My local Newsagent was not only the proud winner of the prestigious 'Best Newsagent' award (2006)…read moreit is also involved in the honorable struggle against the onslaught of porn in our community and has been since 1989. A huge banner decorates the cheerful front window of Hamdy's declaring "THIS IS A PORN FREE NEWSAGENT." Thank goodness for that I say. I agree with Hamdy's and have no problem with people that partake in the purchase of porn, I just don't want to witness them doing it when I buy my morning paper and orange juice. Although it is not possible to buy porn here, Hamdy's has a huge selection of other types of magazines, from fashion to fishing and everything in between. It's almost as if they are trying to encourage non porn related hobbies and I think it's all very refreshing. They also stock everything else a porn free newsagent should have: cigarettes, sweeties and Ebony cards. These are my favourite cards, they feature ebony beauties in all sorts of situations (playing pool, going to church, etc.) and say things like "You are a strong, good man, a man that doesn't walk away, Happy Birthday brother." What more could you ask from a paper shop? If your answer is porn than go buy it in Soho, because in Stoke Newington, we like to keep things nice and clean.

Yes Eden's review is funny but I don't really get why she is hatin' on this place. I think it's…read morelovely that a newsagents doesn't sell porn. Hamdy's sells loads of toys and sweets and slushes... All stuff aimed at kids, why would you not be happy that they didn't litter their shelves with stuff that young eyes probably shouldn't see? I also like this place because they sell sparklers most of the year around. They're also are super friendly whenever I go in there to by magazines. They have such a huge selection too, better than any other shop in the area. Must be all that room on the shelves that are free of porn...

Good News is Shopstop's only newsagent inside the station. It's really tiny but it's really packed…read morewith all sorts of magazines, newspapers, drinks, sweeties and other bits and bobs for travelers. You can also buy your Oyster cards here or get a top up in the mornings. A word of warning though, there's usually huge queue on a Monday morning so either get it the night before or be prepared for a long wait - this has often made me late for work. I love this little newsagent's... it's always been really handy when passing through Clapham Junction.

Unsung high street heroes - newsagents, I think. Obviously they don't get much praise, it's so…read moresimple to get right and so supremely difficult to get wrong isn't it? Just get your stock in and always make sure you don't run out of cigarettes and miniature bottles of whiskey. Easy. But simple things go wrong all the time right? England penalties, scrambled eggs, trousers...So, here's a pat on the back to a newsagent doing it really well. They don't run out of newspapers, the drinks selection is just right, it's warm in the winter and they sell a few decent cards for when you forget someone's birthday.

SOAS is one of London's top universities - famous for its specialization in the Orient (despite…read moreEdward Said's infamous critique) and Africa, and for its politicized student body. SOAS Language Centre accepts independent students and teaches everything from Arabic to Zulu with classes in the evenings and at weekends. The bookshop (just inside the Brunei Gallery) is a great place to pick up a copy of the Ibn Khaldun or to browse the latest post-modern histories of Chinese society. Most of the university is closed to tourists or visitors but you can wonder through and get a feel for the place.

Amazing uni with amazing people. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the country. Great vibe…read more Great academics and chilled out atmosphere.I did anthropology of development. Anyone who actually cares about people and wants to do development, I recommend this course. Anyone who is already doing anthropology I recommend doing social anthropology.The league tables cannot possibly capture the real value of coming to SOAS.

Whenever I say that I live in Morden, people say,"Ah yes, the Northern line."…read more Morden station is literally the end of the line. The southern end to be exact. So, before you hop on the Tube to begin your journey, Morden News can meet all your needs for the journey. Tube ticket or re-load your Oyster card? Yup. Handy to know if there's one of the usual long queues at the ticket machines Reading material for the journey? Yup - magazines and papers Nourishment for the trip? Yup - chilled drinks and snacks are available Sadly closed on Sunday but there's a newsagent a few doors down from the station

The amazing dude that used to run this joint is no longer there…read more I deduct one star because despite the facelift, Morden News has lost its sparkle. He used to put a cheeky smile on my face before the journey and no amount of fanciness, ice cream or sweeties can make up for that. Especially considering the misery guts who has taken his place. I'm a bit gutted.

They have just moved to another part of the Ashley Centre, that is to the South side. They are now…read morebetween the Superdrug Store and Jessops Camera Shop. There is a LEGO Century standing guard just outside, a nice touch. They tell me is is bigger than the other space they occupied, and I can confirm it does feel that way. A least four shelves of model toys,of farmyard and zoo animals, together with a good selection of board games.

The good old fashioned games and Toys replaced by Computer Games? Not While I have breath in my…read morebody! Yaw boo sucks! Hope these guys survive. They are advertising for a Supervisor now.

A great shop for bargains. Wish it was a bit bigger though. Only 2 aisles. :-(read more

I am not religious but I am forever looking for good reference books -and so I came upon the Quaker…read moreBookshop by chance. I admit my knowledge of the Quaker religion is little -and I had no idea what I would come across. What I found was a comfortable if not a little dowdy bookshop with a surprisingly very well stocked Fair trade cafe in the middle. No glamour here - but an impressive selection of good coffees, flapjacks and chocolate goodies mixed with religious books of many faiths ! - supporting the Quaker's tolerance and acknowledgment of other religions. What surprised me most was amongst the religion was a section on green issues and in particular "food issues." Books and leaflets such as how to cook and eat and even grow locally plus numerous fair-trade information sources are all available. In retrospect I suppose my own ignorance is to blame here - the Quakers anti-war and antiviolence beliefs require peaceful solutions for the bigger picture - and these all neatly interlace with fair-trade. Interested in fair trade -?? this is a good place to look for information -me - still looking for those obscure reference books with pictures.....

Religion really does not have to enter the conversation here when a quick, (fair-trade) coffee and…read morecaramel slice is in order. I cannot comment on the bookshop per se, as I have not browsed the shelves- normally for me the Quaker Meeting House functions as a delightful, quiet study environment. There is plenty of space, a multitude of nooks and crannies to nestle within, and for a bit of exercise there exists an enjoyably circuitous route around the recently renovated building to the WCs (which, I must add are very nice indeed). This peaceful haven is truly a complete world away from the cantankerous Euston road that it sits upon!