Bay Books & Records
10a Norham Road
WHITLEY BAY  Tyne and Wear  NE26 2SB
tel: 01912 514448  map
Open: Tuesday - Fiday 11.00 -4.00, Saturday 11.00 - 5.00.
    At one end of the main shopping area of Whitley Bay, this smallish shop covers books and LPs with a DVD & CD shop several doors down. Both stock a small selection of children's toys. The main bookshop has a general range of titles typical for a seaside town but excels in its stock of children's books and particularly of 1970s and 1980s children's annuals which make it worth hunting out. - Jeremy Briggs.
    It has been a while since I wrote the previous review, during which time the shop seems to have gone for the "more is better" approach. Unfortunately more books means that there is little or no room for people to pass by each other in this shop because books are now piled up on the floor. It also means that far too many of the shelved books are now covered up by boxes and piles of books that are often double stacked meaning that, for instance, most of those children's annuals are now buried behind an impenetrable mound of cardboard and paper. The shop that I used to enjoy is probably still buried in there somewhere behind all those piles of books but nowadays I just can't get at it. - Jeremy Briggs. 29.06.09.

Bill Quay Books
76 Station Road  Bill Quay
GATESHEAD  Tyne & Wear  NE10 0RS
tel: 01914478756  e-mail  website  map
Open: Monday - Friday 10.00 - 5.00, Saturday 10.00 - 3.00.
In addition to general fiction and non-fiction we cover a range of more academic subjects including philosophy, religion, literary criticism, history, politics, anthropology, ethnography, psychology, gender studies and more. We also have a selection of local interest books. Conveniently located in the east of Gateshead between Pelaw and Hebburn.

Books For Amnesty
92, Westgate Road
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE  Tyne and Wear  NE1 4AE
tel: 0191 2220920  map
    A small to medium sized shop close to the mainline railway station, very tidy and well laid out. Probably leaning more to non-fiction books than fiction, it also has a small children's section which, when I was there at least, was a true elephants' graveyard of Blue Peter titles - annuals, paperbacks and small hardbacks. I have never seen so many Blue Peter books in one shop before. - Jeremy Briggs.

Keel Row Books
11 Fenwick Terrace  Preston Road
NORTH SHIELDS  Tyne & Wear  NE29 0LU
tel: 0191 296 0664  map
North Tyneside`s largest secondhand bookshop. Sprawling nine room terraced house crammed with 150,000 books on every conceivable subject.
    I counted six rooms but they also use the hallways and parts of the stairs, but no matter what the room count is the shop is big, relatively easy to park at, friendly (being more than happy to pull books from the window display for me to look at) and well worth the visit. The upstairs hall was being used for piles of books and boxes of comics and magazines when I was there but the shop is tidy and well laid out. - Jeremy Briggs.
    Taken over by a new owner but the standard of books is still as good as always. Never leave Newcastle without a visit. - Chris Harte 14.04.09.
     Good range of stock, very helpful staff. - Paul Simpson 28.07.09.
    They now have a really splendid selection of Australian town and regional histories some of which are difficult to get even in Australia. - Chris Harte 12.09.09.

Olivers Bookshop
48a, Whitley Road
WHITLEY BAY  Tyne and Wear  NE26 2NF
tel: 0191 2513552  map
Open: Monday & Thursday - Saturday 11.00 - 5.00
General secondhand books.
    Easy to park at and only a short walk from the main shopping area of Whitley Bay, this bright, friendly, medium sized shop has a remarkable amount of books for it size. Many are in piles rather than on the shelves leaving you wary of removing any but the topmost ones, but it can be worth the risk as it has turned up a few surprises in its time. It has had some comics and magazines in the past and has a good comics related section. - Jeremy Briggs.
    This shop really is a treasure trove with an owner who is one of the most helpful and co-operative I have met. There are titles ranging from the very rare to good Victoriana. Allow at least three hours for a detailed browse through the selection on offer. . - Chris Harte 12.09.09.

Oxfam Bookshop
8 Hood Street
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE  Tyne and Wear  NE1 6JQ
tel: 0191 232 2476  map
    A bright, modern shop which is smaller that their previous one and so does not have as much stock but is still nicely laid out. It is now in the city centre rather than in its edge, but easily found south of the Monument and near H&M . - Jeremy Briggs 12.03.09.

Oxfam Bookshop
57 St George's Terrace  Jesmond
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE  Tyne and Wear  NE2 2SX
tel: 0191 2818383   map
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30, Sunday 12.00 - 6.00.
    Opposite Tesco Metro store. Paid my first visit today. More impressive than the Newcastle City Centre Hood Street shop. Larger and better stocked, with good history section. Fair number of coffee table and academic titles too. Expensive hammered metal finish dark brown shelving. [The shop was previously an off-licence.] Nearest Metro train station is West Jesmond - Chris K 19.08.10.