Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK 2019
Key
Open at advertised times
Phone before travelling
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
Acanthophyllum Books
"Tadorna"
243 Pensby Road Heswall
WIRRAL Merseyside CH61 5UA map
tel: 0151 342 8287 e-mail web
Open: Monday to Sunday inclusive 10.00 - 4.00, by appointment only.
I deal primarily in Natural History (including Geology), Garden History and especially Botany and Ecology. Visitors to my book room are welcome with a prior appointment. I regularly exhibit at PBFA book fairs in York, Haydock, Cambridge and elsewhere.
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Berwyn Books
Unit 4 Spencer Ind Estate
Liverpool Road
BUCKLEY Flintshire CH7 3LY map
tel: 01244 541415 e-mail web
Open: Appointment necessary.
Over 20,000 books on our constantly updated internet inventory. Valuations, bookbinding and clearance services.
Add a comment Read commentsHide comments*Situated at the rear of an antiques centre on a not easy to find side road on an industrial estate. Once found, the pleasure of searching the shelves takes over. Here is a shop comprising quality publications; some old and some fairly recent but all worthy of time to check if they could be worthwhile purchases. Everything in marked categories which makes it easy to browse. WWAD. - Chris Harte 07.04.13.
*Moved to Old Chapel in May. - TBG 16.05.13.
**A visit, by appointment, to the new premises meant an introduction to the knowledgeable Julie. She seemed to know where most of the internet titles could be located and I left with a box load of surprises. Prices were slightly high but the quality could not be faulted. - Chris Harte 13.06.13.
**Moved to Buckley in October 2013. - TBG 23.12.13.
Visited them in Unit 4, by appointment. The storage area is huge and I would have no idea how many (tens of ??)thousands of books line the narrow wooden shelves. Although mainly an internet organisation the titles I briefly saw were of some substance. Go with your 'Wants List' - as nowhere near the full stock can be listed online - and Julie will hopefully find what you want. - Chris Harte 02.01.14.
The people who run this bookshop are both friendly and efficient with a vast knowledge of their stock...we could not fault them and will use them again in the future..FANTASTIC! - Netty 10.03.14.
Black Pug Books
The Old Gallery
24 West Borough
WIMBORNE Dorset BH21 1NF map
tel: 01202 889383
Open: Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10.00 - 6.00
Highly varied mix of stock, but no paperbacks or book club editions. Smallish room in private house. Tea and coffee happily offered in home surroundings.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsA wonderful bookshop with a great variety of really good books. Thoroughly recommended! - David Aston 22.02.18.
Book
17 Merrial Street
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME Staffordshire ST5 2AE map
tel: 01782 630201 e-mail
Open: 7 days 9.30 - 4.30.
Our stock is mainly second-hand but we do carry a number of new books. We have a good History. Military and Transport sections. All visitors from outside of our immediate area will be given Coffee or Tea.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsWorth a visit. Rather an 'old-fashioned' feel to it (same with the stall on Stafford market): plenty of rather scruffy - but quite interesting and even uncommon - titles. Parking nearby. - Andrew Bradley 18.07.14.
Bookbane
Unit 9
Felin Fawr Coed y Parc
BETHESDA Gwynedd LL57 4YY map
tel: 01248 600 632 e-mail
Open: 7 days 9.00 - 6.00.
25,000 books in Welsh, English & other languages. Poetry. Technical publications from the 19th & 20th centuries. Working class movement library. Shop & bindery in interesting early 19th century quarry workshop.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsCalled in and returned on long weekend London-Manchester trip. Worth visits - purchased 6 books. Browsed in peace & enjoyed chats with owner. Interesting location with added travel bonus of wonderful N. Wales scenery. Some books sealed in clear film. - Zim 24.06.17.
Brian P. Martin Antiquarian and Collectors' Books
Christique
11 West Street
DORKING Surrey RH4 1BL map
tel: 01428 682567 or 07773112101 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
A large stock of good quality books on many subjects, including Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, London and other topography, naval & military, sports, fine bindings, poetry, literature, children's, history and much much more. Christique has an excellent cafe and nearby parking.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsProbably around 1,500 books. The categories highlighted by the owner appear to be represented but there are not necessarily many in each category. - Steve 31.10.12.
Went today and was most disappointed. Basically this is an Antiques shop with a few shelves of books. - Ian P 19.05.15.
Christopher Saunders
Kingston House
NEWNHAM-ON-SEVERN Gloucestershire GL14 1BB map
tel: 01594 516030 fax: 01594 517273 e-mail
Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 5.00 by prior appointment only.
A large stock of books and memorabilia on cricket and other ball sports. Catalogues published.
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Coch-y-Bonddu Books
Papyrus
Pentrehedyn Street
MACHYNLLETH Powys SY20 8DJ map
tel: 01654 702837 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00.
Very large stock of second-hand books on fishing & field-sports, countryside & natural history. 7000 sporting books listed on website. Also new books. Machynlleth also has the Dyfi Valley Bookshop in Doll Street
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsThis is probably the best place (other than private dealers) that I have come across for hunting and field sports books. The quality on the shelves was quite remarkable. Not only that but the Welsh section was, I was told by my Welsh speaking wife, worthy of considerable perusal. What I also liked was the knowledge displayed by the most helpful young man who was filing some new titles. I was also given a copy of their latest catalogue: it was top rate. - Chris Harte 09.05.11.
Emphatically endorse Mr Harte's comments above: the quality and quantity of the books falling into the specialist categories catered for here have to be seen to be believed. Three rooms stuffed full of simply amazing titles. - Graeme Rendall 22.10.15.
Deeside Books
18-20 Bridge Street
BALLATER Aberdeenshire AB35 5QP map
tel: 013397 54080
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
General stock with emphasis on local history, Scottish, military, fishing and field sports, transport, travel and topography. Stock of approx 10,000 varying from paperbacks to collector's items along with some remainders. Located on main A93 Aberdeen to Braemar road. In centre of Village.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsAn excellent shop. Extensive non-fiction holdings, and some antiquarian material, in general at very reasonable prices. Also stocks interesting Scottish remainders. Well worth a visit. - Second Nature 16.08.11.
A tidy bookshop with a wide-ranging general stock, including strong Scottish history and topography sections (as one would expect). Interestingly, a varied Africa selection as well. - S+S 09.08.18.
Grove Rare Books
The Old Post Office
Bolton Abbey
SKIPTON North Yorkshire BD23 6EX map
tel: 01756 710717 e-mail web
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
A country bookshop in an 18th Century building the on Duke of Devonshire's Yorkshire estate, within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. A wide range of books, but particularly, Yorkshire topography, angling and field sports, art and architecture, British topography, and natural history. Also antiquarian maps and prints.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsThis bookshop just oozes class and quality. It is one of the finest of its genre and MUST be visited by any serious collector. Both the owner and his son were knowledgable and very pleasant men. The Yorkshire holdings were top of the range as were the field sports section. There were other groupings none of which were anything but worthy of perusal. - Chris Harte 26.10.09.
A superb bookshop, but not the place to buy a cheap paperback! Quality second hand books on a wide range of topics. On entering the shop you are instantly made welcome, and under no pressure to buy ... and what a beautiful building and setting. - Nigel Baker 10.06.17.
Hereward Books
17 High Street
HADDENHAM Cambridgeshire CB6 3XA map
tel: 01353 740821
Open: Monday - Saturday, but best to ring first.
General secondhand books, country sports and natural history.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsThis is a quality bookshop. It has probably the best stock of shooting, fishing, big game hunting, horse racing and country pursuits I have seen on English premises. If these are your interests you must visit. Very highly recommended. - Chris Harte 13.09.12.
JW Books
The Shopping Courtyard
Stratford Garden Centre Campden Road Clifford Chambers
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Warwickshire CV37 8LW map
tel: 01789 508031 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 5.00, Sunday 10.30 - 4.00.
Extensive range of secondhand books encompassing architecture, art, aviation, biographical, history, maritime, military, natural history, performing arts, topography, transport, travel, sports and Folio Society. Local interests: Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Also Fred Archer and John Moore. Regular attendee at Churchdown Book Fair.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsSituated in a new small retail development north-east of the town. Lovely setting; ample parking; perfectly built and designed - but no one around! The owner still has many crates to unload but what was on the shelves showed a high proportion of local and regional titles. Give him time to settle in. - Chris Harte 16.11.13.
Serves me right for not contacting owner beforehand: difficult to find, but looks like excellent selection. next door shop said owner only there occasionally but will open on request. - Norman Davies 13.08.14.
Now trading as JW Books (John Welch who is very personable and helpful). Small shop but well picked and very clean stock, fairly priced. Worth visiting. - Brian Stringer 02.10.14.
Recently moved from Evesham - TBG 05.11.15.
A shopping unit within a garden centre courtyard. Amazing how much stock can be crammed in and still browseable/accessible! Mostly hardbacks and most are in excellent condition. Fair prices on most things I looked at. Ended up with only 1 book but the proprietor was so personable I ended up chatting with him for the best part of an hour. General stock I suppose (something for most tastes) but I spied a fair amount of history (especially military) and a lot of Folio editions. Well worth a detour if in the surrounding area. - Flip M 06.02.17.
After my double strike out in Warwick, I took a return trip here. Happy to say it was not only open but well stocked (with more on the floor in boxes waiting to be sorted). Same comments apply as above, except more paperbacks this time, incl a batch of Star Trek and Star Wars novels. I found a few things to buy, at reasonable prices, in fact I was browsing for far longer than I spend in some larger shops. A good military selection but something for most tastes and WAD. - Flip M 29.07.17.
Visited 11.40am on a Wednesday, but was still unfortunately closed. After visiting the shop next door calls were made and it appeared he was opening a bit later and was doing a book appraisal elsewhere. The stock in this shop is impressive - All high quality and nearly all Hardbacks with DJ's and not much ex-library. I would go so far to say that it has the best military book collection on show in the Midlands, superior even than my nearby Astley Bookfarm. The owner is most pleasant and helpful and this is one shop you simply must visit if in the area. I came away with 6 purchases, all reasonably priced and a bulk-discount was offered. Other categories well-catered for are Folio, Railways, Politics, some foreign-language Art books, Biographies, Maritime, Motoring among others. Advise ringing before making the journey. - Laurence Batchelor 03.08.18.
An unexpected pleasure, unexpected because it's in the grounds of a garden centre. But certainly worth a visit as it's well stocked and the owner is knowledgeable and friendly. - J 11.11.18.
Lovely shop. Stock in good condition but thought the prices a bit high. Reading previous comments no one else has mentioned this, perhaps I am becoming stingier as I get older. - David 15.12.18.
Keel Row Books
11 Fenwick Terrace
Preston Road
NORTH SHIELDS Tyne and Wear NE29 0LU map
tel: 0191 296 0664 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Rare & second-hand books, maps, ephemera & photographs bought & sold. Established 1981. Tyneside's longest running rare & secondhand bookshop. Member of the ABA, ILAB and PBFA. Sprawling early Victorian house now crammed with 40,000 books on every conceivable subject. Located in historic North Shields, close to the mouth of the River Tyne. A couple of minutes drive from the attractions of the coast.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsI 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.
Like other big book shops in area (Alnwick & Carlisle) prices are generally too high, this one is not easy to get to or park by, there are some quality books here but if only there were the odd bargain it would be worth a visit. - PaulP 02.08.11.
The owner is very unpleasant indeed and I will not be recommending him to anyone and shall tell people of his impoliteness. - E 19.04.12.
The owner is very pleasant indeed and I will be recommending him to anyone and will always tell people of his politeness. He does have a low tolerance for pillocks, mind. - Steve Liddle 23.04.13.
Still the best s/h bookshop between Alnwick and York, I think. Went there on a fairly sunny PM. Plenty of stock to browse but some areas are too dark. Needs better lighting installed in the rooms with no windows. Bought 3 good books though. - Chris K 16.10.13.
Excellemt bookshop well worth a visit. Fair/reasonable prices. - Dickl 05.11.15.
Enjoyed a recent impromptu visit here with friends. Proprietor seemed pleasant & we were all pleased to find a decent selection of cheap but quality used stock & in my preferred area of science fiction. Made several purchases & would gladly visit to browse again. - Darania45 24.09.16.
What a great shop. Broad range of stock, most subjects covered. The place has real character with helpful staff. The general readers stock is fairly priced and the collectible books don't seem unreasonable. - Andy 20.11.17.
Completely transformed from the 1990s era shop that I still fondly remember. No tottering piles of paperbacks threatening to engulf you last you foolishly try to extract one to look at. Keel Row is a clean, tidy and welcoming establishment with room after room of neatly stacked, well organised titles, most if not all in very good condition. Prices are very reasonable and there are even bargains to be had if one looks hard enough. Parking is a problem, however, there is a free car park about five minutes walk away towards the town centre. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. - Graeme Rendall 11.11.18.
Labyrinth Books
Vestry Hall
High Street
GLASTONBURY Somerset BA6 9DU map
tel: 01458 830831 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 10.00 - 6.00.
Secondhand and rare books. Avalonians, sacred landscape, witchcraft and occult. Earth mysteries. Tarot.astrology and Numerology. Celts and Druids. Templars, Magdalene and the Lost Gospels. Proprietor Susan Render is widely acknowledged as the most knowledgable bookseller in her field in the West.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsA very good shop within it's stated specialities. Some other books such as music, cult fiction etc. Well worth a detour. Just up the road from Courtyard Books. Parking nearby. - The Drifter 14.02.15.
Pleasant shop and proprietor. Was totally thrown by a complete shelf of books about Angels. You don't find that too often. - Chris Harte 12.09.15.
Leominster Books
Book Room
The Secondhand Warehouse and Antiques Centre New Street
LEOMINSTER Herefordshire HR6 8DR map
tel: 01568 614114 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.30.
On the first floor of this large Antiques Centre. A good selection of secondhand and antiquarian books on all subjects. New stock added regularly.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsQuite a good selection on the first floor. All in category order with a number of shelves of old children's books. - Chris Harte 29.10.12.
Well organised, well lit and stocked with an interesting mix of old and modern books at reasonable prices, even some sheet music. Handy for the car park and free coffee too. One not to miss. - Laura 29.10.12.
Very small stock. About half a dozen bookcases. - Mark 10.11.12.
The customer above must have missed the book room and only visited one of the antique dealers on the ground floor of the Centre who carries a small stock of books. Leominster Books is on the first floor (up the main staircase by the cash desk) and has a substantial stock of several thousand books in considerably more than half a dozen bookcases! - Simon, Leominster Books 14.11.12.
Yes, if you go straight upstairs you will find the real books - excellent selection, decent prices. WWAD. - Norman Davies 24.08.13.
A fairly large unit in a bright and interesting antiques centre. The stock is well presented and in good condition, and there is a comparatively wide selection of well-chosen books at quite reasonable prices. However, there is no facility for those who like to rummage in interesting and dusty corners. - Nicholas Pendower 12.04.14.
Asked for Leominster Books at the main desk, only to be met with puzzlement. There is a unit of books upstairs, but it is fairly small in size and general in character. - TravellingLibrary 18.05.18.
Monkton Nature Reserve Bookshop
The Field Study Centre
Canterbury Road Monkton
RAMSGATE Kent CT12 4LH map
tel: 01843 822666 e-mail web
Open: 7 days, April - October 10.00 - 5.00, November - March 10.00 - 3.00.
Based in the reserve Field Centre, several rooms containing 1000's of categorised books, old and new, plus a large selection of children's books. Also offer a well-stocked Nature Reference Library - loans available to members. All proceeds go toward maintaining the reserve and the work of the Thanet Countryside Trust.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsStandard donated charity stock but very cheap. - Richard 30.04.09.
This charity bookshop set in a beautiful nature reserve expands by the week. Deliveries of books arrive and are on the shelves and priced by the knowledgable staff while you are still browsing the thousands of books. Reasonably priced and for a worthwhile charity. Additional extras is the free parking and if you are lucky a cup of coffee. - F Love. 07.09.09.
Well worth a visit. Very large wide ranging stock of very reasonably priced books. The free parking and fascinating museum, including local fossils, are an excellent bonus and amply repay a detour. - William 14.02.15.
Pendleburys Bookshop
Garreg Fawr
Porthyrhyd
LLANWRDA SA19 8NY map
tel: 01558 650 840 e-mail web
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00 .
Booksellers for many decades with a large general stock & specialisms of 20,000 theology, 3,500 botanical & gardening books. Outside advertised hours please telephone before visiting. A remote hillside bookshop housed in converted barns in the foothills of the Cambrians within a three acre garden project.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsA journey into the middle of nowhere was rewarded by a friendly greeting, hot coffee and lots of chatter. This really is an oasis in the wilderness and the tens of thousands of titles on offer took some hours to browse. The theological stock took the whole of one massive converted barn. Other subjects, with a large gardening section, were a joy to behold. Only a fraction of the books are on the internet at the moment. There are many scarce titles on offer, particularly on field sports and rural pursuits. WWAD. - Chris Harte 05.03.13.
Picaresque Books & Galerie Fantoosh
55 High Street
DINGWALL Ross-shire IV15 9HL map
tel: 01349 863140 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
We have now moved to much larger premises allowing us to stock a range of older and rarer books as well as some locally published New books.
These are then complimented by a range of maps as well as local crafts etc.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsA bright,spacious shop,with a range of stock to suit all pockets.Friendly owner. - Allan Campbell 26.01.15.
The owner was very pleasant and knew his stuff - which was good, as we were from Australia. A very pleasant browse amongst old books. We even bought a few. - Exnavybloke 20.02.15.
River Thoughtful Fishing Books
Old Barn
Bridge of Cally
BLAIRGOWRIE Perthshire PH10 7JJ map
tel: 01250 886327 e-mail web
Open: Most days except Monday 10.00 - 6.00.
A wide selection of second-hand, antiquarian and collectable fishing books,maps and prints. We also keep a small amount of general field sports titles. The shop is right opposite the Bridge of Cally Hotel. We are open most days but please ring ahead if making a special trip. Please ring the bell if the door is shut.
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Stella Books
Monmouth Road
TINTERN Monmouthshire NP16 6SE map
tel: 01291 689755 fax: 01291 689998 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 10.00 - 5.00.
A large stock of 30,000 books on all subjects, specialising in children's and illustrated, UK topography, railways and natural history. Stock available on web site.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsA lovely bookshop in a superb setting. Quality titles all over the place and a visit is highly recommended. There is nothing to criticise regarding the shop itself although I do have considerable reservations about their on-line selling and the carelessness in book descriptions. Attention to detail is paramount and needs consideration. - Chris Harte 19.04.11.
Lovely location with distracting view of Tintern Abbey. Interesting stock sorted by budget. Books may all be on-line but browsing adds new interests. - Simon Procter 14.05.11.
If you are daft enough to pay these sort of prices then this is the place for you. The shop appears to act as a storage facility for their internet book selling business, which means that prices are well in excess of those you would expect to pay in any provincial bookshop (even the most expensive ones). This is not a place for the passing trade, and if you are thinking of making a special trip make sure that you've organised a bank loan before you go. After seeing their advertising I arrived in optimistic mood but left feeling annoyed that I had been hoodwinked into such a costly and time consuming drive. - Nicholas Pendower 05.04.14.
Stothert Old Books
Rock House Farm
Rock Lane Burwardsley
CHESTER Cheshire CH3 9 PL map
tel: 01829 772505 e-mail web
Open: Saturday & Sunday 11.00 - 4.00, other times by appointment.
A wide selection of antiquarian and collectable books on most subjects. A long-established book dealer in the Chester area.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsHighly recommended, well-selected general stock in a sort of barn. My own interest, natural history, is well catered for. - acanthophyllum 09.01.15.
The old shop in Chester had some superb holdings and the good thing is that standards have not dropped. Alan now has a converted barn full of high quality material and it was a pleasure to relax while checking for my subjects. A visit is recommended. - Chris Harte 23.03.15.
The Gently Mad
2 Summer Place
EDINBURGH Midlothian EH3 5NR map
tel: 0131 261 6028 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 11.00 - 6.00.
In the shop above our bindery we hold an interesting selection of antiquarian and collectable books that cover a wide range of subjects. We always have a good selection of military, natural history, children's illustrated, transport, sports, folklore and legends, art, history and classic literature.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsWas T & B Bookcrafts, changed ownership and name in January 2013. TBG 06.03.13.
Times of change at The Gently Mad, with stock en route from the first floor to the basement. This move should be completed shortly. In the meantime, a concentrated essence is on display, illustrated books and decorative bindings of great beauty, in that small part of the shop that is not occupied by the bindery. I was in heaven! Staff were friendly and the emporium felt very accessible. Prices are high, sadly, but a visit is sheer visual joy. - TravellingLibrary 01.08.15.
Expanding - the owners are in the process of opening the basement, in order to relieve the rather cramped area upstairs. - Richard Beaton 05.10.15.
Shop has now expanded - you can go down to the basement, where I did find one Edinburgh book to add to my collection. Better condition titles are in the window but too many others not in great nick. - Chris K 23.02.16.
I loved this shop - chaotic with variable condition items but an excellent place to spend browsing time. Fascinating and less stuffy than many others in Edinburgh. - Norman D 30.10.16.
Uppingham Antiques Centre
17 High Street East
UPPINGHAM Rutland LE15 9PY
tel: 01572 822155 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.30, Sundays 11.00 - 5.00
A book area displaying the stock of several dealers, particularly country pursuits and field sports.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsOnly found out about the books at the Centre by meeting the dealer at a book fair and purchasing a boxload from him. Visited the premises and was most impressed. Plenty of Juvenile fiction and quality field sports material. Worth a visit. - Chris Harte 25.07.15.
Surprising range of subject areas after distinctly unpromising first impressions. Reasonable prices but I suspect that there are no hidden treasures lying in wait. - Loyola 05.11.16.
Several bookcases of books upstairs on a variety of topics. Railways and local books it seemed strongest on. Pricing reasonable for the area. There was also a small antiques shop in an alleyway behind this centre which sold militaria and the odd book. - Laurence Batchelor 23.10.18.
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