First Edition is a small newsagency on Lower Clapton Road in Hackney. I honestly cannot complain…read moreabout it one bit, and manage to frequent the place most days of the week, which is probably also to do with the fact that I always need to top up my Oyster card. What is worth noting about First Edition, is how efficiently they run the store. Being such a small place, it could easily have suffered the same fate as other small businesses in the area, which is being way too crowded and uncomfortable. Fortunately, the staff members are switched on, incredible nice, and really attentive to all of their customers.

Newspoint at Westfield Stratford City is a really small newsagent in one of London's busiest…read moreshopping centres, the store is basically a box with one narrow aisle, which is split into two. The store is pretty modern in terms of signage and decor for a newsagent, yet of course, it is limited due to the size of the store, the same could be said about the selection. Prices seemed pretty average for a store of its' kind, most products can be found cheaper at the chain stores, which is pretty common from independent stores like this, but for me the location (so many rivals and similar stores nearby) nor service (generic, okay at best) don't make it worth the extra. The selection is okay, and they do have a larger selection of magazines and postcards and it is perhaps a useful store if you're in a hurry, which is the only justification for an extra star. 2*

Be careful topping up your oyster here, they have a habit of forgetting to actually top it up yet…read moredont forget to charge you......nice. Saying that keeping your wits about you, their just another corner shop....

WHSmith on the lower floor of Westfield Stratford City in London, perhaps might not be as modern…read moreand cool as other shopping mall branches of the WHSmith chain (and, trust me there's a lot) from Manchester Arndale to Sheffield Meadowhall, closer up north to where I live, but this branch is still satisfactory and surely meets the description "Meh, I've experienced better" Selection of most basic items from magazines to beverages was okay, but the technology section from phone accessories appeared to lack for me, along with the staff who again appeared disinterested. This store can get pretty busy due to its' location in what is London's busiest shopping centre, even bigger than the somehow larger Westfield White City (which strangely has a better WHSmith branch) It would have been good for this branch to incorporate a Post Office, which would be a useful addition to the mall and this would be one of the more obvious places to include it. 2* - Basic feel but a decent selection. I would have expected better from the location in terms of selection and feel of the store.

**UPDATE** They are currently holding a 'closing' sale with…read moreeverything at half price. Some amazing bargains and the good news is apparently they are not actually closing permanently, but just refurbishing **** Though this shop does a lot of cards (as the name suggests) I tend to go in for the stationery side of things. This is quite a large shop, and as a result the range is greater than you'd find in the average card and stationery shop. Of course they have all the basics: pads, pens, tape etc. But they go a little further, with a larger range of the basics than you'd usually get, and sometimes something unusual. I've got some lovely pads with metallic covers for a very reasonable price here. Single unusual (e.g. padded, boarded) envelopes are also a good price. They also sometimes do bulk bargains, such as one I got for card folders. If you are buying in bulk you might do better in a big chain, but for small amounts, and if you are in the area, this is definitely a place to sniff out a few bargains.

This shop is often a rip-off, huge markup on lots of things they can charge extra for. Avoid - the…read morefamily run newsagent opposite is far better.

Very good for basics like bread, milk, sugar and flour. There is also a post office in it and they…read moresell a wide range of sweets. It doesnt sell newspapers or magazines though. Generally the people are nice but they can be a bit wary of children as they don't trust them not to shoplift.