For myself living in Middlesex (aka Surrey), following shops were iconic back in 80’s / early 90’s:-
Gamleys - Staines-Upon-Thames (knocked down in early 2000’s and now a road!)
Beatties - Kingston-Upon-Thames (bought out by Modelzone and the rest is history. Building recently knocked down and huge apartment / office block there now)
The Aviation Hobby Shop (renamed AJ Aviation) - West Drayton (memories of myself & my Dad spending many an hour perusing around that shop. An absolute Aladdin’s cave. Closed in 2022. Not sure what’s there now, haven’t the heart to look)
On the plus side, my daughter started University at York last year and I stumbled across Monk’s Bar Model shop. The look on my wife’s face (and mine probably) was priceless!
Have a good weekend everyone! x