Cheshire
A county whose shops, I must confess, I have no recent experience off. Cavern Books in Nantwich and Cheshire Lines Transport Books have received good reviews by our readers, whilst the ones for Cheshire Book Centre have been rather mixed. City Walls Books & Music has recently opened in Chester, but otherwise, it mostly charity bookshops.

Cumbria
Sedburgh continues to style itself a 'Book Town' and although there are five shops that sell books, I think it would be stretching a point to call most of them 'bookshops'. However, it's clear that the relocation of the huge Westwood Books to the town makes a visit worthwhile for many. Elsewhere, Bookcase in Carlisle looks worth a visit, Kirkland Books in Kendle is a must for local history and mountaineering, and Michael Moon's Bookshop in Whitehaven is not to be missed.

Gt. Manchester
Gerald Baker has reported a number of recent closures, which leaves the city with little to attract the serious book browser. However, Sharston Books in Sharston is a warehouse rather than a shop and will keep you occupied for hours.

Lancashire
The Old Pier Bookshop in Morecambe is one of the worst I've ever visited, but both the charity bookshops are worth a look if you're in town. George Kelsall's Bookshop in Littleborough is worth a detour, particularly if you can gain entry to the house at the back, and the Windmill Bookshop in Lytham St Annes has heaps (literally) of reasonably priced books. Halewood & Sons in Preston has lots of high quality stock, and the Carnforth Book Shop has a large stock of secondhand books above the new bookshop.

Merseyside
Broadhursts and Parkinsons still means that Southport is worth a visit. Reid of Liverpool, Henry Bohn Books, and the recently relocated Kernaghan Books, make a trip into the city centre worthwhile.