As expected yet another bad experience when shopping at the womenswear department. Camp Hopson's…read morereturns policy comes from the position that the customer must always be at fault.i.e They must have washed the garment at too high a temperature or at the wrong cycle. I find treating the customer this way is contemptuous Today I returned a Masai cotton top which I bought a year ago, yes I know you are thinking well you have had it a year, yes and I would say the same if I had worn it every week and got my wear out of it, when in fact I had worn it only 5 times. I pointed this out to the store supervisor but she wasn't interested in that. She just kept saying well you have had it a year. Needless to say I did not get a refund but then knowing how they deal with returns I was not expecting one. Whilst I am on the subject I find the staff on the concession counters abysmal, they might a well have a do not disturb sign around their neck.

Updated 31/12/11 Fantastic sales- a proper 20% off all…read moreSwarovski and 25% off all Mont Blanc pens ! A classic department store. Come at the right time and there are some great bargains to be had. Also do things like carpets and vinyl flooring in their furniture store.

This is a massive shop with a great variety of homewares. Very good prices. I was there on a…read moresaturday morning though and it was packed though I think it gets even more busy in the afternoon with car queuing to get into the car park for this and the other shops here. The aisles in the shop are a little narrow for the numbers of people visiting especially if they use trollies. The lady on the till even said it was a quiet day!

Dunelm Mill is fantastic!…read more In Swindon they have a massive shop over two floors, selling everything household-y from bedding to picture frames to curtain fabric and that plasticy fabric that you use as a wipe-clean tablecloth. It is like an Aladdin's cave full of lovely stuff to look at, and the prices are pretty good which means you can buy as well as look! Sometimes the wait to be served in the fabric department can be a bit tedious, but most of the time they are pretty efficient. There is a cafe and toilets on the upstairs floor, where they also have picture frames, paintings and ornamental things such as vases. There is a lift if you cant manage the stairs. A really great shop, I wish there was one a bit nearer Abingdon where I live!

I love Cargo but I really only tend to shop here during sales. I have a favourite shop back home…read morecalled Bowring and this is the closest to it I have found locally. It has everything from bathroom stuff through to living room stuff through to furnature. They sell tealights by the bag, brita water filter jugs, beautiful glassware and funky mixing bowls. It is the best place to hit during the sales!

Cargo is full of things for the home from furniture right down to cutlery. On the first floor is a…read moredecent selection of furniture including sofas, beds and dining furniture. They are on the pricey side though, but the quality seems to be ok and it's nice to be able to sit on a sofa before you buy it. Downstairs are lots of nice little things for the home which are sorted out into different sections. There's a kitchen section and a crockery section, also there are loads of decorative items that you can get at a decent price. This isn't a bargain basement shop, but the prices are realistic. They do regularly have sales though so you could find something cheap if you were lucky.

Lovely shop and excellent friendly service x There are some lovely pieces of furniture and you can…read moreget some brilliant gifts all at reasonable prices .

A good range of quality furniture presented over three floors. Very friendly and helpful service.read more

While on a trip to London we made a quick stop here to purchase a delightful umbrella for my wife…read moreto use during our travels. Fair price, helpful customer service reps, and a clean, well-lit store... I've got no complaints at all and we would gladly go back again if we ever visit Oxford again - hopefully we will.

I love this shop. It used to be a real rabbit warren of a place, a bit like an old fashioned…read moredepartment store. (Think 'Are you being served') It was gutted a few years back and although the building looks the same on the outside inside it's a totally different place. There are three floors (as per usual) which are jam packed full of things to peruse and buy! The womenswear floor is large with a wide range of items for women of any taste. They have a Coast branch inside and a big collection of fancy dresses to suit. The homeware floor is big as well with quite a decent range of kitchen utensils which is nice because a lot of stores skimp on things like this. All in all the store is nice and bright, it can get a bit congested on the escalators and in the lobby though so be careful.

This store sells household items only and is hidden behind waitrose. You can access it by foot or…read morecar, turn off the high street next to Hamptons Estate Agents, nr Waitrose. They have some lovely bedding, lamps and shades, curtains and cushions. Quite often they seem to have a sale on. The carpark nearby is pay and display.

A nice change from Ikea: this home store specialises in ranges of lighting and bits and bobs for…read morethe home. I don't own a house, but I still find the range of lamps, lightshades and quirky lampstands really intriguing. It's best to go in with an open mind and let yourself be drawn to something, rather than going in with a set idea of what you want. There are lots of things under the rather vague category of 'soft furnishings', which can range from bags to trays to ornaments. The general trend is colourful and contemporary, with the odd squirt of quirkiness. It's a bit different from the nearby antique shops, but it works. The items seem like good quality and the staff are helpful. Prices are reasonable and all in all it's worth a visit if you're into that sort of thing. Personally, I find it interesting, but can't quite get excited about lighting and soft furnishings. I guess you've got to do it at some point though, and you could do a lot worse than starting here.

Northlight is a fascinating shop just to browse around, and great if you're looking for an…read moreintriguing gift, especially for a style-conscious fella. I've received and given a few presents from there and they always go down a treat, especially when used to brighten up a gloomy student room. They have a selection of almost painfully elegant home furnishings, including cushions, throws, candles, decorative items They also sell crockery and other kitchenware as well as picnic bags and hand-made kids' toys. There are some quirky items of jewellery in a cabinet at the side, and lovely children's mobiles dangling from the ceiling. This is all crammed into a tiny shop (don't take a large bag with you!) with very friendly staff. I am so tempted by their lovely fruit bowls, sigh. It really isn't cheap, by the way, but if you are looking to treat someone (including yourself) then it is a great place to find an unusual present.