Fred Aldous

Fred Aldous is the shop you need, whatever you’re making. If you’re getting artsy or craftsy, or know someone who is, there’s no more comprehensive store than Fred Aldous with three floors of loveliness, from oil paints and wool to everything you need to make your own lampshade, set of earrings or candle. And looking at the neatly ordered full spectrum of coloured pencils is always a soothing experience.

This Northern Quarter legend stocks over 30,000 products. If it’s art, craft or stationery materials that you’re after and it isn’t at Fred Aldous, then it probably doesn’t exist.

Fred Aldous sells glamorous gift-ready collabs with artists such as cool water bottles and tote bags, as well as distinctly unglamorous but eminently useful things like good quality darning needles and aluminium wire.

It’s a lovely place to shop and great for special gifts – just create a personal hobby hamper and fill it with stuff. Go arty with pastels, acrylics, top brand fine-line markers and sketch pads or build a box for a budding printmaker with lino blocks, rollers, cutters, trays and inks.