| Bookworm 
100 Kings Avenue
HOLLAND-ON-SEA Essex CO15 5EP map
tel: 01255 815984
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 4.00.
Particularly crime and general fiction and about 1,000 military history titles.
Castle Book Shop
40 Osborne Street
COLCHESTER Essex CO2 7DB map
tel: 01206 577520 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00.
40,000 books on two floors. Prices to suit all. Knowledgeable staff. Sale continues with 50% off books up to £20 and 20% books over £20 to shop visitors. The shop is also for sale, details here
Good on topography and classic fiction. Well organised once you get the hang of their system. Reasonable prices. - Herne
Confusingly, nowhere near the Castle, this used to be on North Hill but is now in better premises, As Driff would have it VETGOW (Very Easy To Get On With - Ed). Excellent stock and very reasonable prices. Almost a dream of a second hand bookshop. Just up the road (out of the shop turn left and 100 yards is a well stocked Oxfam shop). NB there is a sister Bookshop in Felixstowe - Treasure Chest, 61 Cobbold Road. - Jon Morgan 05.02.08.
A good example of what a bookshop should be, whether selling new or second hand books. Good stock, all in excellent condition. Prices fair but not rock-bottom. Large broad-based stock. No rubbish, no damp smells. If you park in the Osborne Street car park, you may have difficulty finding it -- but Osborne street continues beyond the traffic lights. - Roger Pearse 27.06.08
Although I would not disagree with the other postings about the holdings over two floors I did find the brusque attitude a little hard to take. However, the regional titles were superb with many shelves of county material. - Chris Harte 21.08.09.
Undoubtedly the best secondhand bookshop I have been to for years. Well bought stock, friendly welcome and some really rare titles, especially in topography and architecture. - John Vigar 23.10.10.
Mr. Harte really should not make a habit of winding people up the wrong way - we found the staff here to be very friendly and professional, and they were anything but brusque. We were there on a day when the shop had a half-price sale and we picked up several boxes of very good stuff (it was so good we're planning a return trip). The owner, who also has a bookshop and warehouse in Felixstowe lent us the key to his stock room, gave us a parking permit for the area behind the shop, and was extremely charming and helpful. This business could teach a lot of other book shops a lesson or two, and I would heartily recommend it to any discerning collector. - Nicholas Pendower 16.02.13.
Takes some beating on topography and sale (same as Treasure Chest in Felixstowe) made a visit even better than before. - The Herne 26.03.13.
Never leave empty handed. Good selection, and long running sale helps with purchases. - Jeremy D 01.05.13.
Friends of Hylands House
Stable Centre
Hylands House Hylands Park
CHELMSFORD Essex CM2 8WQ map
tel: 01245 493627
Open: Every Day 10.00 - 5.00.
Mixture of good quality paperback fiction and non-fiction, including collectables and first editions. Well worth a visit combined with a tour of the house and a nice meal in the courtyard cafe.
GfB: the Colchester Bookshop
92 East Hill Town
COLCHESTER Essex CO1 2QN map
tel: 01206 563138 e-mail web
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.30.
Very large stock, specialising in academic and out-of-print books on literature, art, philosophy, and history, as well as the sciences and local interest. Free customer parking.
Welcomed with a request to sign an anti-supermarket petition! Varied stock on two floors. Topography strong as well as art and fiction. - Herne.
Just down from the Castle. Seems a little dry and academic on first inspection. The upstairs is new since I last visited but some good stock. The rear is an excellent place. Good Military section and excellent stock of reasonably priced paperbacks. - Jon Morgan 05.02.08.
Not easy to find as entrance on lower ground floor, hence the damp smell. Stock reasonable but nothing really old. Shop assistant (owner being away) had virtually no knowledge of the business. - Chris Harte 21.08.09.
Not as good as the other bookshop in the town but nevertheless well worth a visit. But be warned, they don't take cards and the cash machine is a fair step up the hill. - Nicholas Pendower 16.02.13.
As good as ever, A wide selection of old and new fiction and even in the basement I could get a mobile signal to check prospective purchases on Library Thing. Prices are very reasonable and the £1.00 section which I usually avoid like the plague i bookshops yielded some gems. Did not smell damp to me despite the basement set up. There were a few dehumidifiers going. NB seemed cash only as no evidence of chip pin machine and it is a long walk back to the cashpoint. There are a couple of good-ish charity shops and a recently opened branch of Emmaus which had a good stock of books (History of Radio 4 for £1.00). - jon Morgan 16.02.13.
Revisited after an interval to find still going strong. Good general stock and strong on poetry. Still cash only. - The Herne 26.03.13.
Harwich Old Books
21 Market Street Town
HARWICH Essex CO12 3DX map
tel: 01255 551667 fax: 01255 551667 e-mail web
Open: Friday & Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, Sunday 1.00 - 5.00, Monday-Friday: By chance or appointment.
Traditional Secondhand Bookshop in the centre of Old Harwich. Booksearch service.
A well stocked shop in a rather bleak area of Harwich. Not all prices on display. "Back room" of Architecture books probably of specialised interest only. Opening times unclear - best to call ahead. Another nearby shop, The Book Annex, is seemingly all unpriced remainders and appears to be run by the same people. - Herne.
To Quote their website: "The back rooms retain the late-medieval flavour of the original timber-framed building (ask us to show you the surviving carvings!), while the atmosphere in the Victorian front of the shop is quite different" Yes there is certainly an atmosphere here - when I asked politely if it was possible to have a look at the books in the backroom - the owner - without lifting his head from his computer screen growled in a voice which imparted menace and sarcasm in equal measure 'no - not really' - the shop was completely empty and the books in the back did look more interesting than the main stock. It was all a bit disappointing and insulting. Won't be back. - D. McFarland 13.10.09.
Lankester Antiques and Books
The Old Sun Inn
Church Street
SAFFRON WALDEN Essex CB10 1HQ map
tel: 01799 522685
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30.
A large stock of general secondhand books.
This shop is a wonderful oasis in the wilderness. There are numerous rooms full to the brim with books including runs of titles of which I have only seen for sale as individual copies. Everything is in marked, designated areas with subjects too many to give in detail. Prices were very generous. I stayed for two hours and hardly skimmed the surface. This shop is well worth a visit although it is necessary to park some distance away. - Chris Harte 20.04.10.
Usually if a shop is described as "Antiques and Books" it means little more than a shelf or two of usually uninteresting books in what is otherwise an antique shop. NOT IN THIS CASE! A few antiques but far, far more books, very well set out and very, very reasonably priced, highly recommended - The Jumping Frog 30.09.10.
Something for everyone in an eclectic stock, good on fiction and topography. Also there is a well stocked Oxfam bookshop in this town. - Herne 12.05.11.
I have been visitng this place since I was a kid off and on and have now moved to SW. Its stock is not large but there are the occasional gems and the palce is fascinating with all the other antique and collectables it sells, Don't forget also when here the junk / furniture shop opposite and the Oxfam Bookshop which is a real gem. Saturday Market has no books but worth a visit and there are 4 other charity shops in the town. - Jon Morgan 28.12.11.
Leigh Gallery Books
137 Leigh Road
LEIGH-ON-SEA Essex SS9 1JQ map
tel: 01702 715477
Open: Thursday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Large general stock and particularly art, illustrated, literature and local topography. Also maps and prints.
The biggest and best of several secondhand shops in Leigh. Antiquarian and secondhand books, well-displayed and organised with quality books at reasonable prices. Recommended to browsers. - Bridget the Browser.
This is the sort of bookshop I love. Excellent stock with loads of 19th century items. Lots of quality mid-wars fiction and some stunning rarities in between other stock. Owner knew his subject and answered my queries with ease. Visit highly recommended. - Chris Harte 29.06.09.
This looks promising from outside and occupies a significant area ie two shops. tha said the stock is exetnsive although somewhat disappointing. Lots of dead stock and gaps on the shelves and little of real interest althogh the poster collection (Mainly French) was good.. Owner was helpful and knowledeagble but since Drif is being spoken of again, NWAD - JM 24.07.12.
Othellos
1376 London Road
LEIGH-ON-SEA Essex SS9 2UH map
tel: 01702 473334
Open: Thursday - Saturday 9.30 - 4.30.
General secondhand stock and particularly maritime books.
Large, organised shop and worth a visit. - Bridget the Browser.
Rather isolated location but well worth the stiff walk from Leigh-on-Sea station. Strong in all categories but particularly fiction,other literature, transport,, military, real and natural history. Proprietor friendly and helpful. Wise to ring ahead if calling late in the day. - Laurence Purcell 20.02.12.
Another one that looked as if it would justify the trip but mainly very dead and tired general stock, although the military section I would except as it was excellent. For those interested there is a cd / record shop next door (equally disappointing). The charity shops of leigh are NWAD either with general pulp stock. Quite an interesting town, in some ways appears stuck in a 1950's time warp, with some fine buildings. - JM 24.07.12.
A bit cramped but plenty to interest including a good range of political memoirs and topography. Record shop two doors down also worth a visit. - 02.10.12.
Oxfam Bookshop
94 High Street
CHELMSFORD Essex CM1 1DX
tel: 01245 345028
Open: CM11DX
A reasonably good book selection downstairs and a huge vinyl collection upstairs - Herne 10.07.10.
The book section had a good selection, although there was some inconsistency in pricing, but if you're interested in the vinyl don't bother - it was all vastly overpriced. - Nicholas Pendower 08.09.12.
As Oxfam bookshops go particularly expensive. Get the impression most books get marked at the upper end of internet prices - considering they have been donated seems a bit silly. Occasional half-price sale would be nice. - Jeremy D 01.05.13.
The Book Annex
18 Church Street
HARWICH Essex C012 3DS map
tel: 01255 551667 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00 & Sunday 2.00 - 5.00.
Academic stock with particularly strong areas in the visual arts, science, history, film and media. Over 18000 books, principally published in the last five years. Stock can be viewed on our website. We welcome visitors but if coming a distance please phone first.
The St. Helena Hospice Bookshop
92 Connaught Avenue
FRINTON-ON-SEA Essex CO13 9PT map
tel: 01255 851755
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
Donated books, records and CD's.
Lovely selection considering everything is donated. Friendly staff are always willing to help or point something out if they know you're interested in a particular subject. Books are all very well priced, found a few gems! - renn-lii 17.01.11.
Best charity bookshop I've been to. Well-organised. Small, but has a selection not seen in some small pro-shops. - Sam Glen 04.08.11.
Well run, friendly, reasonably priced charity bookshop on a busy high street. Asked about discount for quantity, but manager wasn't keen. - Jeremy D 01.05.13.
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Phone
before travelling 
Appointment necessary
