Screwfix sell a range of DIY products, and their shop is like a warehouse…read more When you go in you talk to someone and tell them you want and then if they have it on stock they get it for you. They don't actually have much on display. This is good for the likes of me who would rather just say what I want and get it rather than looking through loads of DIY items not really knowing which one I should get!

Being free from Wilkinson's Otley has little tool shops dotted around and about, this lovely shop…read moreis one of them. The shop-keeper stands on high a podium like plinth to stand on, complete with green body warmer and look of stern knowledge crossing his face. What to say, I was on a look out for a staple gun and in this mini-tardis there were many varieties one complete with staple remover. Extension cables of many varieties, screws, nails, fixtures and fittings, not terribly cheap but quality items at your convenience.

Being as I make jewellery it's really useful to have a wee drill bit to use, as I collect a good…read morenumber of shells to include in various pieces. As I like to hand pick a lot of these shells straight from the beach they invariably all need a hole drilling at some point! One of my tasks of the day was to find this tiny drill bit and so I decided to try The Tool Box in Otley. As soon as I ventured in I realised I was a little out of my league. Burley men looking at various power tools glanced up and raised an eyebrow at me, I suppose I can't blame them as I did look overwhelmed. Tools and DIY bits were everywhere. The shop was filled to burst with gear; when they named it The Tool Box they were not kidding. I couldn't believe it! They had gardening equipment, drills, rakes, saws, screws - I couldn't list everything, but I know that if you had some specific requirement The Tool Box would have it. In the end I slowly made my way round the entire shop, carefully checking the shelves for drill bits, and eventually (once I'd made it back to the entrance area) found the bits I needed. At first I could only see tiny drill bits in with a set of several extra ones, until I realised they had a sort of pick 'n' mix box of spare one off drill bits. It said they were all 60p each and so I found the tiniest one. Yay! Just what I needed. I went to get out my 60p and the guy went to charge me then realised I had the smallest bit in the world, and so just said "ahh, you can just have that. No worries." Awesome! Really great stuff. My main advice? Don't spend the entire time looking, it'd be quicker just to ask.

Love Dunelm. They sell loads of home stuff such as kitchenware, bedding, textiles, and furniture…read more Most of their stuff is really good value and it's never too expensive there. The shop is massive and there is loads to choose from although it can be a bit cluttered sometimes.

Chiltern Mills are absolute superstars! These guys have good products at excellent prices, with all…read morethe product knowledge you could ever need -especially helpful to a clueless bloke! Well worth checking out. Chiltern Mills is in crossgates.

J.J.'s Junction's wares spill out onto the pavement - plastic chairs, bins, buckets, baby baths,…read morelaundry baskets, and my absolute favourite: rolls of plastic table cloth material with a variety of brilliant designs including shiny gold or silver floral, a coral reef, pasta and some very pretty vintage-style lace patterns...Amazing! If I'd had any money on me I shudder to think how much of this tacky/kitsch gloriousness I would've bought I must say I simply can't imagine how they manage to get all that stuff inside every evening! Inside the shop is full to the brim with such a mad range of bits and bobs it's pretty hard to pin it down. There's loads of crockery, some of which I rather love decorated with cutesy floral patterns and just about every little useful item you could have in your house! One thing that stood out for me was an absolutely GIANT charming retro-look thermos flask. I wanted it but couldn't think what for. It would probably hold a good few gallons! How very odd! Along with supplying all the bits of homely stuff you never knew you needed but probably do, they also do a key cutting service. Yay!

This shop always used to grab my attention whenever I walked past due to its endearing 'Walk In'…read moresign posted above the doorway, as if the owner lived in perpetual fear that someone might one day confuse his shop for a drive-in DIY store. As far as I know, that hasn't happened yet, but it did mean that this establishment was the first to spring to my mind when I found myself in need of somewhere nearby to purchase a padlock, so perhaps it wasn't an entirely wasted effort. One of those stores that sells just about everything you need and a lot of stuff you don't, JJ's is cheap, cheerful and exactly what you want from such an establishment. While I went in for a padlock, the bright displays and cheap prices meant I very nearly came out with a box of fireworks and children's paddling pool too, so try and stick to your guns unless you want a house full of tat. The staff are pretty helpful too, although it might take a while to catch their eye - the place was heaving when I visited, and it was only a Wednesday morning.

Wilkinson is a great shop. Its very big and sells a wide range of things including toiletries,…read morecleaning products, homeware, kitchenware, and stationery. Their prices are very low and a lot of the stuff they sell is branded, however their own brand stuff is quite good too.

A pretty bog standard Ikea just off the motorway by Leeds - a place to spend time where minutes…read morebecomes hours and hours become days - you never get out as quickly as you think you will! But I really like what Ikea does and I love their design ethic in terms of value to high end, most stuff is usually pretty cool and as long as you don't do an Edward Norton in Fight Club and you have the whole apartment decked out page to page then it's all good. I've gotta say though that I find the food in the cafe becoming a bit too Anglicised/Americanised with less Swedish influence than it used to have. I had to really search for the gravlax and the daim bar cake seems to be getting poorer in quality. Saying that it's not biggie but I hope they do stick to their food values and always sell their Swedish wares!

I honestly like Ikea and I particularly like the restaurant and I love meatballs (but enough of…read morethat). There is no doubt that Ikea has some very appealing items and, generally speaking, the prices are OK but I so hate the layout and the way I am herded along the pre-determined route to make sure I see absolutely everything. The one thing I hated even more than the layout today was the checkout. I only had one item but, because I was paying cash, I had to queue for a 'manned' till behind about 7 people who had obviously chosen today to refurnish their entire house with Ikea goods. I could only gaze longingly at the express checkouts which are all card only

Cracking value for audio visual cables. Called them first to discuss my needs and my purchase was…read moresent within hours. Highly recommended.