| Anvil Books 
52 Summer Hill
HALESOWEN West Midlands B63 3BU map
tel: 0121 550 0600
This bookshop is under new ownership and is considerably tidier and opening hours have increased. It is,I think, the only non-charity second hand bookshop in the West Midlands and it is not a bad one. - CB 06.03.13.
Books Revisited (Charity Bookshop) 
110 High Street
Coleshill
BIRMINGHAM West Midlands B46 3BL map
tel: 01675 464 853 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 4.00.
Fiction, children's, sport, travel, art, history, auto/biography, gardening, cookery, literature, CDs + DVDs, foreign language, humour, music, entertainment and some antiquarian and collectables. We probably have close to 25,000 books and are able to check stock rooms upon request. A charity Bookshop with 4 rooms on a small High Street. We are located in an old building with a lot of character and all proceeds go to the Mary Ann Evans Hospice, a local charity.
Gosford Books
116 Gosford Street
COVENTRY West Midlands CV1 5DL map
tel: 024 76220813
Open: Monday - Saturday 12.00 - 6.30 (usually).
A old-style bookshop.
The shop has been there for roughly 20 years and run by Robert Gill. Its a gloomy and old fashioned place but still a decent bookshop. - Kevin Ring.
It took me three attempts to get into this shop. It was only on the second occasion I saw the faded notice saying "Best think of this as an afternoon bookshop" ! It was only lack of steel toecaps that stopped me applying boot to door in my disgust. What makes it more annoying is that, when I finally did get in, it was well worth the effort. It has a good general stock and very reasonable prices - I came away with a full bag of bargains. - Son of Drif 06.07.10.
Although it is open only in the afternoons, it stays open longer than the other shops in the city. (Even Waterstone's shuts promptly at 5.30 p.m.!) As someone interested in history, politics, economics and religion, I found plenty to tempt me and very reasonably priced. If you are in the area, don't miss this shop. - Geoffrey Warner 07.10.10.
Thank god for the Sat Nav. Don't go on Match Day traffic is horrendous! Interesting little place a bit tardis- like with a clear history to it and photos of archaeological excavations at the premises, I was a little taken aback, having parked outside to speak to the owner (when he eventually emerged from the troglodytic depths) re parking as I could not see any time-plates. He informed me he did not know , did not drive and appeared un-interested. Surely one of the basics of customer care a) communication and b) Knowledge of the local situation to ensure that your customers do not fall foul of the patrolling vultures. However back to the shop. Very cold, and with the exception of the front, poorly lit. Some good stock, albeit poorly organised - A very good and extensive French Language section. Little fiction and a good philosophy selection - Decent prices. Quite crowded. Initially as above the owner was uncommunicative and as he did not take cards I had to go the cashpoint. (He did at least know where this was). On my return he had really changed and opened up, was knowledgeable and friendly. I suspect it was the interest in the archaeology of the place. NWAD but if passing worth a visit. Stunning that right in the heart of the University district it is a) not bigger and b) the only second hand bookshop in Coventry - Ho hum! - Jon Morgan 03.03.12.
Slightly delayed review, as we visited about 6 months ago. We're still looking for an excuse to be in the area and go back - one of our favourite bookshops from around the country, very reasonable prices and great old hardbacks and paperbacks. - M&O 14.04.12.
The owner is rude, unhelpful and obnoxious - avoid. - John 06.03.13.
Idwal's Books
33 High Street
LYE West Midlands DY9 8LF map
tel: 01384 377334 e-mail
Open: Monday, Friday and Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
A stock of about 15,000 secondhand books, including fiction, non-fiction and some antiquarian.
Mogul Diamonds
17 High Street
Albrighton
WOLVERHAMPTON West Midlands WV7 3JT map
tel: 01902 372288
Open: Monday - Wednesday & Friday 9.00 - 5.30, Saturday 9.00 - 1.00. Closed Thursday.
A bit out of the way on a village High Street. Interesting range packed tightly into two small rooms. Specialist in music - has an organ. Friendly owner. Prices a bit high, but will negotiate. Stock in the window faded by the sun. Might benefit from a bit more vivace. - Book Buyer 18.11.11.
Oxfam Bookshop
86 High Street
Harborne
BIRMINGHAM West Midlands B17 9NJ map
tel: 0121 427 4784
I try not to say this too often but this is a really good Oxfam shop - the best one I have been in. Clean, good quality stock, varied and not overpriced (surprising for an Oxfam Bookshop!) - The Brummie Bookman 16.07.11.
I agree. This seems to be the exception to Oxfam bookshops. Excellent stock, well organised, friendly staff AND realistic prices for once! Other Oxfam bookshop moguls please take note! - Book Buyer 18.11.11.
Go here quite frequently when I vsist my daughter at the University. It is all that the previous reviews have said and more. Much more like a proper secondhand bookshop and less like a typical oxfam bookshop in terms of stock, workers and prices. I rarely come away empty handed. There is a pay and display car park almost behind the shop and a series of alleyways lead thru to the main road. There are at least 6 other charity shops on the high street (Sign of the times and a 2nd wrecking of he industrial heartlands in 25 years) with some good finds. - Jon Morgan 23.02.12.
I was cursing the above reviews after doing a trawl of Harbornes charity shops. Last port of call was Oxfam at the West end of High Street (171) They had books all right including some unattractively priced signed first editions. I even asked if there wasnt another Oxfam in Harborne ? Negative & blank looks, would you believe. So no buys & caught a bus outside. I caught sight of Oxfam Books half-way along at number 86 which somehow I had missed. Having a free pass I hopped off the bus & rectified my error with a couple of buys. Apologies to & concurrence with the above reviewers. - Tony Carroll 11.09.12.
Oxfam Bookshop
9 Drury Lane
SOLIHULL West Midlands B91 3BB map
tel: 0121 7094342
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 6.00.
Good Volume of second hand books. prices reasonable. Strong Crime Fiction section. Other charity shops in the town are lacklustre with the exception of British Heart Foundation in the shopping centre. Good basic selection.
Readers World
137 Digbeth
BIRMINGHAM West Midlands B5 6DR map
tel: 0121 643 8664 e-mail
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.30.
Science fiction, fantasy, horror true crime, westerns, military, plays, poetry, science, DIY, martial arts, reference, history, fashion, design, art fishing, sport, music, occult, philosophy, cookery, travel, animals, modern 1st editions, cult authors. old comics & annuals, rare magazines, retro paperbacks & pulps, ephemera and film posters. 80% of or stock is paperback, but we buy & sell all types of good books.
A short walk from the Bullring this medium sized shop is rather larger than expected from its exterior consisting as it does of three rooms. Overloaded and somewhat disorganised, it nevertheless has impressive quantities of old magazines and British comics for sale as well as paperbacks. With all the children's annuals, comics, graphic novels and science fiction & fantasy paperbacks it does come across as a second hand version of the Forbidden Planet chain - which is not a bad thing. Nothing for the antiquarian collector but well worth a visit if you are after "genre" items. - Jeremy Briggs 29.06.09.
This shop has so much potential and some good stock, albeit with a slightly damp smell. Books are piled high from floor to ceiling - with a 'hard hat' needed when pulling a book from one of the mountainous piles! A good sort-out and putting the books onto the shelves, with the tiltes on view, would make searching much easier and not cause me (and I'm sure other people too) to give up after finding only one item. - The Brummie Bookman 16.07.11.
This could well be the most user-unfriendly bookshop I have ever visited. The books are not in alphabetical order, and are stacked so highly that extracting one becomes an adventure in itself. The narrowness of the aisles makes passing other customers a considerably more intimate experience than you may have anticipated. The staff are frequently (but, in fairness, not always) unhelpful to the point of autism. Ironically, the shops stock itself is not bad. I wouldn't say the prices are cheap, but they are not unduly expensive. Be aware. - Will Tyler 08.06.12.
Very cluttered shop - difficult to find books by subject, you need time and patience! - Andy Lockett 06.03.13.
St Giles Hospice Bookshop
284a Lichfield Road
Mere Green
BIRMINGHAM West Midlands B74 2UG map
tel: 0121 308 0006
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.15 - 4.30.
Charity bookshop selling donated books.
Good turnover of stock and very good prices, plenty of free parking nearby, excellent volunteer staff. I try to donate my unwanted books each time I visit. - Brett 17.09.09.
Embarrassed as I am to say so, but this is a pretty decent bookshop. Their collection of century old titles was good but the sections on railways, transport and similar headings was well worth my time studying. Not a normal charity shop although the clients were generic. - Chris Harte 20.04.10.
Good charity bookshop with a large number of paperbacks etc. Some nice hardback editions and very good quality. Not many rare items but good for an 'everyday' book - and 'down to earth' pricing. - The Brummie Bookman 16.07.11.
Worth the long bus trip from the centre. This is a really rare and excellent shop. Wide variety including surprising number of "older" titles at sensible prices. Clients serious readers not generic when I was there! - Norman Davies 14.12.12.
The Anchor Charity Bookshop
Unit 21 Central Square
Off High Street Erdington
BIRMINGHAM West Midlands B23 6RY map
tel: 0785 698 6833
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.30.
Donated secondhand books, particularly children?s, fiction and reference.
All for a good cause but in my humble opinion, not worth travelling out of the way to. Lots of paperback fiction (Mills And Boon) and Michael Palin TV travel books, Although this is classed as a bookshop, it also seems to sell many other charity shop items - records, toys and so-on. Profits do go to charity though, so wish them good luck. - The Brummie Bookman 16.07.11.
The Bookstop
52-53 High Street
STOURBRIDGE West Midlands DY8 1DE map
tel: 01384 671104 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 4.30.
Charity bookshop selling a wide range of high quality 'nearly new' fiction, non fiction and children's books together with a small section of collectables. All the book sale proceeds from the 1st floor High St shop go to support the running of Mary Stevens Hospice.
The Handy Bookshop
Coven Farm
6 Brewood Road Coven
WOLVERHAMPTON West Midlands WV9 5DE map
tel: 01902 791833 e-mail web
Open: Thursday - Saturday 12.00 - 4.00.
General secondhand and antiquarian books. Also on display - Local artists work and country bygones.
When you can get into the place it's not bad. Recently I've tried twice and it was shut. Even rung the bell - no answer. Last time I resolved it would be my last attempt, but of course it won't. If you have books for sale please open the bloody place. - Book Buyer 26.07.12.
Wolverhampton Books and Collectables
19 Victoria Street
WOLVERHAMPTON West Midlands WV1 3NP map
tel: 07961 902912
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00.
General secondhand books and local history.
An odd collection of local bits and pieces, ephemera, junk and some very interesting books. Friendly staff. Some of the customers seem to use it as a drop-in centre - worth the visit alone. Reasonable prices. You can never be sure what you might find on the shelves. Addictive. - Book Buyer 26.07.12.
Good selection in varied subjects, if a little pricey. Shop is based in one of the oldest surviving buildings in Wolverhampton city centre. - Andy Lockett 06.03.13.
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Appointment necessary
