Shopping(household)

On the High Street

Argos  http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Home.htm:

Argos is a catalogue type shop.  You can either go in and order or you can order on-line.  You can have things delivered or you can pick things up.  When you order in the shop, you go in, find the catalogue number of what you're looking for, check its available on the little computer type thing, write your number down, take it up to the cashier, pay, then go and wait at the pick up point. 
You can buy the big things there-everything from dishes, toys, garden furniture, appliances, furniture, pots and pans, kettles, toasters cutlery.  It's fairly competitively priced and has named brand goods.

Woolworths  http://www.woolworths.co.uk/

Woolworths is the Find Anything store.  It's where you get those little things you're looking for-clothespins, ironing boards, cheap bedding, brooms, kitchen things, cheap candles, vases, and frames.  There's a new range in Woolies at the moment called 'worth it'.  It's a cheap range of very very basic household goods-sheets, cutlery, plates, towels, etc.  So if I was on a tight budget and setting up a household, this would be my first stop.

Robert Dyas  http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=91&catalogId=311&top=Y

Robert Dyas is a hardware store.  It's the place to go for any kind of tool, picture hanging stuff, nail, screws,locks,  hammers, gardening things, and plumbing stuff.  They also sell lots of small appliances-toasters, toaster ovens, blenders, and fans.  They're very helpful and if you need to ask questions this is the place to go. 

Lakeland ltd.    http://www.lakeland.co.uk/?src=ga071

Lakeland ltd.  is a specialist kitchen supplier.  You can get other things there, but it's pretty much the shop if you're looking for specific things to do specific jobs.  It tends to be a bit expensive but it is quality stuff.  It also has a very good line of cleaning products. 

Wilkinsons    http://www.wilko.co.uk/

Wilkinsons is a hardware/drugstore.  It tends to be very cheap but you can pick up your basics there for good prices-everything from garden pots to brooms to lampshades. 

Habitat   http://www.habitat.net/uk/main_uk.htm

Habitat is furniture and housewares store that has been a favorite on the high street for many years.  It has beautiful furniture, bedding, kitchenware, lampshades, picture frames.  It's the place to buy quality things, and has  very good sale. 

Local shops

Most towns will have little kitchen shops or linen shops.  Have a wander round, these are usually the place to find elusive items. 

TKMaxx  http://www.tkmaxx.com/index.asp

The housewares department in TKMaxx can be a bit hit and miss, BUT it is worth having a look when you're near one.  They often have American baking and cooking equipment-frying pans, muffin sheets, cake pans, and pie plates.  They also carry the usual vases, frames, bedding, etc. 

Department Stores

John Lewis.   http://www.johnlewis.com/

John Lewis is a huge department store in bigger towns and cities.  It has a huge range of quality goods and appliances.  You can find name brand furniture, bedding, and appliances.  It also is well known for its fabric and sewing department.  And is a place where the staff are trained to be helpful. 

Marks and Spencers  http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/42966030/?extid=ps_ggl_P4PBrand_marks_and_spencers

Better known for its foodhall and clothing, M&S does have a houseware department where you can buy bedding, kitchenware, towels, etc.  It's good quality.

Debenhams  http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category_10001_10001_60861_-1

Debenhams carries the usual array of household things.  They have some 'Designer for Debenhams' ranges that are very good.  They sell small appliances, curtains, bedding, and kitchen things.  They tend to be reasonably priced and good quality. 

BHS   http://www.bhs.co.uk/

BHS doesn't have quite as extensive a range and you won't find appliances there, but they do have some bedding and other homewares. 

Out of Town

Ikea  http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB/

Ikea is your absolute one-stop shop for everything but appliances.  They sell a massive range of furniture and household products.  There have almost everything you could need to set up a household.  There are different opinions on the quality, but by and large you get what you pay for and it tends to have nice affordable things. 

B&Q  http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/index.jsp

B&Q is a DIY shop that tends to be a bit more 'builderish' than Homebase.  It's has a huge range of plumbing, tools, paint, wallpaper, garden stuff and all your DIY needs.  It's big and impersonal but you can usually find what you want.

Homebase  http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=20001

Homebase is very similar to B&Q, but tends to be a bit more aimed at the normal person and less at the DIY enthusiast. 

Electrical Appliance Stores

Comet  http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/homePage.do?zone_id=13 and Currys   http://www.currys.co.uk/?camp_id=ppc_currysbrandmega

Out of town Electrical Appliance stores that sell both large and small appliances.

Poundland

http://www.poundland.co.uk

Equivalent to a US 99 cents store

On that note, also Poundstretcher (no web site), like Woolies, good for cheap but suitable household goods.