Shima Beads & Wool

Shima Beads is a quaint little craft store off Cowbridge Road East that specialises in beads and delicate handmade jewellery, as well as items like yarn, stringing wire and anything else you’d need to whip up a bespoke trinket.
Shima’s shop reminds me of a country kitchen, with its pale blue walls and stocky wooden table and chairs positioned in the floor’s centre, making it a welcomed detour before a lengthy walk in nearby Victoria Park.
Their wide range of sparkly and colourful beads offer enough options to get the creative juices flowing, but if you’re still having trouble, Shima Beads holds evening jewellery-​making classes for only £10 per session (check out their website for an up-​to-​date calendar).
Even if you’re not the crafty type, Shima offers a range of gifts, including hand-​painted animal figurines crafted out of stone.