Bookshops > Scotland > The South East
Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK 2020
News
Priorsford Books, Peebles - recently added.
FoundItAtLast, Kelso - closed.
Hoolets Books, Peebles - closed.
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Open at advertised times
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Appointment necessary
Map of The South East
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure these details are correct, we recommend that you contact each individual bookshop before travelling any distance. Add a Bookshop
Last Century Books
34 High Street
INNERLEITHEN Peeblesshire EH44 6HF map
tel: 01896 831759 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 11.00 - 5.00
A few new books, good secondhand modern paperbacks & hard back fiction. Large selection of non-fiction, especially Scottish, sport, military, topography and some antiquarian. Now one of the Borders biggest secondhand, old and out of print bookshops with 19000 titles in stock and many more in store.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsEasily found and also easy to park at, while it does have a small selection of antiques don't let that part of its name put you off. This is a medium sized shop with a good selection of books in a village in the Scottish Borders between Peebles and Galashiels. It has one main room with two smaller ones at the back and while perhaps a little cramped when there are a lot of browsers, it is worth going out of your way to visit. - Jeremy Briggs.
Shop attracts repeat customers with varied large stock, covering most genres. Best titles in a glass case or behind sales desk are online. Chatty, helpful knowledgable owners. WAD. - Chris K 27.07.11.
Another good bookshop. - TommyG 09.12.11.
Last Century Books vies with The Border Reader as best secondhand bookshop in the borders. Excellent prices, very wide stock, strong on Scottish titles, outdoor pursuits and classic fiction. Lots of classic children's books as well. Don't miss the Tardis-like cubbyhole in the middle of the shop which contains another room full of books. Well worth a detour. - Steven Kelly 10.07.15.
A traditional bookshop with wide variety of stock and friendly owner. Strong on Scottish interest. Some sections a little jumbled (eg history) but fun to browse. Prices reasonable. - HB 22.09.19
Linton Books
Deanfoot Road
WEST LINTON Peeblesshire EH46 7DY map
tel: 01968 660339
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsSmall stock of new and second hand books. The stock of new children?s books and one or two toys is misleading as the proprietor?s attitude makes it plain that children are definitely NOT welcome in the shop. - Laura.
I would just like to contradict the previous review by Laura. I've been taking my three young children to buy books for them at the bookshop and I have never felt that they were anything other than welcome in the lovely childrens' corner. I've always had friendly and extremely knowledgeable service. - Lewis 01.10.08.
Another good bookshop, but not keen on the classical music. - TommyG 09.12.11.
A very pleasant book shop with a wide range of stock including boxes of maps which the owner was happy to retrieve from a back room. I cannot imagine anyone being unhappy as the owner was very welcoming. - CB 27.08.16.
Priorsford Books
11 Northgate
PEEBLES EH45 8RX map
tel: 07522 934770 e-mail
Open: Wednesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Strong on children's collectables, also general Scottish interest, women's fiction, crime, Greyladies, Folio, social history, magazine, prints and literary gifts.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsSmall shop, beautifully laid out, some new books, also prints, magazines and book related gifts. Strong on children's, folio, John and Anna Buchan, women's fiction, orange penguins, Persephone etc Some Scottish interest. Not open every day. - HB 22.09.19
Red Cross Bookshop
221 High Street
LINLITHGOW West Lothian EH49 7EN map
tel: 01506 20671658
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsThis is actually a standard charity shop which has two units knocked into one - books in one section, non-books in the other. Didn't see anything other than the usual run of the mill stuff you'd see in the books section of any charity shop, except there's more of it. But potentially the kind of place you'd get a bargain if you were there at the right time. - Steven Kelly 11.05.15.
Scottish Ornithologists' Club Bookshop
Waterston House
ABERLADY East Lothian EH32 0PY map
tel: 01875 871330 fax: 01875 871035 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Friday 10.00 - 4.00, Saturday & Sunday 12.00 - 6.00 BST.
Secondhand books covering a broad range of (world-wide) ornithology and natural history subjects. Collections include New Naturalist and Bannerman titles. The SOC is a registered Scottish charity (SC 009859)
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The Book Room
1 Dingleton Road
MELROSE Roxburghshire TD6 9QS map
tel: 01896 823337
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00 (11.00 - 4.00 in winter) closed Wednesday.
A general stock of secondhand books with a bit of everything.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsA nice mixed selection of stock. - Iain Murray.
Very easy to find, just 50 yards from the central square. A small shop, but with an interesting and diverse stock. - Richard 29.07.09.
This is a delightful shop. Mainly high quality Scottish stock but a good variety of other things. Very civilised. Not cheap. - PaulP 02.08.11.
Another dull visit to this shop in the posh town of Melrose. Over the years, I've managed to buy three small books here. Not this time, alas. Looked at nearly everything , including more neat boxes on the floor. - Chris K 10.01.13.
A better visit last Saturday. Found 3 well priced books and had a good chat with the quiet owner. One small room is currently out of action so there are even more medium boxes on the floor. Lots of old post-WW2 titles. - Chris K 31.05.14.
Medium sized bookshop, reasonable subject range. Lots of stock in boxes and bags on floor, pricing here not always clear. Found an interesting topography book, sensibly priced. - HB 22.09.19.
Closing time will be 4pm from now on. Visted on New Year's Eve, both rooms open but very little caught my eye. Owner is quiet but livens up if you're prepared to engage. Old railway station and platform/shelter across the road is worth five minutes' detour if visiting here. - Graeme Rendall 03.01.20.
The Border Reader Bookshop
Old Melrose Furniture Studio
Ravenswood
MELROSE Roxburghshire TD6 9DF map
e-mail web
Open: 7 days 11.00 - 5.00
Small but select range of secondhand books; quality fiction and poetry, academic and general non-fiction, with an emphasis on philosophy, literary/ cultural theory, and history, plus classical CDs. Beautiful off road setting, with cafe, antiques, gifts and furniture showrooms on site.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsUpstairs in farm courtyard off the A68. Good interesting stock. (No mass mkt p/backs and celeb. biogs.) Found 2 unusual art history titles. Stock not yet online so well worth a visit. - Chris K 27.07.11.
Well worth a detour, this small attic shop is completely devoid of coffee table and mass market clutter, and the focus is on quality titles. Prices very reasonable. At the time of writing, cards are not accepted so you will need to bring some cash. An added bonus is the little coffee shop below. - Steven Kelly 21.11.13.
Worth noting they put the book price on a slip of paper at the BACK, confusing at first as some old prices still exist at the front and only a smal notice to explain this. lovely place to visit. - PaulP 01.03.14.
Lovely location above a cafe and antique centre. Signposted from main road, not in Melrose Books well displayed (confusingly prices are on postit at back) but mostly very common titles, didn't find anything to purchase. - HB 22.09.19
The Forest Bookstore
26 Market Place
SELKIRK Scottish Borders TD7 4BL map
tel: 01750 22763 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Friday 10.00 - 1.30 & 2.30 - 4.30, Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
Literature, Art & Environment. Contemporary & Modern . Scottish and International
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsPrincipally carrying new titles, the S/H books are on a couple of bookcases at the back. Prices on the high side - although the majority of titles are in very nice condition. - Steven Kelly 10.07.15.
Sadly I could not find any second hand books and the owner was in a rush to close as she had to go and see her daughter and closed early at four o'clock. As a bookshop for new books it seemed very good. - CB 27.08.16.
The Pennyfarthing
23 Quality Street
NORTH BERWICK East Lothian EH39 4HR map
tel: 01620 89 0114
Open: Monday - Friday 10.00 (ish) - 5.00, Sunday 2.00 - 5.00.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsSmallish stock, modestly priced, with some bric-a-brac as well. - Richard.
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