Cardiff isn't the best city for second hand book shops, and there are only a couple in the city…read morecentre that are worth a look. Located in one of Cardiff's many lovely arcades, Capital Bookshop is one of them. It has the classic look of a second hand book shop, with a few 'bargain bin' crates leaning against the walls outside selling odd books they want to get rid of, and a window full of old leather-bound first editions, and rare and off-beat titles. It's a fairly laid-back shop to browse around, and there are plenty of good general books; those that are in a slightly shoddy condition have fair prices that reflect this, while the rarer titles and books in better condition obviously have a higher price tag. Some of the stock hasn't changed much for some time, though, which is a shame because it puts you off bothering to drop in regularly.

For anyone who is a fan of the Hay-on-Wye vibe (the town of books up in Herefordshire), this is the…read moreshop for you. Like Troutmark Books in another little arcade, this is a tucked away secondhand bookshop that is never forgotten once found. Although the quality of more modern books isn't quite as good as you might find in Troutmarks, there is an excellent selection of old tome and leather-bound volumes in this shop. In fact, the windows are full of them. And the sign outside on the main pedestrian street pointing you down into the arcade for the shop is full with pictures of them. This is the kind of shop that you imagine a grumpy old man to be sitting and smoking and hiding behind mounds of dusty volumes. If you run in there to hide from the bullies, you might just get given a book which transports you to a wonderful world of luck-dragons... This is an amazing treasure trove of secondhand books that is very well worth a rummage through.

Just a mess of fun for a bibliophile!!! Small cram packed stall with lots and lots of books!!! Wish…read morethere was a chair to sit and peruse selections!!!!

I recently decided that it was about time my younger brother read Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials…read more I don't own the books myself, having read them at school, so I decided I'd buy them for him to read over the summer. The same week I decided this, I came across Northern Lights in a charity shop, along with The Amber Spyglass. No middle book, but I figured that by the time he'd read the first one, I'd have found The Subtle Knife in another charity shop. This was much, much harder than I thought it'd be. Being a huge book lover, I am in charity shops all the time hunting through the books and adding to my collection, but every shop I went into had the first and last book of the trilogy, but no Subtle Knife. I don't know what it is about this book, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Finally, after 2 months, I happened to be buying something else from this stall when I saw TWO copies inside. That's how great this stall is: it magically comes up with all the books you can never find in other second hand bookshops. I also love that the general fiction isn't arranged strictly in alphabetical order, because a) it makes browsing more fun, and b) it means you read every book title rather than just homing in on the areas where your favourite authors would be.

As an English literature graduate it's hardly surprising that any Waterstones practically feels…read morelike a second home to me, but this Cardiff branch in particular is really one of my favourites. As Laura mentioned it's big, though no way near as large as the recently defunct Borders, which was only a few doors down from this Waterstones. Whilst I liked Borders (particularly their excellent magazine selection), something didn't quite sit right with me and I became rather fiercely loyal to this Waterstones branch. I think this is perhaps due to the fact that despite being a chain store, Waterstones has an awfully British feel to it, which I rather like. We're rather lucky that this store is in the Welsh capital, as it attracts plenty of high profile authors (and John Barrowman) for book signings, which are quite frequent. When it comes to their book selection, it is in a word excellent. You're usually guaranteed to find any literature that you desire, and they also stock graphic novels and audio books (though I expect this might change with the rise of digital downloads). The staff are clearly book lovers, their always willing to make suggestions, and when I forget either the tile of a book or the author's name their usually able to work out what it is I'm looking for (incredibly spooky).

I went into this Waterstones to get a book for my course, which I couldn't find in either the…read morelibrary or the local Blackwells in the students' union. It was very easy to navigate my way around and I was impressed by the sheer size of it, meaning that there is a substantial range of books. There is a great children's section. That is my favourite section of the whole shop. There is a little play area, places to sit down and a whole range of books from those for tiny little children up to teenagers. I had great fun - and wasted quite a lot of time - finding all the books I knew when I was small. The service was also very good, friendly, smiley, helpful.

Lots to choose from, great variety of all different kinds of books, magazines and collectibles…read more Very overpriced though.

I've found some great books here and is my go-to second hand book shop. It's worth noting that they…read morealso sell comic books, and lots of them! The reason I havn't given 5 stars is that their email doesn't work and they havn't gotten back to me about some books I wanted to sell them.

It's a funny thing how niche bookshops have managed to stay alive in this day and age, sometimes…read morefar better than the ones that might sell everything and anything. Now, not being a massive fan of anything non-fiction, I felt a little cheated after walking in here. I'd followed the big blazing word 'BOOKSHOP', but hadn't paid any heed to the small print. So I found myself in a shop all about transport and trains, the navy and military aviation. Since then, I've heard quite a few people discussing this shop, so clearly it does something for the people at all interested in the areas it provides for. And apparently the staff are great; my experience shows that they're probably used to people walking in and looking around in bemusement. It's a nicely laid out shop and, most importantly, it had that bookshop smell. .

I welcome any and all book stores that choose to operate in this fair city - anything that staves…read moreoff the rise of the Kindle is received with open arms! Ian Allan Book Shop caters to more of a niche market, mainly those interested in the military and transport industries, with an expansive and well-designed layout that struck me as orderly and precise, much like the attributes you need to create the intricate models on display. Offering everything from Wargaming figures and aviation magazines to model train kits and history books, Ian Allan is undoubtedly Cardiff's transport and military hobbyist emporium. If you fancy a bit of socialising with like-minded aficionados, have a look at the bulletin board as you walk in, where you'll find a range of notices for clubs, presentations and conventions aimed at transport and military enthusiasts.

Great staff - when they know something, they really know it, and even better - when they don't,…read morethey admit it! It's so refreshing to talk to salesmen that treat you like a human being, and that act like human beings themselves. I never feel like I'm being ridiculous when I ask about strange art supplies, even when I probably am, and whilst it's not always possible to fill those odd requests, I never feel stupid for making them. The selection on offer is enormous and wide-ranging, and pretty good for it's cost - I never feel like I'm being sold the cheap stuff at bargain prices, it's all at a quality that matches the asking price.

A good place to go for all your basic stationary needs. They sell your usual pens, envelopes,…read morepaper, diaries, rubbers etc... Be warned though, most of the items here are pretty basic, if you fancy a cute, or quirky notebook, I'd recommend heading over to Paperchase instead. Another thing to watch out for is that this store can be a bit pricey in comparison to places like Staples, and your local supermarket. Where Pen and Paper excels however, is in its art materials. If you're studying art in school, University, or even if you're a professional, this is definitely the place to go. The supplies are all of the best quality, and what's more the staff really know their product, and can advise you on what would suit your particular need (which you really wouldn't get at the large chain stores). Perhaps a little randomly, Pen and Paper also has a fantastic selection of jigsaws! Now personally I'm not particularly in to jigsaws, but if they are your thing, you'll just love this store!

I can't tell you how great I think the staff are in this book shop. They are always so helpful in…read moretrying to find you what you want or making suggestions for what you might like. Its obviously a second had book shop so you might not always get what your looking for, but I find if your looking for something thats been out a few months and was quite popular it'll probably end up and for a lot cheaper than you'll buy it in Waterstone. I recently got that Girl with a Dragon Tattoo for a couple of quid. Always worth a look, or handing your old books too.

This is one of two Oxfam shops on St Mary Street, the being other an Oxfam Boutique, but this haven…read moreis by far my favourite. Selling a range of second-hand books, from History to Cooking, Oxfam can stake its claim as the only store of its kind on St. Mary Street. And this place is always busy, but never under stocked. I managed to find a pristine copy of a hardback I'd been wanting, and the cost came to only £7. Speaking of cost, each book's price is written in the upper right hand corner of the inside cover (most of the time, in pencil, which comes to a relief for those who are precious about their books, like me). If you get tired of with browsing, make your way toward the back end of the store where you'll find a selection of fair-trade chocolates and other gifts.

I collect strange and interesting vinyl so you can usually find me at a charity shop knee deep in…read morerecords on any given Saturday afternoon. This Oxfam has a great collection of weird and obscure ones tucked away somewhere in the corner and as it's usually quite busy, I can hide away and go through them for ages without feeling like I'm being hurried along. I also have a tendency to burn through books at an alarming rate (an extremely expensive habit) so this shop is a godsend. The book section is huge and really well organized. There's a large fiction area as well as a great deal of non fiction/reference all reasonably priced. Oxfam does have some of the highest prices on the charity shop circuit but for books and such, there is no better place in Penarth.

Oxfam shops are a treasure trove of exciting finds and this one is no exception. It is on the main…read moreshopping street in Penarth. Because this is a relatively well off area, many of the donations are of high quality and make really good bargains. There is also, of course, the range of new goods that Oxfam sells which include craft items from the areas where Oxfam has aid projects. The shop is run by a team of volunteer staff. These tend to be people who are either retired or unemployed, so they are of mixed ability. However, the shop is well managed and the staff try their best.

Kelly's used to be a great record shop where you could go and find original pressings of great…read morerecords went there today after a few years and I have to say but it's lost all the atmosphere and all the pull of old school collectors nothing but brand new reissues like HMV and an absolutely lifeless place to go dont know why they decided to change but what a mistake

I have a vinyl fetish. But it's not what you think…read more Ever since I discovered the legendary zipper-adorned Sticky Fingers album for $1 in a bin at a charity shop in South Florida, my fixation with vinyl has grown stronger with every passing year. For me, there's a special ritual involved in listening to a record - the sliding of the sleeve, the drop of the needle, the delicate scratching din - that hitting a button on an iPod can't ever come close to. Anyway, that's why I have an almost perverse love of Kelly's Records. Many of the shops in Cardiff Market pass by me without any recognition, but this independent record store that perches on the balcony grabs me every time. I try not to come here often, because I can't leave without buying something. Specialising in pre-owned rare and collectable vinyl, Kelly's Records also sells CDs, DVDs, videos, and even 78 records. Like any reputable record store, Kelly's has a listen-before-you-buy policy, as well as employ staff who know their stuff, but don't use their extensive knowledge to make you feel intimidated.

Great shop for finding bargain books, wide range availableread more

Fantastic place to pick up a bargain! Great prices and attentive staff. Not just for books, they…read morehave cd's and stationery too