Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK 2020
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
Any Amount of Books
56 Charing Cross Road
CHARING CROSS London WC2H 0QA map
tel: 020 7836 3697 web
Open: 7 days 10.30 - 9.30.
Rare books, first editions, modern literature, art, poetry, scholarly/academic books, antiquarian, leather bound sets, general stock. We buy large collections of books anywhere in the known world.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsExcellent shop, with very friendly staff, always worth a close look. Bargains possible. - James Salmon 21.08.09.
Always worth a visit and prices reasonable (for London). The really good stuff, however, is on the net and not held in the shop. - Loyola 24.04.10.
Two floors of varied topics. The locked up cases of antiquarian titles contained a few rarities and took a bit of time to check. Basement stock general but worth searching. - Chris Harte 28.06.10.
Nothing like as good as it was, most of the gems to be found downstairs seem a thing of the past, but one can still find the occasional bargain. - Mandalay Emporium 09.04.11.
Great to find a secondhand shop open late. Good stock and fair prices. WAD. - Steven Whitehead 13.09.11.
This place always seems to be our most successful book shopping on Charing Cross Road - we usually leave with around a dozen books on each visit and the variety and quantity are excellent. Prices mostly very good too and even some very interesting items to be found in their bargain shelves/boxes outside and downstairs - lots to rummage through, but we often find a few worth buying. - M&O 14.04.12.
Worth having a look. More for reader than collector. Very chaotic, but friendly. Large Antiquarian stock and some worthy firsts behind chatty till, but not proper dealers - more like an episode of Friends with books involved. - Sam Glen 28.05.13.
I love this place, chaotic and fascinating as well as crammed with review and proof copies, I have saved a fortune, even compared with Amazon prices over the years. I always manage to knock a few off the wish list on every visit. - Jon Morgan 31.05.14.
NB worth following this place on Twitter (Yes, even I have succumbed and now have an account) as they give notice of basement sales where all books are half marked price for a limited period. Once again I knocked a couple of the wish list. The stock is replenished daily during this period and it is fair to say the shelves get stripped. - Jon Morgan 07.10.14.
A swift volte face as I received a message by twitter that the sale continues (it does) and that the basement had been restocked. (it has not!). Rather disappointing as I had travelled into town to browse. - Jon Morgan 09.10.14.
Disappointment continues, Lured by tweets of a restocked basement I trolleyed into town and found it stocked with unsellable dross. large gaps on the shelves. The review copies, usually a good source of bargains had dwindled to nothing. - Jon Morgan 01.11.14.
Impressive service. Identified book in stock on Monday and following prompt replies by email I purchased the book on Thursday when I was in London. Have been looking for this book for some time and a reasonable price was paid. - SteveBrissle 07.03.15.
Again lured by a tweet on a basement sale. More choice in terms of the review copies and the reduced price recent hardbacks yielded some gems, saved me some dosh and crossed a few of the Amazon wish list. The majority in the basement though is still dross. - Jon Morgan 06.06.15.
Despite the disappointing basement noted above, the rather cramped ground floor has strong sections on art, architecture, travel and topography; check the window display for attractive oddities. Turnover is swift, the stock refreshed by recent review copies, and prices are pleasingly modest for the West End. I found a hefty monograph by the American photographer Todd Webb - rarely seen in the UK - for a knock-down price of £12. Cheerful staff, too. - Nicholas Sack 15.01.16.
Another year another basement sale. Except that the basement is half empty. Even the review / proof copies are poor. Lots of boxes of books which need putting out. Perhaps this could be done BEFORE they tweet that it has been done! - Jon Morgan 15.01.16.
Listed as one of the best used book shops in the country recently in some online article - bizarre choice by a lazy writer or friend of the owner, I guess. Poorly laid out - upstairs, it gets crowded easily. Downstairs ... well I've only once found anything worth buying and with 4 or 5 people down there (as today) its impossible to do anything other than queue behind people to wait and look at a shelf. Plenty of cheap "4 for 5 quid" stuff there and outside but nothing that looked worth buying. - Flip M 07.04.16.
Flip M's comments seem undeservedly harsh. This is an excellent, traditional bookshop. Sometimes it is crowded but this is a good thing. AAoB's outstanding features are its reasonable prices and the high turnover of stock. I have visited it weekly for many years and come away with scores of bargains in my time. - Laurence Purcell 18.04.16.
Now restocked with some good quality review copies of recent hb fiction and proof copies in the basement . My negative reviews of basement sales in terms of both quality and restocking as advertised have touched a nerve as they have blocked me on Twitter. Rather puerile really - if they can't take valid criticism ... - Jon Morgan 27.09.16.
Great shop, love the basement sales especially after the restock. Have also found some seriously reasonable rarities upstairs and round the back. Probably the best old books shop in town. - Benj B 02.03.17.
Luck of the draw here again. large gaps in shelves upstairs and in the basement, with the latter in need of a good clear out again. When your luck is in , this place is a treasure house of new review copies at low prices , proof copies and interesting basement stock. When it is not, it is frustrating... - Jon Morgan 20.11.17.
For such a high profile shop the stock rarely seems to change, or maybe they simply rotate books from downstairs to upstairs and vice versa. Certainly not the shop it once was. - Mandalay Bookshop 15.12.19.
Mandalay (above) is rather harsh. There is a case of new acquisitions near the counter, and the turnover in arts and topography on the ground floor is quite healthy. Recently I found a superb American photographer's monograph before the official UK publication date - possibly a review copy - at a generous discount. - Nicholas Sack 22.12.19.
Bryars and Bryars
7 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4EZ map
tel: 020 7836 1910 e-mail web
Open: Monday-Saturday 11.00 - 6.00.
Rare and antiquarian books, maps and prints. Specialising in early printing, classical texts and translations, atlases and books with maps, early maps of all regions, illustrated travels, and antique topographical and natural history prints.
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Goldsboro Books
23-27 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4EZ map
tel: 020 7497 9230 fax: 020 7497 9230 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 6.00.
Goldsboro Books are the UK's leading specialist in first edition, signed books in all areas of fiction.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsGreat window display but closed due to a "private engagement" on the Saturday I tried to visit. Yes, I know I should have phoned first but to close to the public on a Saturday seems strange to me. - Steven 16.04.13.
Henry Pordes Books Ltd
58-60 Charing Cross Road
CHARING CROSS London WC2H 0BB map
tel: 020 7836 9031 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 7.00.
The arts, cinema, music and theatre.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsNot the best prices - remaindered books can usually be found cheaper elsewhere. - George Marshall 06.02.09.
Wide selection but anything uncommon is priced accordingly. - Loyola 24.04.10.
General stock in the shop, but for the first time in forty years I was allowed into the back rooms. What treasures: any decent collector would want to see what was on those shelves. Also good to note was that the pricing was very fair on these special items. - Chris Harte 28.06.10.
Nicely laid out and ordered stock, impressive Cinema and Music collection. Pricing is London but overall worth a good browse. - Norman Davies 16.03.11.
The owners are always to be spotted at the Royal National monthly book fair purchasing stock and marking it up heavily. I can't recall the last time I discovered anything half decent here - or, at least, anything that couldn't be purchased much cheaper elsewhere. - Mandalay Emporium 09.04.11.
Handsome stock - solicitous and friendly and took an interest in discussing what I was after. Gave me a free bag as the recycled 99p shop bag containing £200 worth of books from another shop was about to split. - Sam Glen 28.05.13.
Particularly strong on secondhand and remaindered art and photography titles. Prices are fair, with the occasional bargain: photographer William Gedney's out-of-print monograph at £15 was a steal. The small transport section in the back room is worth a squint, especially since the closure of Motor Books. - Nicholas Sack 01.08.15.
Not a comment on the secondhand stock but rather on the remaindered items in the adjacent front section - good selection of quality titles (particularly transport). Many at half the price of the titles still adorning Foyles' shelves across the road. - 10.08.15.
Don't usually find much in here but there were some gems in the basement fiction area. Many remainders here and generally the modern fiction stock is not huge. It is however of good quality. - Jon Morgan 15.01.16.
Certainly not one of the capital's most competitive s/h bookshops. But the stock is uniformly good. Worth a look for those not constrained by budget. - The Bookman 16.07.16.
Remaindered and secondhand arts stock here always entices. A slightly bumped and heavily discounted large-format collection of photos by William Eggleston was an absolute steal at only a tenner. - Nicholas Sack 26.07.16.
After my visit to the good art exhibition nearby, did go up there. Bought a very nice item for £15.00. - Chris K 20.04.18.
No great reason to revise my view of 2016, except than one senses that the prices are rising somewhat, Maybe buy here with the credit card of an indulgent relative. - The Bookman 06.05.19.
Second visit after 5 or more years. The military selection in the back room pales into comparison to what it was back then. I recall coming out with several bag loads of recently published remaindered copies, now not a single purchase made as nothing but rubbish. I gave it a second chance by trying the rare and antiquarian sections by the till but drew my 2nd blank there. Definitely needs to up their stock quality. - Laurence Batchelor 27.06.19.
Marchpane
16 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4HE map
tel: 020 7836 8661 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 6.00.
Children's and illustrated books. ABA & PBFA member.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsGreat shop to visit with interesting and varied children's stock but prices are quite high for the average browser. - Sam 05.09.12.
We were in the shop today (26.10.13.) as customers when a lady came in asking if they wanted to buy an old Rupert annual. The man behind the counter was so dismissive and rude to her that I walked out. - C. Baxter 01.11.13.
Peter Ellis
18 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4HE map
tel: 020 7836 8880 web
Open: Monday - Friday 10.30 - 7.00, Saturday 10.30 - 5.30.
Modern firsts, literature, illustrated, history. ABA member.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsExcellent selection of modern firsts but prices over the top as seems common in Cecil Court. £75 for Smiley's People? - Loyola 24.04.10.
Loyola seems to be under a double misapprehension: books in London are in fact cheaper than elsewhere in the country (see his comments on Any Amount of Books); it is not possible to maintain an 'excellent selection' by underselling your stock. ellisbooks 17.03.11.
Visited today - excellent stock in fine condition with fair (and inviting) prices for the quality - this seller knows the true definition of "fine". - Sam Glen 15.05.13.
I bought an excellent book, at an excellent price, from a very pleasant and friendly lady. What more could you want? - Peter M 19.10.19.
Pleasures of Past Times
11 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4EZ map
tel: 020 7836 1142 e-mail web
Open: Thursday - Saturday 11.00 - 6.00. (Tuesday & Wednesday - ring the shop bell.)
Books, playbills and bygones of the performing arts, also illustrated and children's books pre 1940, Victoriana and postcards.
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Quinto and Francis Edwards
72 Charing Cross Road
CHARING CROSS London WC2H 0BL map
tel: 020 7379 7669 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 9.00, Sunday 12.00 - 8.00.
We stock a wide range of second-hand, antiquarian and rare books on all subjects. Our ground floor is home to Francis Edwards Antiquarian Booksellers, specialists in rare and antiquarian books since 1855.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsTotal stock change in past couple of months but, alas, what I collect is no longer part of their holdings. - Chris Harte 14.04.09.
Still wonderful, although the expansion of the Francis Edwards section means that it has gone up-market. Frequent stock changes, Reasonable prices given the quality of the stock. The staff are very helpful. - James Salmon 21.08.09.
Always enjoy browsing here but rarely find anything I want. Bargains in basement. One room of antiquarian books. - Loyola 24.04.10.
Nice new premises and so much brighter than the dull old shop. Stock seems to change all the time which is not a bad thing. The basement is lovely and fresh: remember the old one? - Chris Harte 28.06.10.
Nicely laid out decent stock. Upstairs more expensive collectibles good general selection. Basement excellent bargains as half price sale on day of my visit! - Norman Davies 16.03.11.
Nothing like as good as when in its previous location; only worth visiting when they have their 75% (or so) sale on. The stock upstairs is ludicrously expensive. - Mandalay Emporium 09.04.11.
Bit of a hotch-potch. I am sure there is good stuff to be found there but not by me in the time I had available. - Steven 16.04.13.
Has never been the same since moving locations a few years ago. Overpriced, tired stock and very rarely anything of interest these days. - Mandalay Bookshop 26.07.13.
The fiction section in the basement is sparse to the point of non-existence. Seems a fairly large stock of modern pulp sci-fi down there though. NWAD. - Jon Morgan 15.01.16.
Basement has not improved. One of those places where unwanted books go to die. Oh for the Charing Cross Road of my youth. - Jonathan Morgan 17.06.17.
2nd visit after 5 or more years and still strong on military due to a strong collection having been purchased. The basement stock was getting a bit thin but I still purchased a basket full of books. The bearded man behind the till informed they have just bought another large military collection and also the basement was to close for re-stocking at the end of June 2019. Pricing was good for a London tourist area. - Laurence Batchelor 27.06.19.
Stephen Poole Fine Books
10 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4EZ map
tel: 020 7836 0999
Open: Monday - Friday 10.00 - 6.00, Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Literary first editions of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsNice neat shop with good finds to be had! - John 06.10.11.
I always call in here when in the area. Perhaps the best 2nd hand bookshop in London for modern firsts. The stock is well organised and presented, and almost all books are in fine condition. - John Perry 17.08.12
Storeys Ltd
1 & 3 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4EZ map
tel: 020 7836 3777 fax: 020 7836 3788
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 6.00.
Antiquarian engravings, maps and prints.
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The Witch Ball
2 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4HE map
tel: 020 7836 2922 fax: 020 7836 2922 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 6.30.
Antiquarian print shop, specialists in the performing arts.
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Tindley and Everett
4 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4HE map
tel: 020 7240 2161 fax: 020 7379 1062
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 5.00.
Twentieth Century first editions and architecture. PBFA member.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsGood selection of modern firsts. Elastic pricing - no bargains but fair prices for good condition uncommon books. Owner is colourful character who will offer modest discount if issue is raised delicately. - Loyola 24.04.10.
Travis and Emery Books on Music
17 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4EZ map
tel: 020 7240 2129 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.15 - 6.45, Sunday 12.00 - 6.00.
New and old books on music, secondhand and antiquarian music, opera programmes, prints and photographs, prints, playbills, libretti. ABA & PBFA member.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsI remember one particularly useful service provided by the Drif guide was his exposé of the scandalously low offers members of the public seeking to sell their books could expect from many second hand booksellers. I recall Dillons in Gower Street (now Waterstones) was an exception. Some time last year I emailed Travis & Emery with a list of books I thought they might be interested in. After a long wait I got a reply saying they were interested in buying them, and quoting a figure of around £100 depending on condition. Thinking this was very low I sent the same list to Blackwells in Oxford who offered me £350, which I accepted. - Mark W 24.08.13.
Watkins Books Ltd
19 & 21 Cecil Court
CHARING CROSS London WC2N 4NH map
tel: 020 7836 2182
Specialists in Mysticism, Eastern Religions, Alternative Medicine, Astrology, Magick, Jungian Psychology, Wicca, Yoga & Contemporary Spirituality.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsNow refurbished and re-opened. The same wonderful range of books on the exotic. The secondhand stock is now incorporated with the new stock -look out for the red stickers. - Peter M 07.12.10.
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