| Barnardo's Bookshop 
4-6 Cheapside
LANCASTER Lancashire LA1 1XF map
tel: 01524 62429
Ironically Lancaster's two charity bookshops live opposite each other in Penny Street in the pedestrianised town centre. Barnardos is the larger of the two and due to the shape of the shop is better laid out, giving the impression of a new bookshop. - Jeremy Briggs 07.07.08.
Recently moved to Cheapside, next to the MacDonalds. - The Wanderer 02.03.10.
Good selections and well laid out. This, and the local Oxfam chairty shop (Oxfam Books) made the trip to Lancaster worthwhile. - Iain Baille 22.11.10.
Book Bargains
31 St Andrews Road South
LYTHAM ST ANNES Lancashire FY8 1PZ map
tel: 01253 712015 e-mail
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30.
It was closed on the day I was there but looked like a medium-sized second-hand shop. - Bridget the Browser.
A very neatly laid-out shop, medium-sized, books very well arranged and prices fair. Friendly owner. The Wanderer 08.08.08.This was my secondhand bookshop as I was growing up, so only get to go maybe once a year now, when home visiting parents. Trip last weekend was very fruitful, around 10-15 really good finds. Very extensive general stock, "not for the collector" as they say, but depending on your luck there can be some excellent finds in the classics (broad definition) and non-fiction sections. Definitely worth checking out, we always find at least one or two to take home, often many more like this time. - M&O 17.08.12.
Book-Cycle
Old Beech Hill Library
Beech Hill
WIGAN Lancashire WN6 7PQ map
tel: 01942 747750 e-mail web
Over 20,000 books on a wide rage of topics. There are no fixed prices as you may choose to donate whatever you wish for up to three books per day. Proceeds send free books to developing countries and plant trees around Lancashire. Book-Cycle is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers, for more info: www.book-cycle.org
Strangest place. A real old library crammed full with well ordered books in a suburb of Wigan. Help yourself, max 3 per day make a donation. If in the area please visit - some remarkable finds and good charities too. - Norman Davies 14.12.12.
Bookmark
2 Victoria Road West
THORNTON-CLEVELEYS Lancashire FY5 1BU map
A small shop near the seafront, packed with a mixture of hardbacks and paperbacks suitable for holiday reading. Mainly fiction but also popular non-fiction, particularly biographies and esoteric. You can also get your palm read there! (Presumably that service is "while u wait") - Bridget the Browser.
Carnforth Book Shop
38-42 Market Street
CARNFORTH Lancashire LA5 9JX map
tel: 01524 734588 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.30.
Roughly 100,000 secondhand books over two floors. We stock most subjects and we try not to be "precious". We try and keep our books in reasonable order, but a good root can always turn up something interesting. We also keep new books and maps on the ground floor as well as gifts, cards and toys.
Spread over three floors with the ground floor an ordinary new bookshop, the first and second floors are devoted to second hand books with mainly large rooms on the first floor and smaller rooms on the second. The big selection of stock covers most subjects and it can take quite some time to peruse this large shop. - Jeremy Briggs.
So nice to be greeted by a charming lady who knew her subject. Decent antiquarian holdings. I took far longer here than expected but my purchases were worth the searching. - Chris Harte 27.07.09.
Downstairs is tidy with stationery and gifts too. The s/h and rare books rooms are in need of a hoover and the stock on the shelves could be neater. Male vs female! Some very good books are also online - the rest includes a lot of old stuff whcih may never shift. Worth a ride from Lancaster which lacks a university-proficient s/h book shop. - Chris K 09.06.12.
Clitheroe Books
29 Moor Lane
CLITHEROE Lancashire BB7 1BE map
tel: 01200 444242
Open: Tuesday & Thursday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
General stock as well as children's, literature and transport.
Superb, wide selection. Very pleasant shop with a knowledgeable owner. - Stephen Almond 06.02.09.
A rather austere place. The owner soon became known to me as "Dr No," for he answered my eleven question with just that two letter word: nothing else. Felt unwelcome. - Chris Harte 27.07.09.
George Kelsall's Bookshop
22 Church Street
LITTLEBOROUGH Lancashire OL15 9AA map
tel: 01706 370244 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, Tuesday 1.00 - 5.00.
A large general stock including art, history, northern topography, industrial history, transport and literature. Books bought. PBFA member.
Lovely little shop, well set out, prices fair, not a massive stock but always good for a few hard-to-find gems if you are lucky. The Wanderer. 15.12.08
Nice general stock in shop. Ask to go out to the house at the back and you will be lost for hours wading through the truly massive number of books. - Chris Harte 14.04.09.
Great Grandfather's Books
82 Towngate
LEYLAND Lancashire PR25 2LR map
tel: 01772 422268
Open: Tuesday and Thursday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.30.
Over 15,000 secondhand books in most subject areas and prices ranges. 5 mins from M6 Junction 28, follow signs for Civic Centre and the shop on left just before second set of lights.
Very pleasant owner who found it no problem to guide me through his holdings. Some excellent Lancashire material and recommended for those who collect such things. - Chris Harte 27.07.09.
Halewood and Sons
37 Friargate
PRESTON Lancashire PR1 2AT map
tel: 01772 252603
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 5.15.
Very large stock, specifically African, American and Australian interest.
Some really wonderful stuff in a very crowded shop. Prices at the top end but you must expect that for quality. The stock of Victoriana is excellent. I regret not being able to visit more frequently in the past: will now be much more regular. - Chris Harte 27.07.09.
It can be pricey but worth visiting for the glorious historic shop alone - polished mahogany, ticking clocks, gasolier and floor to ceiling shelves of high quality books. Not what you expect in Preston. - George Marshall 25.02.10.
Not open at stated times, very unhelpfull and unfriendly when approached. What a shame as im an avid collector of books with a large customer base and was looking for new contact. - Sean 22.03.13.
Halewood and Sons
68 Friargate
PRESTON Lancashire PR1 2AT map
tel: 01772 252613
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 5.15.
The second of two shops in the town run by the Halewood brothers.
A shop I have been using for many years as between the muddle are titles normally difficult to obtain elsewhere. Specialises in Strand bound volumes and anything to do with Conan Doyle. Some of the runs of periodicals are quite staggering. The pricing is average but with what is in stock it's worth taking a bundle of cash when visiting. - Chris Harte 18.06.12.
International Aid Trust
Book and Record Shop
15 Albert Road
MORECAMBE Lancashire LA4 4HD map
tel: 01524 413345
One of the best charity bookshops in the north-west, with books neatly displayed floor to ceiling in catagories, mainly in author order, with steps readily available. Prices range from low to fair, with many bargains and hard-to-find gems. Friendly and welcoming. The Wanderer. 29.07.08
At the south-western end of Morecambe in a street with a remarkable number of charity shops mainly to do with this same local charity, this is a medium sized shop with a remarkably diverse stock. The floor was a bit chaotic with a lot of excess stock in boxes and piles when I was there but the shelves were well laid out, the staff were friendly and, in comparison to the better located Old Pier Bookshop, the shop was surprisingly busy with people. Well worth the 10 minute walk from the centre of town. - Jeremy Briggs 14.08.08.
Interstellar Master Traders
33 North Road
LANCASTER Lancashire LA1 1NS map
tel: 01524 382181 e-mail web
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10.00(ish) - 7.00 & Tuesday & Thursday 12 - 7.00
New and secondhand SF and fantasy books (over 10,000 secondhand books in stock). Also sells role playing games etc.
The shop is scruffy, books scattered everywhere in heaps except for those on shelves. Owner is a scruffy bad-tempered grouch who objected to my picking up and opening a book, seemed to think that as it was worth £20 (HIS ESTIMATE. IN REALITY TRY £12.50) it could not be touched. One of the few bookshops which I ever walked out of without buying anything at all, and I will certainly NOT be returning. - The Wanderer. 13/10/08.
Agree with the previous review. A bad tempered grouch. Worst customer service ever. After finding the books I was interested in, I asked how much one was (none were priced, which instantly triggered alarm bells). He looked at the RRP on the barcode and said £3.50. When I looked slightly shocked (those books are typically £1.50-£2.75) - he SNATCHED it out of my hand and said "its now £6.99 if you want it". I, of course, said forget it. Horrible shop. No business sense at all - random stock piles and not even a sign outside. - Iain Baille 22.11.10.
Martin Bott (Bookdealers) Ltd
28a Lee Lane
HORWICH Lancashire BL6 4JE map
tel: 01204 691489 fax: 01204 698729 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.15 - 3.30, closed Wednesday.
The largest stock of Railway, Transport and Industrial History books in the North. Also general books. Stock - 25000 volumes. See our website for full details plus online catalogues and instant ordering.
An excellent stock of railway and transport titles but also surprisingly good holdings of sport, history, naval and local books. The creme de la creme must be the shelves of antiquarian railway books all at very reasonable prices. - Chris Harte 15.02.10.
Moorland Books
1 Smithy Lane
Uppermill
OLDHAM Lancashire OL3 6AH map
tel: 01457 871306
Open: 7 days 11.00 - 5.00.
Antiquarian, rare and secondhand books bought and sold. Book finding service and gift vouchers. Browsers welcome. Traditional secondhand bookshop established in 1982, and under new ownership since April 2006.
A well-organised, medium-sized bookshop with an enthusiastic owner serving the local community as well as the tourist market. A quality, mixed stock and well worth a visit if your journey takes you that way. - Bridget the Browser.
Nice shop, bought many great books here over the past couple of years. - Bookhead 06.03.13.
Oxfam Bookshop
54 Penny Street
LANCASTER Lancashire LA1 1XF map
tel: 01524 380478
Ironically Lancaster's two charity bookshops live opposite each other in Penny Street in the pedestrianised town centre. Oxfam is the more interesting of the two with a more diverse selection of titles plus music, comics and magazines in the rear of the relatively narrow shop. - Jeremy Briggs 07.07.08.
One of the better small Oxfam's I've got to. Though I only bought some postcards. Volunteer staff excellent. The Barnado's opposite is a general shop with a dull range of books. - Chris K 09.06.12.
Oxfam Bookshop
34 Market Place
PRESTON Lancashire PR1 2AR map
tel: 01772 881590
Riley Books
130 Union Road
OSWALDTWISTLE Lancashire BB5 3DR map
tel: 01254 237418 e-mail web
Open: Tuesday- Friday 10.30 - 5.30.
Approximately 10,000 books, specialising in first editions, history, biography, science fiction, fantasy, horror, poetry and plays. We also have a large stock of Folio Society books, plus transport, text books, nature and travel. We have an additional unit at Botany Bay, Chorley just off Junction 8 of the M61.
St Catherines Hospice Bookshop
54 Chapel Street
CHORLEY Lancashire PR7 1BS map
tel: 01772 313063 fax: 01772 695298 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
Massive collection of donated books on all subjects at fantastic prices. All proceeds to St Catherines Hospice.
A very nicely laid out shop, good categorising, very reasonable prices and always friendly service. Very rare that I ever leave without something worth more than I paid for it. - The Wanderer
The Book Stop's Here
Stall D9
Large Section Preston Market
PRESTON Lancashire PR1 2JA map
e-mail
Open: Every day except Thursday 7.00 - 4.00.
Massive selection of paperback fiction, true crime & abuse cases. Collectable hardbacks, non fiction especially crime, travel & history. A long established local business serving the bibliophiles of Lancashire for the best part of two decades. Also at Clitheroe's Collectors' market every Sunday & on line sales @ ebay under name BIBUXMARKETMAN.
The Bookshop
Units 48 & 49 Heywood Magic Market
York Street
HEYWOOD Lancashire OL10 1LT map
tel: 07912 077338
Open: Tuesday, Friday & Saturday 8.30 - 5.00.
Massive range of fiction and non-fiction in paperback and hardback arranged in categories and by author. Regular clearance offers and bargains always available from 10p. General fiction paperbacks - ?2 each or 3 for ?5 with 50% book exchange. Heywood Market offers free raffle tickets with each purchase. The winner of the weekly draw receives ?50 market vouchers.
The Old Pier Bookshop
287 Marine Road Central
MORECAMBE Lancashire LA4 5BY map
tel: 01524 409360
On Morecambe seafront between the RNLI station and the clock tower, even if you didn't know exactly where is was located you would still find it with its large wall sign and collection of pavement bookcases. From the outside it looks like a typical seaside tourist targeted secondhand bookshop with the usual paperback fodder and familiar hardbacks on the outside bookshelves. Inside the big shop stretches off into the back of the building with glass cases and alcoves full of books giving the impression of a real box of delights. Unfortunately closer examination shows alcoves blocked with book trolleys and boxes preventing access to others, while some even have collapsed piles of books abandoned on the floor. The shop is divided into subject sections but there is little or no alphabetisation in them with the science fiction section, which takes up the entire back room from ceiling to floor plus cardboard boxes, having no discernable order whatsoever. With the sheer amount of stock you will probably get something from the shop, assuming that you haven't despaired at the amount of time it takes to wade through the titles in the section you are interested in. - Jeremy Briggs 14.08.08.
Tatty is the first word that springs to mind. Most of the stock is damaged and creased paperbacks, no real order to the shop other than science-fiction/fantasy being in separate area, and most of the stock generally is over-priced tat. Oh yes, there is also a young puppy, not house-trained, so watch where you step. I am not joking. The Wanderer. 14.12.08.
The last comment I'm sorry to say is very accurate. I had quite a bad experience when greeted by the owner who went out of his way to try and convince me said tat was a lot more valuable than it was. I felt so uncomfortable that I had to abandon the few (barely car boot sale worthy) books I had picked up and leave quickly when he wasnt looking. Furthermore the comments application on the nothing to see here old pier bookshop site that most people find first by WWW search does not work, it is my opinion that the few comments on the website were written by the owner as they are evidently very misleading. - John 20.10.11.
Very poor customer service, low quality at high prices, not the old fashion bookshop experience you might expect, I advise avoidance. - Joe 20.10.11.
The book shop is big.The books are not classified. The owner however is a very polite man and very helpful too. There are few serious books, mostly they are light fiction. - abstracthinker 24.07.12.
Towpath Bookshop
27 High Street
Uppermill
OLDHAM Lancashire OL3 6HS map
tel: 01457 877078
Open: Wednesday - Saturday 10.30 - 5.00 & Sunday from 11.00.
General secondhand stock.
One of the smallest secondhand shops I've seen, being in the front room of a small terraced house, with a mixed stock aimed at the passing tourists, but still worth a look. - Bridget the Browser.
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