Though only a small sectioned off area at the rear of the FACT building this shop is one of the…read morebest places in Liverpool to get hold of movie related books and gifts. Their selection of postcards featuring abstract versions of the city centre (the perfect small keepsake for the homesick art student) and old posters of B-Movies and James Bond films (the perfect present label for the cinema obsessive) are fantastic, as is their collection of classic book cover posters (the one for "Slaughterhouse 5" currently adorns my wall and I plan on picking up several more). The shop also carries a great selection of BFI guides to genre and directors (the "100 Best American Independent Films", which I picked up here, has been a book that I go back to again and again when I need something a little different to watch). The staff here (it's usually just the one guy) is happy to recommend suitable gifts or purchases and is happy to just have a bit of a movie fanboy jawing session.

The Shop at Fact is a little glass walled area at the back of the ground floor. It doesn't look up…read moreto much until you step inside. The items on sale here are wonderful, from the cuddly lambanana's to the arty books, there is so much on offer here you wont find anywhere else. The items are cheap, but they are of a very high quality and being so rare, you don't mind paying a little extra. The staff are very friendly throughout FACT and they are happy to suggest a gift and they will wrap your item for you if you wish.

Hawkins Bazaar has a huge range of quite peculiar little gifts and toys…read more Some parts of the stock are more expensive, for example the electrical gadgets, but there is also a section that is almost like a sweet pick n mix section of cheap 29p+ toys and gadgets. There is also a book section which has some great 'random' books that always make good talking points or presents. The chester branch of hawkins bazaar doesnt seem very big, but does make good use of its space, and is very centrally located in Chester being just on the crossroads.

This place has some really bizzare stuff in here!! It's one of those shops where i find the stuff…read morereally intreguing! the staff are really friendly here and the items are well worth a price. I'd say it was well worth a visit because some of the items you'd find are really quite unique - a great place to get presents from

HMV in Speke isn't bad for a relatively small store. It's only one floor, but they make the most of…read morethe space. I mainly go there to check out the DVDs, and they usually have a wide selection, with some good offers in the sales section at the front. I like it because it's open late (9 or 10pm, I think) and it's handy to tie it in with a visit to Borders bookstore, which is just a few doors down.

I have been to Bold Street and Liverpool One's branches of HMV, and compared with them, this is a…read morevery impressive store. The layout is easier to understand, and the lighting is better than Bold Street, maybe because it's a fairly new store like Liverpool One. It's a large square shape in terms of interiors and they have an impressive variety and volume of stock for a relatively small branch. The stuff in their 2 for £10 on CDs (an ongoing thing all year round) is better than a lot of what you can find in their shops in town and their staff are more helpful and friendly as well. It's not too far from town; about 30 mins on the 82 or 86 bus services. They also have a lot more stock out the back and things you may not realise such as they do still sell CD walkmans, so always ask!!

Model Zone is a geek's heaven, situated within St. Johns market this is the kind of place where…read moreyour typical nerd can go and spend the day marvelling at the products within. There is nothing at all wrong with this but it just so happens that I am more of a games console man and as such I didn't really understand the fervour surrounding these types of products. This place as the name suggests sells models for war craft games and other related activities and to be fair the range of produce is quite astonishing. As well as this the quality of the products is fantastic and there is much attention to detail here. I was also very impressed with the staff who worked hard to help out each and every customer so they get much kudos for customer service. On the whole a well run establishment which does its best to draw you in to its slightly nerdy world and if we are honest there is a bit of a geek within all of us.

I've never made a model of anything before I don't think, but we used to come here a fair bit when…read moremy brother was a toddler because they had loads of cool trains and cars and he was interested in collecting them. Then, as he grew up and became interested in the RAF, the family would generally call in here if at a loss for presents at Christmas or birthdays, and get him a model aeroplane set. This is quite a fascinating shop if you like geeky things (or at least appreciate them, like me). You can get all the Thomas the Tank Engine trains from here, you can get Meccano sets and Scalextric and even Star Wars, Star Trek and Dr Who collectibles. If you're at a real loss for inspiration for presents, it may be worth while looking round here for ideas, as more often than not you'll see something that you know someone will love. The staff are eager to help and even if you ask them random ambiguous questions they eventually find out what you're talking about and sort you out. It's on the same avenue as the 99p shop so you know you're going for guilty pleasures (ie stocking up on £5 worth of sweets) if your feet take you in that direction.

WHSmith often gets very crowded, and it's one of those stores that's hard to stay in for long. That…read moresaid, they usually have a great range of products. Downstairs, there's a spacious section with DVDs, crafting supplies, art materials, and more. The service is pretty good. The items are pretty expensive in WHSmith. 64/100

My local branches of Smiths are typical of the decline of the company but I quite like the branch…read morein Chester. It's bigger, with more choice and even has an in-house Costa coffee shop and a glass sided lift to get from floor to floor if you find the stairs too much of an effort. The 'basement' floor has a clearance section where there's quite a lot of rubbish but the odd genuine bargain mixed in if you're prepared to have a dig.

Really good selection and great service in the children's section. You can get stuff cheaper on…read moreAmazon, but if you want to support the brick and mortar economy this is a good option.

The kids books section is awesome! It has not only books and toys, bit also a yellow submarine that…read moretoddlers can play in. It has a cafe upstairs, as well a pretty good inventory. Recommended.

If you are anywhere near the Empire Theatre with some time to spare, this small rare and second…read morehand book shop is a treat to visit. Just look out for the big clock. There a books packed on shelves from floor to the high ceiling for the depth of the shop. Outside there is a 10p bookcase with some interesting titles. The sign above the door reads "Books purchased from Single Items to the Largest Library. All Subjects, All periods, 16th Century to Modern Paperbacks." They also purchase classical and jazz LPs and CDs but the first floor department is not open yet. There are all manor of books to browse from specialist subjects to old annuals. They have recently been refurbished but the bookshop has an real old fashioned feeling.

Henry Bohn is a mini second hand book shop that has surprisingly and most recently attracted my…read moreattention. It is a mystery that I bothered to walk in after so many years I've passed this shop. Outside the entrance currently has a collection of books on sale for as cheap as 10p each. I don't know anywhere else where you can buy books for 10p! Most of these books are in adequate condition and of course readable. Inside is a different story. There are stacks full of books that feature many genres such as classics like Shakespeare and plenty of other literature including poetry. Plus, if that's not enough to tempt you, then they have a variety of music CD's. For example, jazz, classical, blues and LP's too. All of these items are affordable and if you have any unwanted items, you can trade in for cash depending on the type of book and condition. This is what's great about the shop as both sides can benefit. In terms of the layout, it is rather narrow and the lighting is a bit dull. Other than that, you can't really argue much about the items they sell. There is something for everyone here and it could be your lucky day if you come across a valuable read.

This shop is just Gorgeous! It's filled with elaborate doll's houses and ornamental furniture and…read morecharacters. The window displays are so alluring and there was an incessant procession of browsers during my visit. Toys such as this are quite luxurious but I did not think Collector's Corner was extremely expensive. This is an ideal place to get your child, or a big kid, an extra special, unique gift. The staff were really gracious and welcoming and I was comfortable browsing in the rather small store.

Love it there get my Charlie bears from this shop and the Lady and Gentleman are very polite and…read morehelpful. They are even happy to phone me when they get a new delivery in. Very helpful