff always helpful.good selection of items to buyespecialy…read moreif you want to make a curry or something exotic..