| Avril Whittle
Whittles Book Warehouse
Rear of 7-9 Bainbridge Road
SEDBERGH Cumbria LA10 5AU map
tel: 015396 21770
Open: By appointment
Art and design, textile arts and needlework, all types of handicrafts.
Beckside Books
31 St Andrews View
PENRITH Cumbria CA11 7YF map
tel: 01768 895951
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, Wednesday 10.00 - 4.00.
Two floors of general stock. Browsers welcome.
Between the rear of the shopping arcade and the church in the centre of the pretty market town of Penrith, Beckside Books has one room downstairs and several upstairs which combine into a bright, well laid out small to medium sized bookshop with a friendly owner. The stairway and the different styles of bookcases, particularly upstairs, lend individuality to the rooms and they have an interesting general selection of titles. Worth stopping off at if you are on the Lake District section of the M6. - Jeremy Briggs 07.07.08.
Nice shop to browse round in older part of Penrith, there is also a med size Charity book shop on other side of market sq and a lovely independent new bookseller in the lanes. - PaulP 02.08.11.
Bookcase
17-19 Castle Street
CARLISLE Cumbria CA3 8SY map
tel: 01228 544560 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Large general stock and specifically books on Cumbria, literature and natural history. Probably the largest bookstore in the north, with over 30 rooms, 4 floors and 300,000 books in store.
A big shop spread throughout a large old building a few minutes walk from Carlisle city centre, towards the castle. From the science fiction & fantasy on the second floor to the children's section in the basement, this Victorian(?) building displays so much of its character that there are times when you actually forget about the books as you walk around, marvelling at their various staircases or stepping into the strong room in the depths of the basement. Yet don't let the building distract you from the book selection which is no let down either as it has very good coverage of most subjects. - Jeremy Briggs
Finding this bookshop alone made the journey from East Anglia worthwhile. Fair prices with a quantity discount offered. A colossal, well organised stock. The hours just slipped past in this treasure trove of a bookshop. - Stuart Tucker 02.12.08.
When I was young I was told that if I was good I would go to heaven. Now I'm old if I promise to try to be good can I go to Bookcase? This shop is the ultimate of its kind. How many books? 100,000? More? Certainly not less. All categories and tastes are catered for here. Young but knowledgable, understanding, polite and helpful staff. It is heaven. I know it is. - Chris Harte 15.02.10.
Fantastic shop to browse in but weird prices make it hard to buy from. - PaulP 10.06.10.
Chris Harte is right: this is Heaven. When money and time allows, I often make the trip from Edinburgh to Carlisle just to visit this shop. It's a fantatsic place to wander around with the books neatly displayed and easy to find. Also a good range of CDs. You will need a good few hours to do it justice. Only complaint is that it's a little pricey. Also check out a shop selling new books just along the street. Its owned by the same people and has many tempting remainders. - Ken Bogle 23.06.11.
Spent many a happy half day here sheltering from the rain! Fantastic place to browse, well organised and although my wallet tells me they are a little on the pricey side I always come away with a box full. - Norman Davies 30.07.11.
Cobra Books
19J Solway Industrial Estate
MARYPORT Cumbria CA15 8NF map
tel: 01900 810605 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Rare, signed, first editions, leather-bound,and/or limited editions, plus a huge range of more general works, from 25p to 700. We try to keep to regular hours, but are sometimes away. Please phone if unsure. Will open specially if possible.
Daisyroots Book Centre
Holker School
Cark in Cartmel
GRANGE-OVER-SANDS Cumbria LA11 7PQ map
tel: 015395 59328 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00, Sundays 11.00 - 3.00.
An eclectic stock of high quality books, plus the largest collection of paperback fiction in Cumbria. Daisyroots are pioneering a fresh approach to secondhand books, come and experience the difference.
Dales and Lakes Book Centre
72 Main Street
SEDBERGH Cumbria LA10 5AD
tel: 015396 20125 e-mail web
Open: Wednesdays & Saturdays 10.00 - 3.00.
Multi-dealer bookshop renting shelf space to a number of different booksellers. Shares the space with Sedbergh Tourist Information office.
Situated in a lovely stone building, with the tourist information, book related gifts and merchandise in the first room and the books in the two further rooms. With so many book-dealers sharing the premises, it must be worth a visit! - Jude Haslam.
Before the arrival of Westwoods this was the largest bookshop in the village and it is also the tourist information office so it is probably worth making it first stop in any visit to Sedburgh. The shop is really selections of books from various dealers housed under the one roof and as such tends to be a little repetitive as each dealer's books have their own area. This means that there are, for example, children's books stocked in three or four different places. That said it is a nice old building with interesting cubby holes and a pleasant welcome. - Jeremy Briggs 14.08.08.
Because of the number of dealers who have stalls the quality varies enormously. Holdings of Cumbrian and regional histories are top of the range whereas other sections are moderate. - Chris Harte 15.02.10.
As Chris Harte says variable, but worth a visit as some different and generally cheaper decent books than in the main shops. - Norman Davies 30.07.11.
Dave's Books
Sleddall Hall Antiques Centre
Wildman Street
KENDAL Cumbria LA9 6EN map
tel: 07831151848 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 6.00.
1000's of books at discount prices, many at just £1. New & antiquarian, all subjects covered.
Down the hill from the main shopping streets and across the river, Sledall Hall Antiques Centre is a grand name for an slightly tatty old building with an eclectic and seemingly disorganised assortment of antiques, collectables and bric-a-brac packed into it. However one of the upstairs rooms is Dave's Books with a decent selection of mainly older fiction and non-fiction titles, the vast majority of which are priced at £1. Some are worth less than £1 but the challenge is to find ones the that are worth more that you would want to buy. - Jeremy Briggs 07.07.08.
Eden Valley Hospice Bookshop
Lanes Shopping Centre
CARLISLE Cumbria CA38NX map
Found in a rush, between a 45 minute train connection, so no time to note further details I'm afraid. However, a good selection of books reasonably priced. I picked up a couple of Observer books for a fraction of the price that 'The Bookcase' just up the road were charging. - Steve Newman 16.08.11.
Eden Valley Hospice Bookshop
2 Market Place
BRAMPTON Cumbria CA8 1NW map
tel: 016977 42022
Esoteric Dreams Bookshop
1 St Bridgets Lane
EGREMONT Cumbria CA22 2BB map
tel: 01946 821686 e-mail
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
Old and new books - children and adults - lots of non-fiction (geology/politics/religion/history/gay - you name a subject we've got it or we'll get it!!)
Fireside Bookshop
21 Victoria Street
WINDERMERE Cumbria LA23 1AB map
tel: 015394 45855 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 11.00 - 5.00.
General stock of antiquarian, academic and secondhand books, but particularly history and the sciences.
Harlings Book Shop
26 Crellin Street
BARROW-IN-FURNESS Cumbria LA14 1DU map
tel: 01229 824625
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00.
Mainly paperback fiction.
Keswick Bookshop
4 Station Street
KESWICK Cumbria CA12 5HT map
tel: 017687 75535
Open: Easter till the end of October, Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 5.00, closed Wednesday. Winter open Saturdays only.
General stock and mountaineering.
Interesting, well presented, a civilised bolt hole for the book enthusiast in the tourist trap of Keswick. Helpful, knowledgeable person in charge; superb local collection, variable prices. Appears to be owned by same as excellent Carlisle shop. - Norman Davies 30.07.11.
Must ring before visiting if travelling a long distance as very often closed. - Karen 23.08.11.
Pleasant upstairs room, high holiday maker prices make it difficult to buy from, odd opening times, Collectibles Antiques round the corner has good selection of books and there is a good Oxfam at the bottom of the main street. - PaulP 30.03.12.
Kirkland Books
11 Collin Croft
KENDAL Cumbria LA9 4TH map
tel: 0800 0112368 fax: 0800 0112568 e-mail web
Open: Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10.00 - 12.30 & 1.00 - 5.00. Monday - Wednesday by appointment
Specialising in the history and topography of Cumberland and Westmorland, Alfred Wainwright, Arthur Ransome, mountaineering and railways, plus a general stock. Collectable books over 3 floors with nearby parking. Fine condition collectable books bought for excellent prices, especially within our specialisms.
They offer a useful guide to Wainwright first editions on their website. - TBG.
A small shop, but exceptionally well presented and all collectable high quality stock, with perhaps and even better website. - Mike Baum 30.10.10.
Market Place Books
30 Market Place
COCKERMOUTH Cumbria CA13 9NG map
tel: 01900 821300 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Small shop offering a wide range of good quality secondhand books.
Small shop but super books all in very good condition. Excellent stock of art and architecture. Friendly owner was happy to chat. Will certainly visit again. - Elizabeth Barrett 20.02.12.
Michael Moon's Bookshop
19 Lowther Street
WHITEHAVEN Cumbria CA28 7AL map
tel: 01946599010 fax: 01946599010 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00, closed Wednesdays out of season (Jan to Easter).
Very large stock 25000+ volumes price range £1-£1000. Antiquarian and secondhand books on many subjects, specialists + publishers of Cumbrian topography. Finding new homes for old books since 1970. Books purchased for cash almost every day.
Well worth a visit. A large shop with rooms opening out of rooms and a very large general stock, and reasonable prices. Worth spending an hour (or two) to browse right through the stock. - Richard 08.07.08.
Huge number of books and fascinating warren of individual book rooms. Mainly general stock. Worth the considerable detour (apologies locals!) if you are interested in any of the excellent specialist collections - in particular Cumbria and transport. Worth it to speak to the interesting proprietor! - Norman Davies 30.07.11.
Whitehaven is well worth a visit ... and despite a rather 'dead' stock Mr Moons shop adds to the towns many charms. - PaulP 02.08.11.
Norman Kerr Booksellers
Gatehouse Book Shop
The Square Cartmel
GRANGE-OVER-SANDS Cumbria LA11 6PX map
tel: 015395 36247 e-mail
Open: Friday & Saturday 1.30 - 4.30, Winter Saturday only. (The Priory Barn in Priest Lane is also open but by prior appointment only).
A wide ranging general stock of some 10,000 volumes with specialisms in transport & engineering, railways, maritime, Lake District, and rare and collectable books on most subjects. Booksearch and valuations undertaken.
Over-Sands Books
The Old Waiting Room
The Station
GRANGE-OVER-SANDS Cumbria LA11 6EH map
tel: 015395 36969
Open: Monday - Saturday 11.00 - 5.00, Sunday 1.00 -5.00.
Literature, railways and topography.
Oxfam Bookshop
46 Highgate
KENDAL Cumbria LA9 4TF map
tel: 01539 729695
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00.
A bright, small to medium sized and well laid out two room corner shop at the southern end of the town's pedestrian zone. There is only so much you can say about most Oxfam shops but this is one had an interesting and fairly diverse stock when I was there. - Jeremy Briggs 07.07.0
Oxfam Bookshop
17 Bank Street
CARLISLE Cumbria CA3 8HG map
tel: 01228 523450
Past & Present
18 The Promenade
ARNSIDE Cumbria LA5 0HD map
tel: 01524 761256
Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 2.00 - 4.00.
A mixture of books and collectables in a small two story shop in this picturesque seaside village near Kendal. On the seafront with easy parking, this shop has a mixture of non-fiction books downstairs and general paperback fiction upstairs along with some collectables and general bric-a-brac. There is a reasonable order to the downstairs shelves although the books are unevenly priced and often betray the fact that no one has looked at some of them in a long time. There also tends to be one book too many squeezed into each shelf leading to difficulty in getting an individual book out. That said it is worth a rummage if you are in the area. - Jeremy Briggs 14.08.08.
What a total and utter waste of time. We are talking the biggest load of overpriced tat you have ever seen. Books are scruffy and many I examined were damaged, priced through the roof on the few decent editions I found. Took me less than 30 minutes to go through every shelf and that was 30 minutes wasted. Even if you LIVE there, dont waste your time. As for making a special trip, forget it. Trust me, you will regret it. - The Wanderer. 24.03.09.
Disagree with the wanderer. Yes some books are overpriced but I always find something to buy when I visit periodically. Upstairs appears to be a different business from downstairs. - Brian 28.05.09.
Sleepy Elephant
41 Main Street
SEDBERGH Cumbria LA10 5BL map
tel: 015396 21770. Mobile: 07967 638503 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, Sunday 12.00 - 5.00.
By far the most fragrant of the Sedburgh bookshops as it sells strongly scented soaps as well as clothes and cards and a small selection of books targeted at a female and family audience. - Jeremy Briggs 14.08.08.
Yes certainly one of the few bookshops which definitely does not smell of books! Good selection of childrens books old and recent. - Norman Davies 30.07.11.
Summerfield Books
3 Phoenix Park
SKELTON Cumbria CA11 9SD map
tel: 017684 84909
Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 4.00.
Specialist stock of new and secondhand books on the botanical sciences, forestry and arboriculture, together with some general gardening.
The Bookshop
22 Market Street
KIRKBY STEPHEN Cumbria CA17 4QT map
tel: 017683 71804 e-mail web
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10.00 - 1.00 & 2.00 - 5.00.
A small bookshop established in 1980 with an eclectic stock of new, secondhand and antiquarian books, maps and documents. Local maps and guides. Book finding service and mail order.
Nice little shop, couldn't find many second hand or any antiquarian books though. - PaulP 05.11.11.
The Lakes Crafts and Antiques Gallery
3 Oakbank
GRASMERE Cumbria LA22 9TA map
tel: 015394 35057
Open: 7 days 10.00 - 5.00.
About a thousand books on Cumbria, mountaineering, transport, plus a good general selection.
At the North end of Grasmere ... It's small but perfectly formed, good selection, good condition,good prices. The bookshop on the corner further up the road has one shelf of secondhands! And Dove Cottage shop has a small s/h selection. - PaulP 05.04.12.
Westwood Books Ltd
Leisure House
Long Lane
SEDBERGH Cumbria LA10 5AH map
tel: 015396 21233
Open: 7 days 10:30 - 5:30 in Summer. Winter times vary.
Very large stock of new, secondhand and antiquarian books on all subjects. Sitting area & toilet.
A relatively recent addition to Sedburgh this is a large two story shop with a bright and airy feel and easily more books than the rest of the booktown shops put together. Westwood's is the real reason for driving the five miles down the steep and twisty country road from Junction 37 of the M6 to get to Sedburgh. They have a large selection of mainly hardback fiction, even more reference books covering most subjects and a good selection of children's books, both old and modern. In addition their selection of book related cards and wrapping paper is impressive. Westwood books is everything you would want in a bookshop and, since you can park on the road right outside it for free, you won't have far to carry your haul back to your car. - Jeremy Briggs 14.08.08.
Spotted this on the way through Sedbergh en route to The Dales. Easy on-road parking outside. An excellent shop: two floors, well laid-out and spacious. Good stock at reasonable prices. - Daedalus 29.07.09.
Westwood Books makes a trip to Sedbergh worthwhile. - Hans Loef 04.09.09.
A huge building with a very large stock. Antiquarian titles are in an area beside the receptionist. However the vast bulk of books are for the reader and not the collector. - Chris Harte 15.02.10.
Wonderful bookshop, well designed and laid out, plenty of variety, warm and friendly with huge collection of books on all subjects. Worth the detour from the Motorways to visit as well as the scenery. - E Newman 12.11.10.
A disappointing trip to Sedbergh was avoided through visiting this bookshop. This shop was excellent and reminded me of similar mixed genre shops available in Hay on Wye. The rest of the bookshops (those that were open mid-week,come 1pm anyway) were very small and limited in stock ranges and interest. This bookshop has a nice cafe and a bit further down the road is free car parking. I'd have been very annoyed at paying for parking to visit this "book town"! - Iain Baille 22.11.10.
We called into Sedbergh on our way back from Wigtown ("Scotland's National Booktown" no less!) and on a Sunday were delighted to discover this shop open. Big shop, big stock. I picked up a rare Wm Golding in Penguin for £1.50 and we were impressed at the Eng Lit and Arthuriana. As stated above, it is a twisty road from the M6 (and there is no cafe) but it's worth the trip. Congrats Westwood. S+S 16.04.11.
I was a bit disappointed after the rave reviews above. yes it is huge, and (good for them) superbly laid out and books on all subjects. but there was not much specialist and the prices were a little on the expensive side, although again better than last trip. Certainly worth a vist for the generalist.- Norman Davies 30.07.11.
Agree with Norman Davies after a disappointing visit. Folio books more expensive than I pay online, coffee £1.50 from a machine, and no books at all in my specialist areas. The only staff member on duty was very helpful. - phrag 25.01.12.
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