This shop has unfortunately closed now but was a really great place to pick up cheap stationary!…read more I used to come here a lot when I was doing my fashion design course to buy A3 card and lots of presentation wallets and portfolio materials. The shop is still listed on Leeds Guides, but I can assure you, it is well and truly closed for business! I guess it's off to WH Smith for anything else I need!

This is pretty much your average WHSmith, which seems to be in pretty much every town/city in the…read morecountry, it is located in a nice older building on Cambridge Street in Harrogate town centre, with the old archway displaying Victoria Centre remaining in place. The store has entrances on both Cambridge Street and Victoria Shopping Centre, meaning you can cut through the store to get from the mall to the street, and vice versa. Prices are fairly high, as usual from WHSmith. Useful facilities inside the store include a Post Office, one of two in the town centre. Reasonable stock/selection for a store of its' size, the store follows WHSmith's typical look/layout. Nothing too exciting, a usual brand to have in the town and a presentable store, especially from the exterior, but screams "staple WHSmith in x town" and not much more. 3*

Lidgett hill stationers is situated within a small row of shops just approaching the main shopping…read morearea of Pudsey. Being only a small town I am sure that many make use of this handy stationers. It's always nicer to go indie than big chain, and there is a Cartridge World about 10 minutes or so away, but I would choose Lidgett Hill every time. Why? The extra mile an indie store will always go to for their customers, there's always the personal touch! It's got all the usual things that you would hope for in a stationers, hoards of pens and such, papers of all varieties, folders and office supplies - no stone unturned they've pretty much covered everything. However, as you'll notice by their notices, they do offer more than the things you might expect as well! Given our recent bout of snow, which did seem relentless, they have compiled a special collection of 'snow day activities' for the children stuck at home during the impossible snow days! I realise that it's a bit of cheeky marketing, but it was pretty cute and innovative! Essentially, these kits were made up of colouring books, crayons, puzzles and so on. Still, better than the idiot box, right? All in all, it's a ok with me!

Having visited many craft shops, I have to say, I wasn't sure what to make of Lidget Hill…read moreStationers. I think I've mentioned before what a fan on stationary I am. This place was a bit of a mixed bag. There are 2 aisles to the shop, (the divider dedicated to dated greetings cards), On the left, there is everything you'd expect from a stationers: pens, pencils, pads of paper, folders and display folders, pencil cases selotape etc. On the right of the counter , tucked in the corner is acryllics, sketch pads and paintbrushes. I have to be honest, and say that I thought their arts materials were pretty overpriced. The quality of the paint was a mid-range brand, but I felt they were asking for much more than it is worth, and indeed is priced in competing city centre shops and also student unions. They do have an interesting supply of goods though. They sell many different childrens colouring books, party bags, stamps, stickers of all sorts, and card making kits, but I did get a niggling feeling that perhaps the local community was not making the most of its stationers, but instead, opting for cheaper well-known establishments.

Barnardo's charity shop in on Finkle street opposite Barclay's bank. Barnardo's is a children's…read morecharity that protect and promote children, and pushes for improved rights. Barnardo's is part of a national chain of store that are now appearing on the high street of many towns. The Selby branch is quite small but full of second hand clothing, shoes and accessories for all ages. There is brick-a-brack and toys and books. The prices are generally cheaper than some of the other big name charity shops. Like many charity shops Barnardo's is now starting to sell full price ornaments and gifts in a move to capture a further market. The shop is bright and clean and the staff are pleasant enough.

I did my work experience here many years ago (when ah was a lad) so i must say good things as I…read moremanaged to buy many a star wars figure during my time there (ka-ching). It is small and is in a town renowned for its many charity shops and it may even smell a little funny but theres nothing better than rooting through looking for a bargain. Its just recently had a refit although it looks very much the same, purely for old times sake I recommend Barnardos as the first choice for charity shops in selby although if I find that Yak face figure in one of the other shops in town I reserve the right to change my mind!

I travel through Otley on business on a regular basis, and often pop in to Mounseys for a magazine…read more- I've never seen such a wide range of magazines on offer! They also stock lots of greetings cards and other gifts, and the staff are both knowledgeable and friendly.

Mounsey's is a huge stationary and gift card store situated in the heart of Otely. To find it all…read moreyou need do is hop off the bus, go past Savers Fashion Nett and head up onto Market Street - should be easy to spot from there as it has a huge glass window and big signage with the name branded over! There are all sorts of cards in here, you will be truly spoiled for choice, as there are rows and rows of them! Obviously Mounsey's wouldn't survive on card sales alone and so there are a number of other related items for sale here. You can purchase a wide selection of books although there doesn't appear to be any order or theme to the titles stocked - which include British Wildlife and Stephen Fry in America for example. There are also plenty of magazines, Lottery and tons of puzzle books and calendars! As it has been established since 1859 I think it's only right that should you be in need of a birthday card, or indeed a crossword book, that your purchase be made in Mounsey's. After all, Clinton's are two a penny and will almost certainly cost you more.

This is a delightful card shop on the North Concourse of Leeds train station. Particularly handy…read moreif, like me, you have a tendancy to go and visit friends and family for birthdays and such, then only just remember as you get to the station that you'd forgotten to pick up a card for them. D'oh! Thankfully there is now plenty of choice in Leeds station if you're in this position! There's Funky Pigeon, Paperchase and WH Smiths all selling greetings cards, but this shop will definitely be my first choice in future. The thing that makes this shop the one I'd choose over Funky Pigeon and Paperchase is the size and layout of the shop. The quality and range of cards and gifts on offer is as good as at those other two outlets, and the prices are about the same. But browsing for a nice card in here, especially if you've got a bit of luggage with you for your journey, is just so much easier when you've got a bit more room to manoeuvre! You know I'd even go so far as to say I might even come here to look for a card even if I wasn't passing through the station! I did get some particularly special sparkly wrapping paper for my mum's 60th birthday pressie earlier this year, and I've never seen anything like it before elsewhere, so I think if I was looking for a really nice card / gift / wrapping paper in town and couldn't find anything that really hit the right spot, I'd come and have a look here. However I would have to expect to pay that little bit more for a product from a store like this, selling premium products in a place like the train station.

This is a huge Home Sense store in Leeds city centre, it is located opposite Sports Direct on a…read moreprominent corner of The Headrow. Home Sense is the TK Maxx of homeware, after they are owned by the same company, a little like a jumble sale, but there are some bargains if you're willing to look for them and wave through the items that aren't so well priced. The store is over two floors, you can use an escalator or elevator between levels. They had everything from furniture to cushions, from baking trays to baskets, and storage, there was even a small selection of cooking gear and cupboard-style food, including flavouring syrups for coffee, although the latter were all sugar-free and not from well-known names. The store felt fairly modern and was easy to get around, obviously, with the layout there aren't aisle numbers as such but if you follow it around you'll eventually find what you're looking for if they have it in stock. I couldn't find any employees on the shop floor to ask for assistance, but granted it is uncommon in a place like this. 4* - A large store with potentially the best selection of homeware in the city.

Present Days is a beautiful little gift shop in central Wakefield. Its stock is always attractively…read morepresented and tempting, but I think a little overstuffed: it would be easier to concentrate on particular items if there was just a little less STUFF packed into what are quite small premises. It does give the place a cramped feeling. A lot of the items are bigger, and frankly more pricey, than most gift shops. That's not to say they aren't worth it, just that if you pay a visit here then not everything that takes your fancy may suit your pocketbook, although they do have some smaller items including jewellery. The home decor range is really lovely: I only wish I had the bank balance to take it all home!