Antics is a geeks paradise, full of kits to make model planes, trains, tanks and any other kind of…read morevehicle you'd care to mention. My dad's a bit of a trainspotter, so whenever he comes down to Bristol he loves having a route around in this place for a new locomotive, or bit of rail track, or whatever (I don't know, mostly I just nod and smile). The staff are really friendly and obviously well into their stuff. If you're after something in particular then they'll be more than happy to help and will no doubt strike up a healthy debate about the various different gauges (sizes) of train sets you can get and which one is best (N-gauge, I'm told). You get the idea.

If (God forbid) you should find yourself stranded in Brislington, and are at a loss for things to…read moredo (as you would be), I'd recommend you visit Avon Mead Retail Park if you're looking for something resembling civilisation. Here you'll find a long line of huge shops, including The Range. For those of you unfamiliar with The Range, it sells everything from musical instruments to arts and crafts, furniture, outdoor living equipment, toys and pet care items to name just a few of its many wares. Moreover, these can be purchased at trés reasonable prices (but don't expect the greatest of quality). This branch of The Range is gigantic and pretty souless. But for practical matters and rainy days, it'll suffice.

There's apparently a whole host of these shops all over the country and yet before I came to…read moreBristol, I had never heard of them. The Range is one of those wonderful mish-mash shops which sells absolutely everything, except from perhaps vital organs, although they could diversify into that in the future. Seriously, going in here is a real treat. You can buy everything from bones for your dog to every craft item under the sun. Or there's jacuzzis, huge boxes of broken biscuits, wall canvases, dried flowers and garden gnomes. It's all stacked chaotically around so actually searching for something you need is a total mission. But if you want to go in and come out with at least 15 things you absolutely don't need then I highly recommend The Range.

I am truly sorry to have to do this because I was really hopeful for a decent store to buy pokemon…read morecards from. I bought 5 astral radiance boosters from this shop today - I noticed over 36 on display which should have been a red flag, because who opens more than a full booster box at a time to display, right? Then I ran my thumbnail across the top ridge of a pack, absolutely fine. Running my thumbnail across the bottom of a pack, I noticed the ridges are almost non-existent. They've been reheated and opened, checked for contents and put back. My wife also bought 5 and has a similar experience - in fact, one of the packs was already partially opened and all of them were FAR too easy to open. Our suspicious confirmed by purchasing a full astral radiance booster box and comparing. Note in the shop, they are also opening Build & Battle stadium deck boxes, obviously to find the decent promos/Gengar to resell online and flogging the crap off to unsuspecting parents looking to find something good for their kids. Sorry to say this is a business no collector should take seriously - because whatever you buy here the odds are stacked heavily out of your favour. P.S. I just lifted the flap on all of the packs and you can see from the picture what I have found. Anyone that has opened a fair few of these expansions knows in the later sets, they are more likely to be like fort knox to get into than fall apart in your hand! EDIT: After re-checking, three of the packs are open as in this photo. Can you really call this good business?

Do not buy Pokémon cards from here !!!!!…read more They are 100% resealed !! I went there the other day and got a few packs of cards. Went home and noticed something was off. The bumps on the package were flat and not bumpy, the rapping was loose and one was actually open. They said some things that were worrying they said they open the Build and battle boxes and are re sealing the and selling the cards, so they are probably getting the good cards and selling them on. I will not be going here again and I suggest of you do you check the card packs before you purchase.

My lord, i love crafty shops. This is like a mecca for…read morecrafty people! I've shopped around for various craft supplies and hobbycraft isn't as expensive as i thought it would be, it has the added bonus of being all under one roof. I don't agree with previous comments that it's a shop for lazy people, if you are short on time then it's the best place. Smaller more personable hobby shops which are lovely will inevitably be more expensive and smaller in size including options for stock so it depends what you are after. i used to buy online from independent sellers but you do get less for your money and if you are intending to sell your items you create like i do, every penny makes a difference. Another good place to check out is local garden Centres, would be surprised the things i've found! They sell an abundance of Christmas crafts, ribbon, buttons, pendants, beads, modelling craft, decoupage, flower arranging, kids crafts and art work, cake decorating icing/ materials and that's just down stairs! It does get very bust on weekends, deducting a star for the times i've had to wait in the que for half and hour or more. They do seem to lack the correct number of staff in my opinion but the staff they do have are helpful as can be. If you are just starting off looking for a new hobby or unsure where to go with some craft ideas, just go for a visit, your not obligated to buy anything. You'll get 1001 ideas and inspirations :)

Hobby Craft is basically a craft shop for lazy people, who don't really take craftwork that…read moreseriously. For if they did they would almost certainly shop around and get things cheaper, better and more specialized. For what it is though (craft shop for lazy people) it is pretty good as they have a wide selection of materials and pretty much everything you need under one roof. I have to admit using this one in particular as it is nice and big and I know they will have the specific item I'm looking for. If only the prices were that little bit cheaper. Sorry, scrap that, if only the prices were a lot cheaper, it would be a pretty good chained store. As it stands at the moment it is quite frankly a rip off.

Yet another of East Street's jewels, Pipkin's is a colourful little shop which boasts a variety of…read moregoods, from discounted kitchen roll to quirky key rings, umbrellas, toys and mobile phone cases. Encapsulating the spirit of the area with its random charm, this is the type of shop that kids will want to spend all of their pocket money in. And don't think that because you're not a child, its charm will be lost on you. There has been many a time where I've passed Pipkin's and felt compelled to go in and admire its weird and wonderful stock. And that I have, usually leaving with something cheap, kitsch and delightful which is guaranteed to provide you with a short, sharp burst of entertainment.

This brings it all back! I remember the days when a 7UP pencil cas was a must have, when if you…read moredidn't have an earaser and corrector pen you were nobody, and when your rubber was a statement of your personality! What a hayday of stationary, and when you speak about your stationary past to your friends you all seem to share that glint of pleasure in your eye... wonderful! Stationary world is a more adult version of those wonderful childhood experiences, you can get some fantastic artistic materials, like mini canvases, binded drawing books and a wide array of paintbrushes. But have no fear, if you head in there are still many things your inner child will appreciate!

Back in the day when the first week of September was set aside for being measured for school…read moreuniforms and buying a new cartridge pen, my childhood self would often be found in Stationary World. But that was over 10 years ago and with the increase of Paperchases, Whsmiths and Scribblers I thought my much loved stationers would be just a distant memory. That was until I came across this little beauty on Park Street. As soon as I walked in I was taken back my school days, where having a cool pencil case was extremely important and buying glitter pens was considered to be very chic. I loved the fact that it was exactly how I remembered it - full to the brim of watercolour palates, colour pencils and sketch pads. All their items are reasonably priced for the quality, but are probably a bit higher than the average high-street stationers. I'm pleased it's still going strong for future generations. But sadly, I'd probably pop along to Paperchase to pick up my stationary these days.

Hidden in the covered market area of St Nicks, this craft shop is choc-a-block full of buttons,…read morebeads, fastenings and trimming - everything a jewellery-making enthusiast could need. But it doesn't end there, oh no! Glitter, card making, and strange dried flowers are all available and the staff here a re knowledgeable about their stock. The trays full of glass, wooden and metal beads are rather distracting as I normally only come in here for necklace chains and fastenings but if you're the kind of person who gets off on having your own hobby room then this is the place for you. Handy tools are also on sale here, such as pliers, needles and eyelet hole punchers. If you would rather look for a gift than make it there are also plenty of craft and jewellery making kits suitable for adults and children.