Some of the best from around the country

In almost every town and city across the UK lies a local independent record store that is loved by many and probably deserves more attention.

Thanks to The Guardian here is a rundown of some of the the greatest independent record stores in the British Isles.

Next time you find yourself in one of these cities, dare to stray away from the bright lights of HMV and have a flick through the treasures these stores have to offer.

Rough Trade 130 Talbot Road, London W11
020-7229 8541
Thirty years since it first opened its doors, Rough Trade is still enjoying its reign as the best independent record store in Britain, if not the world. Started by Geoff Travis in 1976 as a record store, and two years later a record label, in 1983 Pete Donne, Judith Crighton and Nigel House, all Rough Trade employees, bought the shop.

Monorail Music
12 King's Court, King Street, Glasgow
0141-553 9458
The shop was the brainchild of Stephen Pastel (of the Pastels), Dep Downie and John Williamson (who manages Belle and Sebastian), who were frustrated by the closure of the last decent record store in Glasgow. In their first year, 2002, their main form of advertising was staging "in-stores" (live performances) in the adjoining bar-restaurant. Since then, they have hosted the Concretes, Teenage Fanclub and the Belle and Sebastian album launch, and business is booming.

Selectadisc
19 -21 Market Street, Nottingham
0115-947 5420
Owner, Jim Cooke cites Stuart Maconie's 6 Music radio show as a huge influence on his customers' buying habits, and describes the Selectadisc customer's taste as a combination of Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica, Can's Tago Mago, Roy Harper's Stormcock, the Smiths' The Queen is Dead and the Wicker Man soundtrack. The shop offers a dedicated section for Nottingham artists, and a large noticeboard where you can advertise for a bassist, or potential bandmembers who share your love of Pantera.

Action Records
46 Church Street, Preston
01772 258809
Preston is precisely the sort of town where many independent stores are suffering - without the customer base of a city, but close enough to Manchester and Liverpool to see their business go elsewhere. Action's main customer base is "serious vinyl-heads and kids buying 7in singles". "You can get some really nice vinyl now," says Gibson. "The artwork, the quality of the sleeve - your Springsteen, say, will be really well presented. And we buy very, very limited-edition vinyl with hand-made art sleeves."

Spillers Records
36 The Hayes, Cardiff
029-2022 4905
At 112 years old, Spillers regards itself as the oldest player in the recorded-music game. Nick Todd arrived here 31 years ago, has owned it for more than 20 years, and employs three members of staff who have worked there 17 years apiece. Spillers has responded by becoming more independent, less charty than its rivals. "We cater to the intelligent end of the market," Todd says. "We do punk really well, because I came here in 1975. Punk was a kick up the arse the record companies needed at the time."

Reveal Records
63 St Peter's Street, Derby
01332 349 242
"I started Reveal from scratch six years ago," says owner Tom Rose. "Then there were seven record shops in Derby. Now it's just us and HMV. We co-exist. Virgin and Music Zone closed last year." The store already draws customers from a wide area - students buying 7in singles, readers of NME, Uncut, Mojo, 50-quid man. There are 20 listening posts with new artists every week, and frequent in-stores. But mostly they are there for the diverse selection and the welcoming environment.

Crash Records
35 The Headrow, Leeds
0113 243 6743
Crash has been around for 20 years and fell into the hands of Ian De-Whytell, a former rep for Sony, a decade ago. The ground floor houses indie, punk, metal and gig ticket sales, and in the basement there is drum'n'bass, house and hip-hop. "The dance scene has levelled off a little bit. It's not as vibrant as it was five years ago," says De-Whytell. "Now 17 year olds are into guitar music again. The odd thing for me is how 7in vinyl has come full circle. We sell more singles on vinyl. You feel you've got something with them, it's the opposite of a download.

Piccadilly Records
53 Oldham Street, Manchester
0161-839 8008
Launched in 1978, and moving to its current Northern Quarter location in 1997, Piccadilly remains the jewel in the crown of Manchester's many record stores, its reputation forged on unrivalled stock - one could get lost for hours amid its racks of vinyl and CDs - and the unbridled passion for music displayed by the staff; the store is brimming with in-store recommendations, forthcoming release schedules, reviews, and staff picks. Think of it as the Oddbins of record stores.

Any more stores worthy of a mention? Post them in the comments section.