WHSmith in Birmingham New Street Station is a fairly strange store down to the construction of New…read moreStreet Station as it basically is two stores in one back to back, mainly down to the ticket gates being past the stores so the store had to compromise through having a larger store and then a small store round of the back. For me this does affect the overall store as the stock is less, the store is more cramped and smaller in both sides as the average travel store would be. I came in here to grab a quick drink to take onto my train, the prices were higher than normal with it down to being a travel store. The manned till was empty and the store was really understaffed which meant a long wait time to redeem and sort out my coupon, which was frustrating as for me a travel store especially should be quick with a staff member on hand to help and there should always be at least one manned till for people who might struggle with one of the two self-service machines or wanting to buy something age restricted such as an energy drink. WHSmith is in pretty much every Railway Station, and although the stock is slight, size, service and overall feel is worse than other travel locations and price is perhaps nearer than nearby locations (remember Grand Central with a Tesco and many other retailers is right above New Street and this store) it still deserves at least two-stars for location and having a satisfactory beverage selection.

This shop is a lifesaver! They carry magazines, paperback books, candy and travel essentials…read more Ladies, this shop seems to be the only place at New Street aside from Boots that sells feminine hygiene products. Boots always seems to have a queue but its really easy to zip in and out of here.

Waterstones on High Street, just outside the Bullring is the largest location of Waterstones I've…read moreseen, this one is in Birmingham city centre. The store has six floors including two cafes and multiple floors with toilets - Click and Collect (online orders) is conveniently on the ground floor in case you're in a hurry and don't want to navigate throughout the whole store, which can be a little awkward as this isn't something you'd expect to do from a book shop. The staff seemed disinterested which is a shame, and not too willing to help and with a book store as big as this one - it is something you'd often need to enhance the experience from book recommendations to finding a book if you already have one in mind - they do have writing on "recommended" books but unlike other stores these are newspaper quotes which every book seems to have which are easily found online or even on the book its-self once you pick it up - I mean come on, are the staff literate with a passion for books and customer service? PERSONALISATION. Other than the size of the store, it doesn't really stand out - the store seems to follow the newer and more modern layout Waterstones are slowly rolling out (sadly this hasn't arrived in my home town of Manchester yet!) 3* based on a great central location in Birmingham and huge size over multiple floors, the layout and slightly cramped nature of the ground floor and disinterested staff really is a shame because without it the store could even warrant a high four-star rating.

This Waterstones is accessible from the High Street and also from the top floor of the Pavillions…read moreshopping mall. This store is large, spacious and airy with a huge selection of books. Anything you can think of you will find and if they dont stock it they will search to see if its at the New Street branch (the other large store) or order it in for you. There is a Costa Coffee on the first floor and the 4th floor has a large floor space dedicated to travel and the world. As you walk across to pay for your purchase you get a nice view of inside the Pavillions and as you take the glass elevator back down you get a whirl wind view of New Street :-)

This is a fab bookshop that sells fiction, non-fiction, auto biographies and educational books. I…read morehave saved a fortune by getting text books from this shop. This also sell greetings cards which are lovely and start at 49p. I like the range of childrens educational toys which are excellent value for money

Awesome for box sets for 8-15 and individual adult books but no single ones, which means I don't…read moreoften go in unless I'm looking for an entire new series. Amazing prices though!

Now, I am a lover of all things Comic booky, board gamey and generally a bit geektastic (if you…read moredidn't already know that). A trip to Forbidden Planet is a pretty rare occasion for me as I know my wallet will be angry at me every time I even begin to look at the dusty shelves filled with pretties... I popped in yesterday for the first time in a while. I got a £10 gift voucher for my birthday and desperately want a copy of "Takenoko" after playing it for the first time at SciFi Weekender in Wales (it's a board game where you have to grow bamboo - much more fun than it sounds). After the distributor telling me that Forbidden Planet could easily order this in for me, I hastily nipped down on my lunch to enquire about this. Now, service has always been mixed at this branch of Forbidden Planet. The staff are very informed about their products, but sometimes it can seem a little Elitist. The gent which served me yesterday was friendly and helpful, but seemed a little put out that I wanted to order something in and wasn't sure he could. Needless to say, I have given them my details - so will have to update the review later if it can be achieved and the transaction completed. The product range in this store is pretty vast. Stocking everything from themed boardgames (they stock "Adventuretime" Monopoly!) to Graphic Novels and various merch (again, a huge range featuring a selection from "Twilight" to "Minecraft"); you will normally find your particular kink catered too. We are lucky to have Nostalgia and Forbidden Planet in quite close proximity. If you can't find what you are looking for in one, you can always pop down and try the other! This place really is an "Aladdin's Cave" of geeky treasures.

From the moment I queued what seemed like a mile around the corner to meet Amber Benson aka Tara…read morefrom 'Buffy' (yes, this is how positively cool I am), I was in love with Forbidden Planet in Birmingham. A haven for all those grown-up boys and girls who still find pleasure in playing with toys and secretly wish they were superheroes, the store in Birmingham is a little out of the way from the main shopping drag - but that has kept its inherent charm intact. If you fancy checking out the latest comic book issues and memorabilia, this has always been the #1 destination in the city. It's not massive and it feels a bit like a cave in there thanks to the dingy light, but again this helps set the scene for what should be a bit of a secret geek den. The staff are always helpful and clued-in (a must for any place like this, where the customers are sure to come loaded with really specific questions) and, for a pretty small space, there's so much to see and wish you could afford to take home with you that you could spend a good hour in there just having a nose.

Good selection of books, games, DVD's and clothes. Some clothes are expensive though. Quite…read morespacious inside. There have been some good deals on books in the past and I have picked up a few bargains.

The arcade toyshop dudley is a hidden jem. A traditional toyshop but some great offers, great…read moreservice and on trend with toys (they had bumpezz and Moshi Monsters before anyone else locally). Who needs toys r us!

this shop great if you like nice cloths but its to pricey so i will not go back there but still the…read morestaff once a gain are very friendley and thats what i like when i go in any shop

You can't miss this place, with the huge buckets of fake flowers outside, and I have to say, it's…read moreone of the better gift shops I've seen. This place has been going string for years, yes, it has some of your usual tat, but some people love that stuff, otherwise it wouldn't be IN EVERY GIFT SHOP EVER, but they do have other things too that are more original and more unique. It's absolutely packed to the brim, and because it's quite a long shop, with often a few people to navigate around nervously trying to watch your butt on the pottery, if there isn't anything to your fancy, you don't get small shop guilt if you leave without buying something your auntie mabel would hate...

Excellent gift shop, with loads of interesting things to buy. Not much in here for men but loads of…read moregood gift ideas for girls and the younger generation! Excellent range of candles/incence/burners/holders etc along with some really original things I've not seen anywhere else. Prices are reasonable, about what you'd expect for an average gift shop, and the staff have always been really friendly to me and my family/mates.

A great shop with great prices. Lots of lovely childrens book and colouring sets. Also some really…read morenice painting equipment. I would of given this a 5 but the access isn't very good for those with pushchairs or in a wheelchair.