I was afraid I might die. The ceiling of this place has bits literally falling off. Exposed metal…read morewith paint chips the size of dinner plates just falling to the ground. It is in need of some SERIOUS repair. That being said, it is like all of the other discount stores around, you will find good(or not so good ) deals, one thing that absolutely surprised me was their shoes. They started at sz 4 and went up to a size 8. I'm not at all sure if there is a difference in our shoe sizing, but that just seemed rather odd to me.

I spent nearly an hour in here yesterday as I love to browse all the different departments and…read morethere is so much stock to look at. Situated in the Market Hall above Wilkinsons this shop is massive. I love the the way that the stock changes all the time and that you can always find a bargain, whether it is a pair of shoes, a handbag or a new throw for the couch. The different depatments include womens, cildrens and menswear. Although they do homewares and often small items of furniture aswell. I love to look at the children's toys although the range can be quite limited in our store and I have seen better in other towns. The fitting room are huge although I am not keen on the doors which seem to be quite small with a huge gap at the bottom not good if you bend down to far. I only realised yesterday that our store stocks children's bedding in particular baby sleeping bags which I wish I has known before I had bought my daughter a new one last week. I also love the range of photo albums that they always stock and can't resist coming away without one everytime I am here. They are definitely at least half the price of any equivalent shop elsewhere in town. I would defintiely recommend visiting here if you have at least an hour to kill and everyone loves a bargain.

This store caters for the more mature lady (fifties plus) I would say and stocks a good range of…read morecompetitively priced clothing and accessories - jumpers, jackets, trousers, skirt, coats and evening attire. The staff are very helpful and if you sign up for a Bon Marche Card you get extra benefits such as discounts and entry into prize draws. The store is located opposite Edinburgh Woollen Mill and it is easy to pop over the road at the Pelican Crossing to visit both shops. It is popular with the coach trips that visit Carlisle and there is a good cafe opposite too!

This is an excellent store to buy clothes as it is not as expensive as some stores in Carlisle…read more Good selection of tops and helpful staff

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 used to love shopping in BHS but I don't go in as much as I used to. I feel that they haven't…read morereally moved with the times and the store is so difficult to navigate with a buggy. Their clothes seem to be targeted towards the older lady, although a couple of years ago I got a gorgeous pair of ballerina flatties in the sale really cheap. They are brilliant for work and are still looking quite new although I wear them everyday. At Christmas BHS has a great gift range and it is even better when they have the 20% off days in the run up to Christmas. YOu can get some really good bargains and they do have some good novelty items and stocking fillers. I do really like to look at the lighting section upstairs but it can be quite expensive. They do tend to have some very quirky lampshades that can add a lovely and different finishing touch to a room though.

Of the places in carlisle where someone can buy children's clothes, this is one fo my favourite…read more Like all BHS stores, it has good quality products for reasonable prices. It may not always be the most fashionable but you know what you're getting will last. With children's, ladies and shoes downstairs and men's and household upstairs, it's not difficult to find your way round. There is also a little restaurant on the ground floor for a much needed break after too much shopping!

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.

This shop sells designer labels in men's, women's and children's shoes. The shop is very long and…read morenarrow and on one side is menswear and on the other is the womenswear. They do a lot of clothes from the Hooch range which I love and have never seen anywhere else for sale in town. They also sell Playboy, Rockport, Golddigga and Converse, to name but a few. At the bottom of the shop is the shoe department and they definitely stock the best range of children's trainers anywhere in town. I also love the children's range of Converses baseball boots which come in loads of fantastic, bright colours. The shop is quite trendy and although can seem a little daunting the staff are really lovely and friendly. As it is a designer shop the prices are quite expensive but they are only what you would pay anywhere else.

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!

The cafe is great. They make these weird toasties, its like a sandwich with cheese grated on the…read moretop, so like cheese on toast but its cheese on sandwich. Is this a carlisle thing? Ive never seen it anywhere else, ever! Best for tea and scones with jam and cream! yum.

M&S is a good shop, with great customer service from the staff. The clothes department are very…read moregood, although the sizes sometimes are a bit crazy. But there are plenty of different items to chose from, in different styles and colours. The food hall has a wide range of products, from snacks and sandwiches, through to fresh fruit and vegetables, and microwave meals. It can be quite pricey, but you can taste the quality.