Need a good bookshop in Cardiff, near Lakeland

Savvy_Sue

Excuse me gatecrashing the principality, ladies and gentlemen, but I NEED a day trip to Cardiff to visit the Lakeland store, which is in Wharton Street, off The Hayes. Apparently.

Now, I don't think I'm going to be allowed to come on my own, so I need to entice my DH to come with me, and to do that I need a good bookshop, because I don't think he's forgotten the day we spent in Walsall without seeing a single one!

So, please could I have any recommendations, also nice places for lunch (preferably leaving out all the really nice pubs because I'm afraid he'll be doing the driving).

Also where to park. Don't mind paying, but if there are places you can do it cheaper than the obvious ones that would be good!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

cardiffkjk

Hi, you will be pleased to know that there are a few bookshops near to the Hayes.The biggest one is Waterstones which is across the road from Lakelands and another smaller one which is closeby (sorry I dont know the name of this shop) . Rough directions are:- Clarks shoe shop is on the corner of the Hayes,walk towards Abbey National,and then you have Waterstones . Next door is Primark, opposite Primark by Iceland is the small bookshop.There is also a Lears -think its called that-in one of the arcades in the Hayes,by Spillers record shop.Car parking in Cardiff can be expensive.There are car parks near to the city centre that you can pay £3 to park all day but you have to get there early.If I can be of any more help let me know

pavlovs_dog

ooooh SUE!

welcome to my part of the world!

there are actually two waterstones on the hayes, and one is at the start of the side street that lakeland is down.

also, if you head down wharton st, you come out on st mary's st/high st. just near there is an OXFAM bookshop.

if you turn right at the end of wharton st and head up towards the castle, there is a BOOKSALE shop down one of the side streets that leads to St johns church. (called church st, fittingly ) (there is also a booksale in st davids arcade, opposite peacocks and ELC)

also, for an amazing second hand bookshop, if you cross st marys st roughly level with church st, you should find the entrance to an arcade (near natwest & pizza hut, if my memory serves me right). follow this right through to the end, and next door to the button and bead shop is a treasure trove of books. cant remember what it is called, but a fab little place all the same. oh, and word to the wise, avoid the shoe shop in that arcade like the plague, toooooooooo much temptation (i want a pair of the clogs )

also, for christian books, have a look at the top tier in the cardiff indoor market (follow church st down towards st johns church, turn right past the cornish pasty shop/o neills, and follow the smell of fish )

Savvy_Sue

thank you cardiffkfk and especially pavlov, I can almost hear my DH salivating about all those bookshops. And fortunately I can resist footwear, now I have my pink trainers ...

pavlovs_dog

in my excitement about the books, i didnt even think about your other requests

right then, lunch....

the cornish pasty shop is award winning, but sell out of popular lines early in the morning and isnt the healthiest of options. if you are feeling flash, hard rock cafe (few doors down from oxfam bookshop) on high st is great fun. that also marks the start of the old brewery quarter, where you will find a yard, nandos chicken, ma potters grill and chiquitos to name but a few.
failing that, a trip to chippy lane (aka caroline st) is a must - chicken off the bone and chips, or a clarkes pie (you haven't lived til you've had a clarkie) and chips

if you can find your way to westgate st, there is a little place just down from the millennium stadium that has a great offer on steak (give-away prices). or for a relaxed weatherspoons pub, you will also find the gatekeeper on westgate st.

if you were after a sit-down to dinner type of meal, why not hop on the city tour bus and make your way down the bay? (i insist you have a cadwaladers ice cream from the hut, yummy )

failing that, there are loads of cafes/coffee shops/pubs/ baguette places dotted around the city centre.


parking - loads of ncps around, which you will pay through the teeth for. churchill way (near queen st station) is an avenue of pay and display chevron parking. if you decide to park just outside the city centre, be very careful, we have million and one traffic wardens and a lot of residents only/special pre pay and display areas. be vigilant - you dont want a parking ticket to ruin your day. sorry i cant be more help here- live in walking distance of the city centre so parking has never been an issue!


let me know if you want ideas of things to do in/around the area, and have a nice trip

Savvy_Sue

pavlovs_dog wrote:

in my excitement about the books, i didnt even think about your other requests

right then, lunch....

the cornish pasty shop is award winning, but sell out of popular lines early in the morning and isnt the healthiest of options.

Ah, but I'd spotted the reference to a pasty shop already and knew that would make Sir happy. Not my fave, but I think after Walsall I have to pretend this is HIS day. Never mind the fact that I MUST get to Lakeland...

pavlovs_dog

from st johns church, if you go left past the owain glyndwr, and past the haor place, there is another arcade (starts with a shoe shop called eccentrics, its just before burger king)

follow this round, and about 2/3 on the left hand side there is a shop called 'nice' that sells designer items, including kitchen wear. not necessarily practical, but fun to look at!

i think there is also a kitchenwear store on st marys st, towards the castle, on the oxfam bookshop side

Savvy_Sue

pavlovs_dog wrote:

i think there is also a kitchenwear store on st marys st, towards the castle, on the oxfam bookshop side

Well I need another cheese slicer, assuming DS gets his grades, so will have to go there as well!

Hubby has had a read and is salivating nicely ... It will have to wait till we have had our hols, but I think I've sold it to him!

pavlovs_dog

we also have a fopp (books/cds/dvds) which you will find on queen st, the capitol shopping centre end. (conveniently located for thorntons, if you get bored whilst hubby is looking at books )

homersimpson_3

lakeland is in wharton street which is a side street off st mary street and is opposite side entrance of howells (large department store).
there are 3 waterstones in cardiff- 2 in centre (see above) and one based at university (within walking distance of city centre). there are 2 book shops in st davids centre (shopping centre) offering discounted books. there is also a shop offering discounted books opposite pound stretcher. there are 2 christian book shops in cardiff (one based by side street of st johns church) and the other by a church off queen street. the museum has a book shop (close to shopping centre). second hand book shops- arcades, oxfam shop in st mary street, market and shops near to university. usual shops - smiths, menzies etc. there is a bookshop in arcade off st mary street. forbidden planet opposite castle.
places to eat- depends what you're looking for. usual- mcdonalds, burger king, greggs, resturants in dept stores e.g. howells, debenhams. loads of pubs offering 2 for price of 1 meal.
good places to eat-
a) pastie shop (see above) - very large pasties, bagettes and cakes. large selection.
b) positanos- lovely resturaunt - brilliant for pasta meals - average price for 3 course meal and wine about £12. well worth the money.
c) snack bar by ncp car park off st mary street- sandwiches, cakes, ready meals. very popular with office staff. people always queuing.
d) vegitarian shop in st mary street - near kitchen shop.
e) st david's hall- try the carvery- sit down meal/self service for about £6-£7 (meal, coffee & wine).

Savvy_Sue

Thank you everyone. Assuming we both sleep OK tonight, we're off on our travels tomorrow. I've even got a batch of prescriptions to get made up - they're cheaper your side of the bridge aren't they? Still waiting for my pre-payment certificate to arrive so hope it won't be too confusing if some of my scripts were cheaper than others when I reclaim them.