Cook shops
Great places to browse, cook shops up and down the country sell everything you could possibly think of to assist you in kitchen - and many gadgets big and small you never knew you needed! Department stores in major towns and cities always have a cook shop area with of china and glass, plus electrical goods and gadgets, gadgets, gadgets.
Lakeland
With 32 branches from Aberdeen to Truro, Lakeland (www.lakelandlimited.co.uk) is one of the largest specialist cook shops in Britain. Named Lakeland as its first shop was in Windermere in the English Lake District. Its stores specialise in practical but contemporary china, glass and cookware and regularly come up with new ideas for things to make your life easier in the kitchen.
Books for Cooks
If you're stuck for new recipe ideas, seek inspiration at Books for Cooks (www.booksforcooks.com), a unique bookshop in London's Notting Hill crammed with thousands of tasty titles and equipped with squashy sofas for comfortable browsing. Here they really do 'cook the books' as recipes are put to the test in their café at the back of the shop, while cookery classes take place in the demonstration kitchen.
For more about the tastes and aromas of Britain, visit our food & drink section.