Maplin was an OK supplier of parts way back in my student days ( along with Omni Electronics and Browns in Edinburgh! )
but most people who were young hobbyist electron-whisperers went on to workplaces where we had access to RS and Farnell and the like.
The need for walk-in shops for components just vanished.
The name Omni Electronics rings a bell...
When I was a spotty youth, there was a fantastic shop in the centre of Glasgow. Not in the Barras MArket, but near St Enoch.
I remember going in there and there were tables laid out with square enclosures filled with resistors, capacitors, transistors, Veroboard...
It was a real Alladin's cave. I used to get the Blue Train up to there and spending my pocket money.
Even at the time, it wasnot clear how a shop lik ethat made money. I guess rents were cheap in that area!
I guess these days that shop is a fashioable clothes shop making lots of $$$ as that area has definitely been gentrified.