Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK 2020
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
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.
Certainly wouldn't recommend this shop. Female till operator not very welcoming and in my opinion had a poor attitude and lacked customer care skills. Shall definitely NOT be going back!!!! - J H 18.01.20.
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.
If you like books on Albanian Communism then this is your mecca. About 1,500 of them to be precise. Shelf upon shelf; row upon row of Marxist literature. The owner used to have a bookshop in Birmingham. Other than the multi-published works of Enver Hoxha the shelves groaned with books from the 1950s to 1970s; nothing modern whatsoever. - Chris Harte 22.09,19.
Bransdown Books
Tynemouth Market
Platform 2
TYNEMOUTH Tyne and Wear NE30 4RE map
tel: 07956 608599 e-mail web
Open: Saturday & Sunday 9.30 - 3.30.
Specialists in collectable 20th century children's books, but with a reasonable general stock alongside, both fiction and non-fiction. Also have private premises open by appointment only.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsBetter general stock though and the owner Jennifer Copping's father was in charge on Saturday 12 July. Managed to find a good value book about the architecture of London's railway stations. I'll certainly try and visit there more often. One of the wall's now has a large attractive Penguin painting - Chris K 18.07.14. Moved from Green Ginger Shopping Arcade to Tynemouth Market. TGB 18.12.14.
Brenda Books
Stall 37
The Malthouse Malthouse HIll
HYTHE Kent CT21 5BW map
tel: 07989 145190 e-mail web
Open: Friday & Saturday 9.30 -5.00.
Brenda Books, one of the largest stalls at the Malthouse, can be found on the top floor in the corner next to the cafe. This bookshop offers a range of interesting books with many of them now out of print publications. Local history is a speciality, with many new, secondhand and out of print books on Kent and East Sussex for sale.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsReasonably priced and very helpful staff, the other units of 'collectables' in the mall offer a fascinating range of items for sale too. - Steve Newman 15.09.15.
Broad Street Book Centre
6 Broad Street
HAY-ON-WYE Powys HR3 5DB map
tel: 01497 821919 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.30.
Sixteen book sellers under one roof. Specialities include music, military, maritime, sport, antiquarian, geology, Observer, Ladybird and Shire books, history, children's, railways, cookery, modern firsts, Churchill, and women writers. Be part of the "Town of Books". Fully serviced units available to specialist book dealers, including internet listing of your stock.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsContains several sellers including in my view one of the best railway book shops in England/Wales: Superb selection at reasonable prices. Sadly missed by many as at north end of Hay. WAD. - Norman Davies 16.03.11.
Wide ranging multi-dealer emporium on one floor.. Some prices rather ambitious but bargains to be had. Parking nearby. - The Drifter 22.08.13.
As it says in the blurb, sixteen different dealers. However, that did not deter from a good range of stock covering a number of specific classifications. Easy to search and, in addition, racks of very amusing cards. - Chris Harte 01.03.14.
It very much depends on what you're looking for, but I found this rather disappointing. Many of the books appeared to be priced up for book fairs and would seem to be slightly on the optimistic side. While I found a few interesting titles, they weren't tempting enough to make me get my wallet out. - Nicholas Pendower 12.04.14.
Several small dealers in neat and tidy cubicles, too neat and tidy to be interesting. - James Mackay 14.06.14.
For me this is in the top 3 of book shops in Hay on Wye. So many dealers rent space within which means there is varied and specialized holdings. I spent around an hour in here and came away with 8 military books and was offered a discount. - Laurence Batchelor 19.07.14.
Always worth a visit, although space can be limited when trying to browse and competing with another bookworm for space. Some of the prices of the railway books were a bit on the high side. - SteveBrissle 04.08.14.
Visited for the first time in 18 months, it appears a number of dealers have left, no Military and very poor selection of History. Now closed on Sundays. - Peter Williams 07.03.15.
Return visit and there are now two sections of railway books. The one nearer the front of the shop is well organised and the books are reasonably priced. The other at the rear of the shop was less interesting. Various other subjects were reasonably well represented. - SteveBrissle 28.11.17.
Clevedon Community Bookshop
27-29 Copse Road
CLEVEDON Somerset BS21 7QN map
tel: 01275 218318 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 10.00 - 5.00 Summer, 10.00 - 4.00 Winter.
Secondhand books, a general stock of 8,000 books in the shop plus another 10,000 in our book store. We also sell online through AbeBooks, Amazon and Biblio.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsWhat a joy to deal with the lovely volunteers who run this shop. All pre-visit queries were answered by phone and email which meant the titles I was wanting were ready for inspection (and purchase) on arrival. Four ground floor rooms over two shops, beautifully kept; properly categorised and the taunting news that another 10,000 titles were in store waiting to fill holes in the shelves. Hot drinks supplied gratis and conversation of the highest order. Do please put this shop on your visiting list. - Chris Harte 19.01.13.
Good stock, helpful staff and reasonable prices. Worth a visit. - Steve Brissle 01.05.13.
Agree well organised good selection. Worth a look, just a little ABE-ish prices on older books. Note: park by pier and walk up signposted footpath. - Norman Davies 28.02.15.
Excellent little shop. Came away with a bagful one of which was reduced by the staff when we expressed interest in it but thought it too expensive. Will definitely visit again. - David 29.09.17.
I made the financial mistake of introducing my wife to this excellent shop. She was thrilled with what she found and obtained nearly two dozen titles. My purchases only just reached double figures. However, a revisit here is scheduled for six weeks time. WWAD. - Chris 23.10.17.
I'm more than happy to second the praise of other customers of this shop after visiting it recently. The range of books for sale is considerable: everything from academic texts to children's books, via poetry, biographies, novels (classical and modern) - all clearly displayed and reasonably priced. I even noticed a shelf full of Pelican books, many of which are out of print. - Geoffrey Warner 13.11.17.
Forced to return by my wife who came away with two boxes of kiddies books for the grandchildren. I only managed seven titles but didn't complain as I got change from a £20 note. - Chris Harte 09.04.19.
Excellent: well-organised, well-stocked, reasonably-priced, in a pleasant and charming seaside town. - Mark V 21.08.19.
Daisyroots Books Ltd
Main Street
GRANGE-OVER-SANDS Cumbria LA11 6DP map
tel: 015395 38817 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00.
Extensive stock of collectable and contemporary titles in sought-after subjects. Over 20,000 books on two floors. Famous for fiction. Friendly, independent family business established in 1994. Book searches undertaken. Free roadside parking opposite. Town centre car park within 5 minutes walk. All major credit/debit cards accepted.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsPrices to make the eyes water. - Gareth James 03.07.13.
I have to agree with the previous reviewer, within a couple of minutes it was obvious that the " good" stuff was way pricey. A brief look at the modern firsts clarified this and common titles in questionable condition were top-end fine/fine internet prices. - The Travelling Bookdealer 24.08.13.
Focus on the Past Antique Centre
25 Waterloo Street
Clifton
BRISTOL BS8 4BT map
tel: 0117 973 8080
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30, Sunday 11.00 - 5.00.
From 30th September 2016 I will be moving out of Focus on the Past as I am moving to Cornwall. Another dealer will carry on with the selection of Bristol books. I would like to say thank you to all my lovely regular customers. I have enjoyed meeting you and will be sad to leave. I am now looking for outlets in the Penzance/St Ives area. Best wishes from Margaret Anglim.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsAlways worth a good rummage. Some good books can be found and approachable owner. - SteveBrissle 03.03.14.
A good number of reasonably priced books both on the ground floor and down the stairs. Particularly strong on local history. Aisle's quite tight which makes browsing difficult when busy. Recommended- well worth a detour. Just across the road from the books at Rainbow Cafe. Free parking nearby. - The Drifter 19.04.14.
There is a fairly good selection of books in the basement of this antiques centre. However, if they were stacked properly and the view of the shelves not obstructed by clutter then some decent titles can be found. Recommend taking a torch as lighting is poor. - Chris Harte 15.11.14.
buy books here on a regular basis and the main stock is in a section on the ground floor not the basement! Great for local history and 1930s to 50s illustrated if you are into vintage. Rarer books in a cabinet. This is an antique centre not a general book store but books in good condition and not over-priced. Well worth a visit. - Mo H 19.11.14.
Always worth a visit. Small quantity but some good quality books at very reasonable prices. Recommended. - SteveBrissle 22.12.14.
This is an odd one, a crammed antique centre. Upstairs a small selection but I always seem to buy something so worth a look if in Bristol. Downstairs I have twice given up trying to shift boxes, prints and piles of books to get at what may be some decent stuff on the shelves. As the Boxer would say, I need to be fitter to do book removals! - Norman Davies 09.01.15.
Highly recommended selection of collectable and realistically priced books on the ground floor of the Antiques Centre. I visit regularly and have picked up some real bargains over the years. There are further books in the basement. Just across the road are books at the Rainbow Cafe. Well worth a detour. Parking nearby. - The Drifter 14.02.15.
My last two visits have resulted in some good purchases being made at reasonable prices. Lots of local books, mostly in good condition. One of the more interesting established shops in Clifton Village. - SteveBrissle 07.04.16.Very cramped and not much stock re books. Plenty of rugs though. - David 29.09.17.
Sadly now no books upstairs except a few antique centre type ones. Downstairs can now get at the books but they appear the same as were there on the last visit some time ago. No longer worth it for a book buyer or lover. - Norman Davies 31.05.18.
Island Books
White House
Storrington Road
THAKEHAM West Sussex RH20 3EQ map
tel: 01798 812 223 e-mail web
Open: By Appointment.
Large stock of fine, rare and academic titles. Binding and restoration. Showroom open by appointment.
Add a comment
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.
Probably one of the best bookshops I have ever been in. Better than any in London or Hay or Cambridge with a welcoming genre of staff who was most helpful. I fell instantly in love with this shop and want to have its babies. light. bright, clean and organised in a characterful end of terrace house. Room after room of books, the shelves are floor to ceiling and the ceilings are very high indeed. stop ladders are liberally scattered throughout I picked up two Terry Pratchett HB 1st Edns I have been seeking as well as other books. All at reasonable prices. There are controlled parking zones all around,. but there is parking available on the forecourt and outside the shop. It is such a pity this is so far from Cambridge but I will visit as often as I am able. A model for other bookshops to follow. - Jonathan Morgan 31.07.19.
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.
Next Chapter Books
7 Rustlings Road
SHEFFIELD South Yorkshire S11 7AA map
tel: 0114 3270341 e-mail
Open: Wednesday - Saturday 10.30 - 5.30.
A compact range of good-quality books with an emphasis on art, photography and design, philosophy, poetry, film, travel and topography, history and fiction, including Modern First Editions.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsSmall and a bit book fairy for my taste, more of interest to the collector than the reader. - Jake Kirkwood 22.03.13.Just across the Ecclesall Road from "Books On The Park" at the start of Rustlings Rd. A smaller shop which has very good stock. Bought 2 excellent books - you can haggle a bit with the owner. - Chris K 01.04.14.
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.
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.
Undercover Books
Loose's Fleamarket
23-25 Magdalen Street
NORWICH Norfolk NR3 1LP map
tel: 07745 924388 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday:- 10.00- - 5.30, Sunday 11.00 - 4 .00.
A large and ever-changing selection of modern period 'classic' fiction in hardback and paerback, crime, sci-fi, 'pulp', horror. A good children's selection including early Puffin and pictorial board books are always in stock. Art books and hard-to-find titles in various genres. A solid travel section and a number of antiquarian books. Local interest, of course, and academic books too.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsThe fleamarket is an Aladdin's Cave and that's what, I think, they call it anyway. Undercover Books is set up upstairs at the front of the building on the first floor and it's a real delight. I was able to pick up some long lost sci-fi at a very reasonable price and could have spent a whole lot more time here just browsing a great selection of really interesting stuff. It's really a little gem. Highly recommended. - singsong64 04.02.12.
Appearing but once a week with an ever changing array of genuinely difficult to find titles curated by a veritable pulp meister - Nigel! (for that is his name) Go undercover and discover a world you thought was only in books ... book farmer 20.02.12.
Went back to Undercover Books after over a year and it is clearly on the up. Increased stock of high quality. Impressed by the fiction, modernism, crime, SF, drama, theory; also posters, comics, pamphlets ... a good atmosphere and a strong sense that the bookseller knows his onions. Prices seemed very reasonable. One of the best second-hand outlets of its kind in Norwich at the moment? - pinefox 12.09.15.
My first visit was disappointing as I stayed on the ground floor an found a lacklustre selection of books on shelves at the back of this vast emporium. Then I read the reviews above and realised that I had actually missed the real Undercover Books on the first floor at the front. A good selection in almost every genre with a very knowledgeable and attentive owner. He obviously knows the trade and the stock. Other charity shops in a large Oxfam with a good stock of charity stock books almost opposite. - Jon Morgan 06.07.17.
Vanessa Parker Rare Books
Old Thatch
MULRANNY Co. Mayo
tel: 00353 (0)8723 39221 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 11.00 - 6.00 July to mid September, rest of the year pot luck or appointment.
We stock a wide range of books with an emphasis on early children`s, illustrated, fine bindings & sets, antiquarian, Irish, poetry literature, history,horses & dogs, country pursuits, fishing, plus much more. See our slowly growing website for books for sale. We also stock prints wrapped ready for sale and genuine Antiques. In a very picturesque location overlooking the mountains across clew bay.
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Vanessa Parker Rare Books
The Greenway Antiques and Book Store
Mulranny
WESTPORT Co. Mayo F28 R851 map
tel: +353872339221 e-mail web
Open: Most days July to October 2.30 - 5.30, rest of the year Sunday only but please phone ahead.
large stock of general out of print books along with fine antiquarian stock and fine bindings, large selection of old children`s and illustrated books, Irish, literature, poetry, general. We also have a large genuine antiques. Huge selection & old prints mounted and wrapped ready for framing. The most westerly books & antique shop in all of Europe!
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