Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK 2019
Key
Open at advertised times
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Appointment necessary
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 your bookshop here
Babushka Books
67 Regent Street
SHANKLIN Isle of Wight PO37 7AE map
tel: 01983 652880 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.45.
22.12.18. After nearly 7 years we have now moved from our little shop in Carter Road and have completed our takeover of The Shanklin Gallery (Regent St).
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsPleased to see that the stock has expanded greatly since it was taken over last year. Now with a great selection of non fiction to go with the masses of p/b fiction. Looks cleaner, and much more organized. Came away with a little bundle and very happy! - Fei 17.04.09.
Funky little bookshop, cool younger atmosphere, the ceiling is covered in pictures of their customers with their purchases! They had wifi too which was good, interesting window display too! will be back! - Coco - 22.06.11.
Recently relocated, now somewhat off the tourist trail, but presumably cheaper rent and more space. - Steve Newman 14.06.12.
In their move Babushka books got in a muddle with biblio.com and consequently lost some sales, as some books never re-surfaced. However they gave exemplary service by crediting me with a higher value than the book originally ordered. - Mary C 26.07.12.
Second visit to this small but well stocked shop. Great selection of titles and a good section on Isle of Wight books. I came away with two further books on Isle of Wight railways. Reasonably priced and a friendly, helpful owner. - SteveBrissle 09.09.16.
Lovely little shop, excellent standard of books on a variety of subjects. Helpful owner. Well worth a detour. Note opening time now 1000. Sadly saw an advert in estate agents advertising shop for sale - hope it can keep as a going concern. - Norman Davies 31.05.18.
I was a visitor many years ago and was delighted with this store and bought a number of books I could not find in the USA My particular interests are with illustrated books for children. - Jeanne Haarper 27.02.19.
Always was one of the best bookshops on the Island, and following the recent move to larger premises even more stock displayed and far less cramped too. Wide selection of generally good quality books and reasonably priced too. Vintage typewriters and camera's also feature, and picture framing too. Diversification perhaps the way forward if bookshops are to survive these days. well worth a visit. - Steve Newman 02.07.019.
My first visit to the larger shop and I was not disappointed. Two reasonably priced books purchased and a good selection of other books on the shelves confirmed this shop is always worth a visit. - SteveBrissle 28.11.19.
Billingshurst Lions Bookshop
Unit 4 Laura House
Jengers Mead (off High Street)
BILLINGSHURST West Sussex RH14 9NZ map
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 4.00.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsStock mainly hardback and paperback fiction in decent condition and reasonable prices. Also a small selection of excellent home-made fruit cakes (date and walnut, Dundee etc.)! - Martin Stallion.
Don't sell cakes any more, but have a few jigsaws. Reasonably priced doesnt do justice - these books are really quite cheap - around 60p for a good quality paperback novel! - Paul 18.06.12.
I used to live in this village in the mid seventies and superficially (and quite spookily) little has changed. This shop in in a seventies' parade where about a third of the shops are charity shops. At first i was disheartened by the albeit superbly organised pulp fiction / chick lit /romance but spotted some really decent paperback modern fiction. In the back room there are modern hardback fiction in really good condition priced for a pound or less. I came away with a bag load. Worth a visit if in the area. Ample, cheap pay and display parking. - Jon Morgan 24.09.16.
Have visited 3 times, once left empty handed but twice with a bag full, obviously depends on what they've had donated recently. Well laid out, lots of fiction, cookery, gardening, children's but some interesting topography and military. Very reasonable prices, new h/b fiction £1.50, p/b 80p. Beware the car park attendant waiting by the car checking his watch! - H B 28.11.19.
Books for Amnesty
4 Mill Road
CAMBRIDGE Cambridgeshire CB1 2AD map
tel: 01223 362 496 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.30.
Charity bookshop.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsOccasionally disappointing when one turns up and it is shut in advertised hours, but like most charity shops it is run by volunteers. Stock does not move a great deal but there are gems to be had and prices are reasonable. {Parking is a nightmare anywhere in or around Mill Road and it is worth parking in the Beehive and walking 10 mins thru the old cemetery or the Grafton Centre (Costly) but you can then do the charity shops in Burleigh Street (Oxfam is the only really decent one). - Jon Morgan 06.03.13.
A larger, better charity bookshop than the central Oxfam one. Found 2 good books to buy. (Also worth checking out 2 nearby general charity shops.) - Chris K 10.09.14.
Newly reopened after a repaint and a refurb. Much brighter and with some limited new stock but could do with a lot more. Good on Military History and indeed history generally and strong on fiction. The other Mill Road shops are hit and miss although the RSPCA Mill Road Bookshop over the Bridge towards Cherry Hinton has upped its game of late. - Jon Morgan 05.02.15.
UPDATE: Moved premises Autumn 2017 from 46 to 4 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AD. - Roger Scoppie 28.11.17.
This shop gets better and better. Moved from No. 46 to No. 4 Mill Road a couple of years ago and is even better in it's new location. Constant refreshing of stock (great books, far better than regular charity shops) regular creative new window displays, and friendly, helpful and knowledgeable volunteer staff. - Andy Meehan 28.11.19.
Burgate Bookshop
10B Burgate
CANTERBURY Kent CT1 2HG map
tel: 01227 638458 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, Sunday 10.00 - 4.00.
Charity Bookshop run by Pilgrims Trust.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsEasy to find and staff welcoming. BTA charity shop although probably of more interest to readers than collectors. - Steven 13.08.14.
This is quite a way past the cathedral and surrounded by Cancer Research, BHF etc. It is however a significant cut above the usual charity shop as regards books. A good modern fiction section on the ground floor with a basement with more to browse. Whilst not on the level of the Book Palace it is nevertheless Charity shop plus. - Jon Morgan 01.10.15.
Large bookshop very clean and wonderfully perfumed on two floors a very large selection of relatively common books well priced. - John Bacon 18.04.16.
Oh, dear. I just cannot agree with any of the above viewpoints. I found the manager pretentious; the stock wishy-washy; and the hangers-on more than up themselves. - Chris Harte 28.11.19.
Catching Lives Charity Bookshop
28 Palace Street
CANTERBURY Kent CT1 2DZ map
tel: 07899 458961 web
Open: 7 days 10.00 - 5.00.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsAn interesting little charity shop which has much to offer. The titles on the shelves were standard fare but what is more important is the way proceeds are used to provide winter shelter for the homeless. I purchased as I wanted to help their work. - Chris Harte 28.11.19.
Kellow Books
21 High Street
CHIPPING NORTON Oxfordshire OX7 5AD map
tel: 79188 82185 e-mail
Open: Monday - Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
General Bookshop.Topography Military, Fine Bindings Children's etc, about 10000 books. We Have moved to the ground floor of 21 high street Behind the Pie Shop (More Room).
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsOne of the best I have encountered, good stock, very well laid out and well worth a visit. - Jan.
Lovely little shop - a treat. - George Marshall 06.02.09.
Situated in new first-floor premises the stock is scattered over a number of rooms. My initial search made me feel as if the quality of the books had risen markedly since my last visit to the former shop over the road. I was very impressed with the wide range of holdings and picked up three sought-after titles. Well worth a visit (and the Chelsea buns from the nearby bakery are top quality). - Chris Harte 31.12.09.
Definitely worth a visit and, if not successful (I certainly was - 7 books bought), there's a nice country town to browse around. - Zim 18.07.14.
Excellent first-floor shop with a wide range. Abe prices only as this is for the serious collector, but usually manage to find some of my missing titles here. - Norman Davies 24.11.15.
I was staying in the Cotswolds last week and visited this shop on Thursday, only to find it was closed for the day. This had been added as an afterthought to the opening hours on the door and was contrary to the days and hours of opening given on this website and in local bookshop leaflets. I was very disappointed and annoyed. - Paul Mountford 26.07.16.
I take Mr Mountford's point, as I have long wished to visit Kellow Books but never seemed to be in Chipping Norton when it was open! However, I did get to visit it recently and found it well worth it, not least in my sphere of interest, viz. history and military. I suggest, therefore, that anyone who contemplates going out of their way to visit the shop telephones in advance. - Geoffrey Warner 08.04.17.
I heeded Mr Warner's advice and telephoned before driving the 50+ miles on a Sept Monday. There is plenty of free parking in this beautiful town and the shop is easily found. I would say that the shop is of a small to medium size and the stock is well presented and sorted but the pricing was quite high, I suspect for all the tourists and Oxford types which frequent this 'Gateway to the Cotswolds. Bulk discount was offered and military well-represented inc. many regimental histories. Very much a well run 2nd-hand bookshop where the owner knows his trade. - Laurence Batchelor 15.09.18.
Well worth seeking out down a rather unassuming alleyway off the 'main drag'. An impressive selection of topography and not bad on transport either. - wessexman 28.11.19.
Oxfam Books & Music
74 Hertford Street
COVENTRY West Midlands CV1 1LB map
tel: 02476 229684 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 9.00 - 5.00.
Trading for over 30 years, we have a wide selection of academic textbooks, literature, poetry, and plays, alongside fiction, crime, travel and children's books. We have one of the largest sci-fi departments in the country, stocking hundreds of comics (many rare and out of print). We also have many film & music reference books and biographies.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsNot sure why you're missing this one Mike as its been there decades. Heavy on Sci-fi and comics and unsurprisingly paperback fiction. Worth checking every now and then. - Laurence Batchelor 28.07.14.
A good example of a well-stocked charity bookshop with particular strengths in classic fiction and history as well as a useful CD rarities selection. - Herne 21.11.18.
A return visit on a Sunday and happily came away with 3 books. Selection now superior to the big comfy bookshop in Fargo village. Strong on most subjects. - Laurence Batchelor 28.11.19.
Oxfam Bookshop
51 St Peter's Street
CANTERBURY Kent CT1 2BE map
tel: 01227 454091 web
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsSurprisingly good - Bernard Dixon 22.04.08.
Some very good quality books can be found here at reasonable prices. - Chris Harte 14.04.09.
Always worth a visit when in Canterbury for military, sport, music languages and general fiction. - Neil 31.10.11.
Agree very much with Neil's comment. Because of its proximity to two universities, there is always a good selection of academic texts too. - Geoffrey Warner 15.12.11.
Never have I been to a bookshop where the stock was so rare and valuable (and Ive been to some pretty up-market ones) that Ive come across an assistant who felt the need to wear a pair of white cotton gloves. What was it that warranted such care and devotion? Was it the antiquarian nature of the books he was handling? Was it that Oxfam had decided that white gloves were now a necessary part of their health and safety campaign? Having being unable to escape his and his colleagues long, tedious and very loud conversation about Tolkiens "Lord of the Rings" (which was interrupted by a customers enquiry about Siegfried Sassoon, which he was unable to answer) I suspect that it was a mere affectation. We have been visiting the Canterbury Oxfam Book Shop for many years and over that time the pricing has become more and more bizarre. Items which usually command average prices are often extraordinarily overpriced, while within their own pricing system there appears to be very little uniformity, with some notable and glaring inconsistencies. On the whole, pricing bears the hallmark of someone who is somewhat up themselves, and potential customers should be aware that they will pay significantly higher prices than in the average town bookshop. - Nicholas Pendower 02.11.13.
Good location in city centre. Ecclectic range of stock from childrens to academic. Prices (at least in my areas of interest) were fair. - Steven 13.08.14.
An extensive stock covering most areas of interest but nothing of any great merit. It is charity shop plus but fairly run of the mill and the prices are average (for Oxfam). - Jon Morgan 01.10.15.
One of the best Oxfam Bookshops I have visited huge selection not as cheap as Oxfam Shaftesbury but pretty reasonable. - John Bacon 18.04.16.
In my considered opinion this is the best Oxfam bookshop I have visited. The stock is excellent; the prices reasonable and the manager brilliantly eccentric. My best purchase was an 1892 title by John Kent at the giveaway price of £12. I will return. - Chris Harte 28.11.19.
Oxfam Bookshop
12 Bloomsbury Street
BLOOMSBURY London WC1B 3QA map
tel: 020 7637 4610 web
Open: 7 days 10.00 - 6.00.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsIn the premises of the much missed Unsworths, this has a large stock, though prices seem to be higher than usual for Oxfam bookshops. - George Marshall 06.02.09.
I just could not get over what was hiding away on the shelves. Not only was there a run of rare bound volumes of literature but the glass cases had some wonderful items. This in a charity shop !! - Chris Harte 28.06.10.
A very broad range of stock and one of Oxfam's flagship branches, but you'll be lucky to unearth a bargain. - Mandalay Emporium 09.04.11.
Prices continue to rise at the same time as the quality of the stock goes down. - Mandalay Emporium 29.09.12.
Occasional gems but not cheap. The fiction is limited and actually quite difficult to see given its position. I frequently buy a couple of books but the whole point of charity bookshops is taking a chance on unknown authors titles and at these prices it is simply too expensive. Better books in Strutton Ground and Marylebone High street shops. - Jon Morgan 26.03.13.
Hectic on the day I visited, so much so that there was no one to help me look at a book from the window display. Eclectic stock. Readers books priced to sell but anything vaguely collectable priced at the top end. - Steven 10.08.13.
Definitely my last visit to this awful place. Not only do they never open on time, their prices are outrageous - it's a wonder they ever sell anything. - Mandalay Emporium 10.10.13.
Came away empty handed today as their stock is getting ridiculously expensive and is cheaper at Any Amount of Books in CX Road a short walk away. - Jon Morgan 07.10.14.
After a BM exhibition visit on Friday PM, I tried out this shop. The books, apart from those in a glass case, not too expensive but couldn't find anything to purchase. If I'm near by again, will probably re-visit. - Chris K 08.08.15.
The modern fiction section has diminished to about half what it was. Expansion of video / audio / vinyl. lots of folio society stuff which like most things in this shop was overpriced. The pricing here seems to reflect the tourist trade from the British Museum. However only a short walk to Skoob and Judd Books. - Jon Morgan 23.10.15.
This place is a curate's egg; Jon Morgan, above, is spot-on with his comment about the influence of tourists visiting the nearby British Museum. The art and architecture stocks are surprisingly pedestrian, enlivened only by the occasional oddity; the photography section consistently lacks quality. However, I used a wheeled step stool to browse a high shelf of transport books and found an attractive album of old canal photos for a paltry three quid. - Nicholas Sack 05.02.16.
Good, wide ranging stock in this upmarket Oxfam branch. Pricing quite hit-and-miss. It's the kind of place you might just snap up a bargain, but equally pay over the odds for a common title. - Steven Kelly 09.05.16.
Must have been my lucky day but I had the place to myself. Interesting stock and while I found no bargains neither did I find any prices that made me wince. If it was always this quiet I would say WAD but then I don't suppose it will stay open if I am the only customer. - Steven 16.02.17.
I spent about half an hour in this shop and for the whole time the assistant was on the office phone gossiping to her mates. That made me wonder if the high prices for very ordinary books was to bring in extra cash to pay the telephone bill. Since my last review seven years ago the quality of the titles has dropped dramatically. I found better books in the general Oxfam shop in nearby Drury Lane. - Chris Harte 03.06.17.
Back again! The curse of the Christmas card has struck, and much stock has not moved in months but occasional gem. Some at good prices others at ridiculous ones. Whole glass cabinet full books infected by 'collectableitis' - Jon Morgan 20.11.17.
I am a fairly regular visitor here and the stock is thinning and static as well as very expensive. Books seem to be being driven out by Manga / comics and videos. I frequently find stuff I have just bought in Any Amount of Books in CX Road at several pounds more. Needs a revamp and a reality tablet! - Jonathan Morgan 15.09.18.
Sue Ryder Books and Music
1a Priory Road
SPALDING Lincolnshire PE11 2XA map
tel: 01775 710270
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsSue Ryder appear to be the latest chain of Charity Shops moving into 'specialist' areas. I assume this one is fairly new as I could find no reference to it as a book & music shop on their website. Afraid I forgot to get opening times, I had not realised it was not in the guide.
This particular shop has a good general range of books at reasonable prices too. Oxfam please take note! - Steve Newman 16.08.11.
This charity shop knocks spots off some so-called real bookshops Ive visited. The interesting, good quality stock, which extends to antiquarian volumes, is very well presented, and prices are extremely fair (while there are certainly bargains to be had, the higher end material is marked at reasonable bookshop prices; BUT be reassured - they dont ask the exorbitant rates seen in most Oxfam shops). There is also an excellent music section, including vinyl, CDs and sheet music. The members of staff are always helpful and welcoming and this shop is well worth the detour and should not disappoint the collector or those who just enjoy a good browse. - Nicholas Pendower 22.10.12.
Whilst continuing to display a good range of well presented books, prices for much of the stock have rocketed in recent times. The prices asked Indeed one could say that they rival even the most expensive Oxfam's! I looked at a couple of books I would have bought, but not at the inflated prices asked. Still a few reasonable priced items, but by no means the norm now. - Steve Newman 19.08.17.
Well worth a visit to Spalding just to go to this excellent establishment. I do not think prices are high and have not noticed any recent great increases as mentioned in another comment. And the bargain box - unmissable. - Chris du Feu 28.11.19.
Sunburst Books
21-23 Station Road
RAINHAM Kent ME8 7RS map
tel: no phone
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00.
Charity bookshop selling donated books.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsOffers a big stock of donated books at knock-down prices in support of local charities. Well worth a visit; I came away with a haul. - Nicholas Sack 08.07.14.
Since I was last here a few years ago they have opened up the storeroom at the back to make a reasonably sized shop. Larger than Bookmark round the corner. A lot of charity shop fiction and military history (like Bookmark, it reflects the area) but worth browsing for other non-fiction at decent prices. A separate room of older books better than most charity shops "collectibles" with a number of complete sets. Worth a look if you're near. - John Allen 12.02.18.
Well stocked and priced fairly. Staff not very helpful though. - loracs 10.07.18.
What a wonderful surprise. For a rundown town this charity bookshop ticked all the boxes for me. First visit resulted in a boxload being carried to the car. An hour later another lot purchased. This place is well worth a visit. Stock general but very well categorised. Prices a bargain. - Chris Harte 28.11.19.
The Big Comfy Bookshop
Fargo Village
Far Gosford Street
COVENTRY West Midlands CV1 5ED map
tel: 07710 400 428 e-mail web
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00 (Friday closes a 4.00) Sunday 11.00 - 4.00.
General secondhand bookstore. Large SF fantasy and Crime thriller section. Cafe serving cake, tea, coffee and alcohol.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsI'm happy to provide this shops 1st review on TheBookGuide. It's a large charity shop spread through 1 room and based to the East of the city centre, 10 mins walk along Far Gosford street from Gosford books. There is several large car parks nearby just off the A444. Its part of a larger and whacky development Fargo village developed from EU funding containing many eccentric shops and eateries. The stock was all well categorized with pricing in the £2-£3 range for the military hardbacks I purchased. The shop has a cafe and encourages reading before buying. It also has 50p bargain boxes outside and new donations were by the till. There were also several shelves to the left of old, rare and antiquarian. An excellent addition to the city's 2 other bookshops and like all charity shops there's always a chance to get lucky. - Laurence Batchelor 30.08.18.
A return visit after a few months. They now close at 4pm on Fridays as they use the venue for singing. The chair is now moved blocking the antiquarian books making them easier to browse. Pricing on my military non-fiction still reasonable. WWAD. - Laurence Batchelor 06.10.18.
This was a nice find in Coventry. Not a charity shop as a previous reviewer mentioned. A good selection of books; I came away with an armful of paperbacks to read. A welcoming cafe environment, with tea and cake and it looks like they have some good music nights in the shop, though I'm sadly not local enough to sample one of these. - MPW 30.01.19.
I incorrectly tagged this one a charity shop, what I should have written is they sell alot of donated books. A return visit on a Sunday after walking the length of the city centre hoping their stocks had been replenished after their recent floods but alas nothing to buy in Childrens, Military History, rare and collectable or cookery so I came away empty handed. Many books in the military history shelves were there 2-3 years ago. Stock in need of pruning and updating. I also visited Greens Home Interiors where they deposit some of their older books amongst the antiques and there too I found nothing worth buying. - Laurence Batchelor 28.11.19.
The Bookmark
15c Rainham Shopping Centre
RAINHAM Kent ME8 7HW map
tel: 01634 365987
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30. Sunday 10.00 - 4.00
Over 40,000 reasonably priced books at your fingertips. Wide range of both fiction and non-fiction. Very Good History, Travel, Biography, Childrens & study sections. Book searches undertaken. Range of large print & audio books. Great jazz while you browse.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsOn entry started muttering to myself about wasting 50p in car park charging. Within a few minutes realised that there was good stock so long as you had your eyes looking upwards on to the top shelves. Eventually came away with two carrier bags full but be aware; the manager's spoken English is not very good. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.
Fantastic range of well priced books in an incredibly well oragnised and clean shop. Really helpful, well spoken and knowledgeable staff. - J 27.04.12.
One of my favorite bookshops. Very good stock of books and the owners will look out for books for you. Prices are very reasonable. - Dave 24.05.12.
A tremendous range of high-quality stock, all neatly ordered and shelved. The voluble owner might entertain you with his opinions on the practices of Amazon. I found a signed hardback copy of Fay Godwin's photos of Romney Marsh, with text by Richard Ingrams, for a gleefully low price. - Nicholas Sack 08.07.14.
It depends on your interests I suppose and this was one of the best laid out and best organised bookshops in Kent. A pleasure to browse in if you are interested in local or military subjects. The practice of piling two rows of books on a shelf is really annoying and off-putting after shifting them for half an hour one is inclined to give up. Many of the lower shelves in this otherwise well devised shop are utterly obscured by piles and boxes. Many remainders and multiple copies, get rid of the 6 plus copies of Kate Mosse's Labyrinth and there may be room for some more quality stock. Plenty of charity shops close by, otherwise quite a depressing little shopping centre in a depressing county. - Jon Morgan 07.08.14.
Good for modern books - quick moving stock. Good prices. - loracs 10.07.18.
Combined with a visit to Sunburst this makes Rainham worth a visit. Stock here pretty good although prices a little high. Very well selected and shelves easy to check. - Chris Harte 28.11.19.
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