The Book Clearance store situated in St. John's Precinct is a small shop which sells a variety of…read morebooks at affordable prices. The shop is not really aimed towards children but more to those interested in arts, literature, history, cookery and languages to name but a few. They have a great selection of books on offer and attract a lot of students. Quite often when I was a student, I went straight towards the computing section where they always had a range of books related to software development and hardware. Their prices are usually cheaper than most high street stores like Waterstones but their selection sometimes dated. The shop is perhaps a little tight for comfort and you will have to be on your feet to flick through a book. However, it is a fabulous place to buy hobby books or a good place to browse if you have time on your hands.

The Book Clearance Centre is one of those places where you need to be patient, but you can more…read moreoften than not find something you want or at least are interested in. There is a varied selection of fiction and non-fiction books, both paperback and hardback, at pretty good prices. There is usually some sort of offer on as well, such as three paperbacks for £10. In addition to this, there is a section dedicated to Liverpool - its authors, history and tourist information, as well as the usual tat to do with The Beatles. Not an ideal place, if, like me, bookshops make you need the loo (and I know I'm not alone here - something about browsing bookshelves just makes you wanna go!!) as you need to invest some time if you're gonna find anything valuable. Still, worth a shot!

This is probably the smallest place I'll ever review but take care with the name it is Saad, don't…read moremiss spell it as Sad because this shop is anything but! A veritable treasure trove of goodies, it seems to stock anything you could require from a convenience store and isn't expensive. What makes it special though is the smiling proprietor who serves all customers as if they are the most important person living, a joy to behold and log may he prosper.

So convenient, staff are lovely, much cheaper than londis and has a large variety of food,…read moreingredients, snacks, drinks, stationary, newspapers and more

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

Although the stock here is pretty limited and somewhat out of date, you can find the odd thing in…read morehere that would make a perfect present at a fraction of the usual price. I always find the Fisher Price stock is best of all and always head here first when looking for something for a baby. Rockers and highchairs sometimes turn up here too always big makes and always great prices. It's in a prime location opposite the food hall and by the play area so I expect they do OK. Staff are helpful and are always restocking. Good place to shop during the credit crunch!

You're not likely to find a copy of The Protestor's Handbook or The Rough Guide to The Universe in…read moreThe Works. You might however, find something you like if you're into baking, cooking, biographies, art, film or crime. A discount shop specialising in books, stationary and art supplies, The Works sells a wide range of hardback and paperback books at bargain basement prices. Most of the stock looks brand new and they seem to get a lot from certain publishers. The fiction section isn't a patch on Oxfam or any of the bookstores in the area but they do get some decent art, true crime and crime noir, travel, gardening and food and drink books. Last week I spotted copies of The Polaroid Book and Green and Blacks Chocolate Recipes for £7.99 each (RRP £15.99).

The Works is the perfect place to find stationery, small gifts, hobby and children's books because…read moreit is a compact store serving two floors where you can easily seek what you're looking for. It is ideal for kids to browse as items are cheap too, so it's a great place to spend some of their pocket money. I always go here to buy my annual calendar (that's what I remember The Works most for). Other than that, I recall that I used to buy all my art equipment from here for my school art lessons, which was my favourite subject so I ended up buying nearly all their pencils, charcoal, chalk pastilles and paint brushes! Above all, a brilliant shop to spend your time.

A shop that is the perfect little place to get some small groceries or just a paper. It sells…read morethings from sweets to sandwiches and pot noodles to pasta. The service is great and friendly.

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.