I'd reckon that this is the largest of the charity shops in Horncastle, and it's handily situated…read moreright next door to Sue Ryder and two or three doors down from The British Red Cross shop. This is actually my favourite, because it's always bustling with people and the layout's organised (and colour-coordinated). Also I've never not bought anything when I've been here so it's clearly the one everyone brings their stuff to.

Dragonfly Home, like its companion stores Dragonfly and Dragonfly Kitchen, is a beautiful…read morecollection of lovely home items arranged in such a way as to convince you that you can't leave without buying them! I've been seduced by a beautiful bedspread or Emma Bridgewater teapot many times. There's a mix of high-end quality furniture and well-known names such as Cath Kidston, together with niche designers and imported wooden items. Perfect for an extra-special gift or for treating yourself, it's well worth a visit. One of my favourite shops in Louth.

A really quaint shop, selling household and kitchen items. The things sold here are much more…read moreunique than mainstream shops and although perhaps a little pricier, you can often pick up a bargin too. A lovely place to buy presents from (or treat yourself) as you always feel you have something a bit different to what everyone else has. A visit to its sister shop next door, is highly recommended too. This sells gifts, cards etc and is equally, if not more so, lovely.

A fine charity shop, in that it's tidy and well organised, but it doesn't grab your attention like…read moreHelp The Aged next door. It's never incredibly busy and there doesn't ever seem to be as nice stuff in. Which is a shame because charity shops are mega, and people should support them more. I can't keep doing it on my own! On the plus side, the volunteers here are clearly very dedicated, because they've always been incredibly attentive and helpful when I've been in. Probably they know everyone's just popping in on their way to Help The Aged : (

Anything old or antique this is a one stop shop. It had furniture, crockery, stuffed animals,…read morecards, silver ware everything. Bit messy and difficult to walk around at times, but that's half of the fun! Brilliant place to stop and while away the hours.

First climb half way up Steep Hill. Don't admit you are completely knackered but instead take a…read morerest inside the aptly named Readers Rest Bookshop. A very old shop with multiple rooms and corridors jam packed with second hand books. I have found some real treasures here. There are a few bookshops in Lincoln but this is the best! Hours can be spent in here. Books start at 50p and they had to open another shop (an old chapel I think) across the road to accommodate all the books. With more than 60,000 titles, this is a book lover's paradise and they will also buy books if like me you have thousands anyway. It is a bit pointless me selling boxes of books to them because..what do I do? I look round and buy more books.

Lovely little shop, up the hill. Very friendly and very helpful. Worth the hike to get there as the…read morechoice of books is very varied.

There are lots of charity shops in Louth, but I wanted to mention this one specially because it's…read moresuch a very good cause. The St Andrew's Hospice in Grimsby does an absolutely fantastic job and needs all the support local people can give it. This shop is a good size for a charity shop with lots of window space for displays. Prices are good (it's cheap, even for a charity shop) and there is a good range of books, toys and clothing. The shop run raffles at Christmas and last year were handing out free little presents to children, whether or not you spent any money - a really nice touch.

I think this little shop is so useful! It's tucked away near the library, and offers a fantastic…read moreservice - basically it's an old-fashioned dress agency where you can take in your unwanted clothing (excellent condition only), and you'll get a percentage back when it sells. From a buyer's point of view there are rich pickings of designer and top-end high street fashion, bags and shoes for women and children, at excellently competitive prices. It's always packed full of stock and well worth a rummage! The lady who runs the shop is really friendly and helpful and will offer fashion advice if asked, and there's also a box of toys to keep children entertained. Well worth a visit especially if you have children as you'll be able to pick up some beautiful bargains for them at a fraction of the new price.

I know the lady who own this shop and she has been running it for many years now. It's basically a…read moresecond hand shop, but it only sells really good quality clothes. It's quite a small shop, but it does stock quite a bit and it also has a changing room. As a customer the prices are pretty good (as they're second hand clothes) and you can pick up some good bargins. If you're looking to make money, you can take your clothes here (and providing they are good quality) you will get part of the money that the clothes are sold for. However unless things have changed in the last few years, you don't get the money until its sold and she doesn't accept things which she doesn't feel will sell.

Second annual visit to Hemswell Antique Center. Really looked forward to it after a great first…read morevisit last year. Took the train from London to Lincoln and again spent a day looking at the incredible array of interesting and quality antiques in their 4 buildings. Robert and Paul and their team once again couldn't have been more welcoming and helpful, as well as Jonathan with shipping all my finds home to the U.S. If you visit the U.K. and like antiques, arrange a visit to Hemswell!

Best antique experience in years. Have come to UK for 42 years to antique. Saw Hemswell on Antiques…read moreRoad trip. Stay in London and take day trips to shows and centers. Emailed about getting from Lincoln station to their center. Expected advice on a taxi but instead the GM picked me up and later took me back. The volume and variety in the 4 buildings was incredible! And the staff were all amazingly helpful. Have health issues so they took me from building to building. At the end, I preferred to ship my purchases home to the U.S. and Jonathan very kindly provided choices and made the arrangements. Hemswell would be A1 just on size and content, but is A111 thanks to their incredible customer service! Worth getting to when you're in the UK!