This was a great place to go at the weekend if I had a few quid for a new kit proct. I bought my…read morefirst Tamiya kit there at the age of21/22 It was a Tamiya XR311 plus radio kit (Acoms c ch) and chargers, batteries etc. I always believed his shop was in Coventry Road. Maybe my memory messed up on that. I recently heard that the shop was closed as Bob passed away a fw years ago. Very sad. That as well as Jum Davis Models in Marsh Lane Erdington was among my favourite places

For anybody who loves train models, car models or aircraft models, then Bob's is definitely the…read moreplace to be for you. In Birmingham, there are few and far between shops that sell such a wide scope as of collectors items, and this dwindling number is more than likely the result of a rise in internet sales in this area; So it's great that a place like Bob's has managed to exist throughout this climate. The store is surprisingly big inside, as appose to the small appearance from the street, and it literally stocks every toy/building hobby imaginable. There are boat building kits, train sets, die cast cars and tanks. Bob's also caters for niche collectors too, and there's a great selection of Star Wars models sold inside, such as star fighter ships. I bought my first scalextric from Bob's, and I used to have great fun playing with it as a young'n. (Writing this really makes me want to retrieve my set from the loft actually) Prices for scalextric cars aren't cheap, and tend to reach around £30 per car. But then again, the models are so detailed and delicate, it's definitely worth paying the cash.

Simply Different is a hidden little gift shop at the high street of Coleshill that got my attention…read morestraight away for dealing with crystals and some exotic products. If you're Yoga or Pilates junkie, you're going to find more than just inner peace at Simply Different. This shop has really different items with incredible prices. I was particularly fascinated by their range of incenses bags and the wood carvings products. If you fancy some some exotic pieces of decor, spiritual and relaxation cds and books, Simply Different is a shop to visit. The service is friendly and this shop really lifts your spirit up.

I love the smell of antiques shops, they always remind me of when I used to look in the loft at my…read moregrandparents house. In fact "Remember When" reminds me a lot of that loft, because I'd always find some great little toys and other objects that I hadn't noticed before. Inside this shop, the stock constantly changes, and it's great to look at all the unique little trinkets that fill the tiny room. From little bits of furniture, to tables and chairs, these items make you understand exactly why older people always say "things aren't made like they used to be!" - the craftmanship that has gone into the wooden chairs and cupboards sold here is astonishingly detailed, especially when they're compared to modern furniture which is churned out one after the other (and sold for double the price). You can tell that whatever you purchase from here will last forever because it's lasted this long already. I doubt you will be seeing modern furniture in antiques shops years to come! It's all about value for money, and Remember When has it spot on. For any Charlie bear collectors, this shop is heaven; The premises is cluttered in those sought after rarities.