I don't really see this as a shop, it's more of a playground - you just have to give them money to…read moretake the toys away with you. I've been spinning and building Poi for about 5-6 years and always come down here to get any supplies I need. I also like that every time I come down here I end up seeing a new gizmo or performance toy to think about trying to learn. Sadly, right now I don't have the tie to branch out, but it's always good to stay abreast of these things. The staff are absolute legends here and go above and beyond to help you or offer suggestions. They also sell a lot of training videos which I wish I had when I was starting out. Prices are reasonable for the items and they also have a range of long boards for sale. Certainly a great shop to stop by to pick up something to play with over the summer and get you out into the sunshine.

To juggle or not to juggle?…read more You might assume there wouldn't be enough jugglers to justify opening a juggling shop but Oddballs have been supplying aspiring circus performers for over 25 years now. Their original flagship store in the North Laines is a jugglers wet dream as they stock a wide selection of juggling balls, rings, sticks, clubs and bar flares. For those that have perfected their juggling and fancy trying something else, they have diablos, poi spinners, devil sticks, knives, spinning plates, hacky sacks, stilts, walking ladders and uni cycles. For the uninitiated - like me - there's also hula hoops and advanced yo yo's!

I've always had a fascination with Doll's Houses. I'm not saying I've ever owned one nor will l,…read morebut I do understand the appeal of buying yourself the dream 3 bedroom you've always wanted at a size that you can comfortably decorate without it taking over your life. Okay, I know there are some fanatics out there who have made it their lives but that's another story. I came in here some time ago to buy myself some miniature chairs for a jewellery photo shoot. Even if you don't need anything, it's so much fun to learn about the world of doll's houses. This store build houses to spec, and the craftsmanship is pretty impressive. There's tudor houses, thatched cottages and even regency palaces. But it's the accessories that I can't get over. Everything you need to decorate your home in perfect scale. From pool tables, paintings. working chandeliers to classic Blue French Toile wallpaper. Beware though, it may be cute but it doesn't come cheap!

Staff are amazingly friendly and always happy to help, a really fun hobby and I really recommend it…read morefor everyone into board games and fantasy.

Nile streets Games Workshop offers above average customer care and sells its wares at the kinds of…read moreprices you have come to expect. If you're not sure what War Hammer is, then you probably won't be interested in Games Work Shop. For the uneducated, its kind of the modern equivalent of toy soldiers mixed with dungeons and dragons, where you buy models, paint them then send them into battle against friends and rivals armies. Personally, though I don't and never have played, the store in the Arcade strikes me as more interesting, as it offers a huge space for combatants to spread out their armies and do battle, as well as offering a mini drinks area and comfortably sized store. That said, Games Workshop has a handful of free services, and have the capacity to (in some instances) order in specific models if they aren't available off the shelves.

Brighton is home to probably every shop that has ever been conceived, so it is no surprise this…read moreGunsmith can be found down in the heart of the city. Unsurprisingly you'll no longer find actual guns here, but you can buy a selection of air guns, ranging in price from £30 to well over £1000. Having opened up in the 19th century, C&H Weston is steeped in history, so it is certainly worth a visit. If you like strange tat then you'll be delighted to know they sell giant ornamental pieces like Owls and Magpies.

This is another branch of Tiger that opened in Churchill Square…read more If you read my other Tiger review, you will know that I'm a huge fan and buy all sorts of random items that I don't need (Yoga eye pillow anyone?) - my main qualm is that it is always rammed! Well, the second branch opened may or may not have eased the congestion on the north street store. Whenever I go in to this branch it seems a lot quieter than the North Street one. It's laid out in a similar way (once you go in, you have to navigate all the way around to go out, kind of like a mini Ikea) which is annoying but clever marketing on their part. It sells all the usual stuff you can expect at Tiger - colouring books, fans, sunglasses, candles, novelty cushions, tweezers, bicycle bells, pipe cleaners... I could go on. You go in for a quick look around and come out with a basket full of what is mostly junk! But lovely junk. Bright, cool, shiny, useless junk... must... resist...going to... Tiger.....

This shop is absolutely wonderful. I fell in love with this shop as soon as I saw it. It reminds me…read morea lot of IKEA as it sells a lot of similar small bits that they do. It is also incredibly cheap but yet the quality does not suffer for it.

sixtyseven is a sweet little store who's remote location doesn't help with its somewhat random…read morestock. I can imagine my Mum will grow to love places like this, where you can pop to before or after visiting a tea room, and admire the handsomely put together and displayed gifts. Its one of those places that feels like its selling nothing, where everything in here is expensive versions of normal objects (like the coaster) but with a ribbon on it. While everything looks perfectly lovely, I'm just not one to buy a gift that serves no purpose other than to get put away from fear of being damaged... There are some interesting bits and pieces that may bolster a stocking, and some exquisite cards for those who love to show off or impress through stationary. But its all a bit expensive for what it is...

This is one of those shops that looks lovely from the outside, and is very nice as you walk in,…read morebutI couldn't find anything that I wanted to buy. For a start, their stock is actually fairly limited: a small range of fairly similar greetings cards, a range of art deco postcards, a small range of scented candles, a small range of very upmarket stationery, a small range of posh bath gels - you get the picture. I'm not quite sure who buys writing pads with soft, shiny gold covers? The nearest thing to a theme is that there is a selection of small, attractive, old-fashioned children's toys, with a number of the cards etc also aimed at children. (I was actually looking for a card for my teenage nephew, and there was nothing remotely suitable). It's all very tastefully done, with a feminine edge, and I was greeted very nicely as I entered. I guess it would be perfect for finding a present for that hard-to-please female friend that already has everything she needs.

I love this place! Unfortunately I'll probably never be there in person, but I have boughten a few…read moreitems from their website that I have had shipped to the US. Each time was a pleasant experience with polite communication thru both email and phone conversations. Items have been packaged well and have always arrived in great shape and securely thru DHL with many updates along the way. Big thank you to The Lanes Armoury!

Surrounded by cute cafes, jewellery shops and fashion boutiques, The Lanes Armoury sticks out like…read morea sore thumb. A specialist antique store run by brothers, it regularly stops tourists in their tracks with it's powerful window displays featuring Japanese Samurai swords and World War II guns positioned in front of vintage Union Jack flags. The military theme continues inside with a vast array of disarmed and polished weapons, helmets, shields, books and memorabilia. It's not the kind of shop I'd choose to return to but if you've always had a burgeoning desire to hold a flintlock pistol, a Martini Henry rifle, an Islamic sword, a Brown Bess Musket or an American Civil War revolver....

The Witch Ball is one of those lovely Lanes oddities: perched in the centre of the Lanes area, it…read moreis an easy place to miss on a meander, and a real treasure trove once found. Specialising in antique prints and maps, The Witch Ball offers some really exceptional pieces, well worth their price, and an excellent addition to any home. In terms of the pieces on display, The Witch Ball offers an excellent selection of various prints and maps. With pieces from all over the world, including maps of some ridiculously far flung locales, as well as hundreds of British and Brightonian pieces, there is truly something very any art lover. Everything is kept in excellent condition, and there are so many buried away that a good browse can take up more than the better part of an afternoon. In particular, I recommend going up the very tight staircase for a look-around upstairs: some of the best pieces are hidden away up there. There is little I can complain about in this excellent little antique shop. It is just the right side of pokey: not too difficult to explore, and yet small enough to feel homey and friendly. While the owners can sometimes be a little prickly, don't let that get in the way, as it is such a joy to browse through. If maps and prints aren't your thing, this isn't the place for you; if they are, give yourself a couple of hours on the weekend and take the time to find the piece for you. The reason for the high star rating, primarily, is the originality factor: you truly won't find pieces this good anywhere else, let alone in Brighton.

From the owner: Antique maps and prints, vintage and antique jewellery.read more