Nice little newsagents with helpful friendly staff. They hold a good selection of magazines and…read morewill happily look up any queries on the computer. This newsagent also has a lottery machine. There is a step to get in which makes it difficult with buggies and pushed wheelchairs but there is normally someone who will help.

Judging by the quality of the names of some businesses in the area, one could be forgiven for…read morethinking that, going solely off the name, this was a chippy of some sort, or at the very least a fast food place (bearing in mind I've come across takeaways called 'The Chippy' in the past). Thankfully, this shop is not a chippy but is instead an electronics shop that sells a range of console games as well as various accessories and consoles themselves. The name isn't much more imaginative considering it's an electronics shop, but it could have been worse. The selection of games stocked in Chips is pretty impressive without competing with the bigger companies like Gamestation and Game too much, and if they were in the immediate area then it would probably be a better bet to go there instead, but it's not a bad option considering its convenient position in the heart of the town centre. You can also order from them online through Play.com and Amazon, which is another handy little feature if you can't be arsed to leave your house.

Maxwells is very well located on the main High Street and has occupied this position for a number…read moreof years and as such has demonstrated its longevity and place in the affections of the town. Many of the staff have been there for a long time and they know the business inside out. They have a good range of electrical items. When you first enter there is a big range of televisions to choose from, all usually on, and it makes the shop seem nice and bright. They sell lots of different makes of items, usually high quality such as smeg fridges, dyson cleaners. There is a section of electric fires at the back of the store and they also stock quite an extensive range of items incase you need a repair. If it isn't in stock they would do their utmost to order it as a matter of urgency for you and I think they provide a really high level of customer service.

Although this shop looks a bit scruffy from the outside it's not so bad inside. In the main it's…read morefull of 2nd hand/used PCs, laptops & Notebooks. A number of flat screens are also available so if you can't afford a shiny new PC from the big retailers this is probably a good place to start. I normally get my printable cd-r from here at a reasonable price.

This is a very small site within the airport that is perfectly placed to help you buy those last…read moreminute travel essentials for holiday makers ( and to console those people with the job of waving off!) The shop has a good choice of the usual items sold within high street branches . Including chart books, latest monthly magazines sweets and drinks for the peckish traveller. There is a stand with travel essentials. A small cafe is outside ( not served by smiths ) and this is great to sit and read any material you have just bought if your flight is delayed. We had to help some friends out recently who had too much weight in their luggage and smiths were great at providing us with carrier bags to take the surplus clothing back home for them.

Badger for books is located in such a small space in a converted old secondary school building, yet…read moreit consistently amazes me how much I can spend when I go in there on behalf of my school. I am based in the foundation stage and the stock of books on display by far exceed our needs. The business aims to provide schools with quality reading and research materials. The business has a very comprehensive web site to support its base in the Southlands centre. Staff are always very knowledgeable and are able to offer help with searching for that lost favourite book on their data base. Prices are as you expect when you are buying books but you do pay for quality. If you live in this area and are part of a school organisation I would highly recommend a visit to this school book specialist.

A well stocked store, this is great for unusual jewellery and stocking filler gifts for girls…read more Very well priced.

This is a fairly small Clairs's Accessories store. However it is conveniently located in the…read moreCornmill Centre in Darlington opposite HMV. I would think that is mostly geared towards younger girls aged 5-15 but there are sometimes nice bits and pieces for adults too. It has ranges of jewellery, hair accessories, bags, sunglasses, purses etc. They also do ear piercing within the store. It is not as cheap as stores like primark but is still pretty reasonable.

Nice new store where focus used to be. Light & specious store. Plenty of parking at the front.read more