Asked for a quiet comfortable room with a good bed and mattress and they delivered. Very good value…read morefor money and great views to boot from my room on what turned out to be an exceptionally warm May day.

Whenever I book a country hotel or b&b, I get all hopeful that I've managed to find a place with…read morethat special something. Most places manage to miss the mark in some way or another, but the Roundthorn did not disappoint in the least. A warm welcome, cozy fireplaces, stylish rooms... I felt like I was on a proper vacation from the moment we arrived.

I really do love Matalan for their really great prices. Although I do feel that you have to be…read morecareful with what you buy as I have had a few cheap vest shops completely reshape themselves in the wash. Apart from that I have never had a problem with any other item from here. They stock childrens, mens and womens clothes including shoes all at really low prices, and if there is a sale on then it is even better. The lingerie is a particular fave of mine as there is always an offer on the knickers where you get three pairs for a fiver. You do need a Matalan card to make a purchase but you can sign up for free in the store and they often have member only offers aswell such as two tops for £6 which was on recently. I adore the Homeware section as they stock everything from gorgeous prints to cheap tea towels and most of my kitchen accessories are from here. They are always right on trend with their colours and patterns. The bedding is really good and I am still using a duvet set which I bought from here five years ago and it looks as good as new. There can quite often be quite a queue but it does move quickly and the staff are always happy to help. If you can't find a certain size they will go and have a look in the back for you and more often than not do come back with it.

Matalan has a huge range of clothing, so you can usually find something. The clothes are cheap, but…read morecan fall to bits quite quickly, so for some things it's worth paying a bit more to have it last longer. The queues here can be massive. You need to have a Matalan card to shop here. Matalan does have a classy range of homeware and interior furnishings. Their duvets and pillows are very good value. Be careful when you park not to leave your car after going to Matalan and nip into town. I got fined for doing that; they've changed the rules recently. Silly really, I've never seen that car park anywhere near full.

I adore next not only for myself but also for their childrenswear. The clothes are gorgeous and…read morealthough people think it's expensive I don't think it is anymore. The quality of the clothes is fantastic and they wash brilliantly which is great with a messy toddler. The shoes are gorgeous and arre also incredibly well priced. The staff are lovely aswell.

Next is my favorite shop for buying my childrens clothes i find it excellent value for money and…read morethey have really trendy stuff ! i also buy for myself quite a lot as they do a petite range which is great for me as im only just 5ft 1 ! all the cothes are very fashionable. i tend to spend more in next when they have their famous sales as they really are some good bargains to be had.

I always visit here first before going aywhere else for baby items. They mainly sell buggies and…read morenursery furniture but also do nice clothes. I love the prices here as they are always competitive and they sell a lot of well known brands. I bought my travel cot here which I got for about £20 then anwhere else I had looked. The shop is situated in the Market Hall and is really easy to browse as it is over two sides of an aisle. They have a scheme where you can pay for something over a number of weeks which is handy. The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly and they will deliver items aswell

This sis a nice little stall in the market that sells baby quipment such as pushchairs, cots,moses…read morebaskets, car seats etc all at very low prices and everything is excellent quality as they sell the named items such as graco, chicco etc the staff are helpfull and its wortha firts look before heading to mothercare and the like

Always worth a visit at sale time. I've picked up nice skirts, trousers and jumpers which are…read moreclassic and good for work.

I like to shop here for my mum and aunties as they stock a lot of ladies clothing that they like…read moreand the prices are reasonable too. There always seems to be some kind of sale or special offer on but the reductions seem genuine enough. There is also a Men's department that sells jumpers scarves and gift ideas. You can buy DVDs and brooches and pens that are ideal as stocking fillers and there is something for everyone in their nightwear range. This shop is trying to appeal to the younger age range too and I know Carol Smillie has been modelling for them recently and you can buy some really nice tops and skirts that are not what you might stereotypically expect (ie not tartan!). There is a nice selection of biscuits, preserves, cakes, toiletries and other gift ideas and last Christmas they made up hampers with anything you wanted from the shop. This is a great gift idea and the presentation was beautiful. Well worth a visit just for the banter with the staff!

Spacious opticians branch, handy for the city centre. I use this to get contact lenses, and I have…read morealways found the opticians to be friendly and professional. I had a problem with a direct debit which was all their fault. The branch manager admitted fault and rectified it quickly, so I thought that was worth giving them another change. Their children's range is basic, and you get more choice elsewhere.

Mitchell's totally saved us! We were walking the wall and had a boot fall apart on us just outside…read moreof gilsland. We had seen a take up sign for them and knowing we couldn't keep up with the days hike with a broken boot gave Mitchell a call thinking we would head into town and get a new boot. Well he knew of a little service station that sold boots! Took us there and got us back on the trail in less than 30 minutes. Totally saved our hike just as we were starting to get to the best part of the country side. And the price was right!

In recent years I have discovered this shop. Although I don't have children of my own, I have found…read moreit very useful for buying things for my nephews and nieces. There is a great selection of clothes, for all ages, and both sexes, and occasionally with some great offers on. Plus there is a small range of toys available, as well as practical and neccessary items for you child such as plates, bedding, bath items, as well as car seats, buggys and furniture. Some items can be a little on the pricey side, but if you wait for the offers, there are some great bargains to be had. The staff are very helpful and exude excellent customer service.

I totally love shopping in Mothercare and can't resist nipping in when up town. I often order from…read moretheir catalogue and you can get it delivered to the store. The staff are really knowledgable and won't try to sell you something you don't need. There are baby changing facilities in the store which are always clean. The goods are priced about the same as anywhere else and are of really good quality.