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
Alexandria Library
247 Wilmslow Road
MANCHESTER Gt. Manchester M14 5LW map
tel: 077614 98606 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 12.00 - 8.00.
We have new and used books covering a range of genres (both fiction and non-fiction). We have a focus on foreign language books and cultural books (especially Asian and African), and Christian books. We are an independent charity bookshop celebrating the cultural richness of the famous Curry Mile.
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Didsbury Village Bookshop
(Adjoining Art of Tea Cafe)
47 Barlow Moor Road Didsbury
MANCHESTER Gt. Manchester M20 6TW map
tel: 0845 521 3879 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 10.00. - 10.00.
Best, quality used-bookshop in Manchester. Surprisingly large, adjoining relaxed cafe. Best in history, fiction, philosophy, art, children's, poetry, languages, music, mysteries. Run by retired poly sci lecturer who loves good talk. Fair prices, few rare books, no junk.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsVeni, vidi, nil vendi. I came, I saw, no sale. Sorry but while I liked the shop and the chaos, I was not impressed with the prices. £3.00 for an average paperback is excessive, when most other secondhand bookshops and almost all charity shops sell them for around half that or less. I hope they can survive with the present pricing but sadly I doubt it. - The Wanderer 26.07.13.
I disagree with the last comment, I found the prices to be fair and bought 3 books at what was a good price, the owner is very helpful and the carrot cake is super! - Geoff Martin 14.06.14.
I agree with the first comment re pricing but must point out this is well worth a visit for the superb cafe and the range and number of books even if you don't come away with a boxfull. - Norman Davies 05.02.15.
On the one hand, lots here, from pulp sci-fi to Folios and First Editions. On the other, cluttered and messy, with books strewn on the floor, paperbacks often grubby and over-priced, sometimes twice the price in an average charity shop. Worth a visit, definitely, but those prices may put you off. - Archy 14.07.16.
Friendly owner, relaxed atmosphere but I agree that books prices are steep: eg, books worth £8 are £10-12. Came away with one book. - Johanken 26.04.18.
E J Morton
6 Warburton Street
MANCHESTER Gt. Manchester M20 6WA map
tel: 0161 445 7629 fax: 0161 448 1323
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsThis isn't really a second-hand bookshop, there is a table of second-hand books outside and some more on a table in the back room but in the main the books are new. Having said that it is worth a visit there is a good range of new fiction & non-fiction plus a children's book room, Many of the new books were signed by the author and there were some limited editions, the staff could have been more helpful however. Recommended but not for second hand books. - Geoff Martin 14.06.14.
Have visited this book shop on numerous occasions. While it sells lots of new books they have an excellent selection of rare and unusual 2nd hand books hidden away upstairs (if you ask nicely they are available to view). Definitely worth a visit. - Yogibookbear 17.04.15.
A very helpful assistant is on hand. Mainly new books with a few popular bargains downstairs and an uptairs room full of older books - lots of travel; ferocious prices. Bought nothing. - Johanken 26.04.18.
Empire Exchange
1 Newton Street
MANCHESTER Gt. Manchester M1 1HW map
tel: 0161 236 4445
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.30, Sunday 1.00 - 4.30.
Secondhand vinyl and CDs plus books, magazines and memorabilia.
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Manchester Bookbuyers (was 2nd Hand & Rare Books)
Church Street Market
MANCHESTER Gt. Manchester M4 1PN map
tel: 0161 834 5964
Open: Monday - Saturday 12.00 - 4.00.
General secondhand stock but particularly topography and natural history.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsEssentially a market stall. - Gerald Baker.
This is a market stall, but when I went there I went there on a Wednesday afternoon (7 Oct) the shutters were down and it looked as if it were closed. - jduster 15.10.09.
Fun to rummage and spotted some good review copies. Books have no prices so you have to ask. When I offered a fiver, the ownwer said he would give me five! Enough said. - Ken Bogle 30.09.10.
Seems to be more often closed than open, but I managed to find it open on Wednesday afternoon (was closed on 28.9. but open 29.9. around the same time). Not well sorted, but good bargains - mainly a one pound per book shop. - Joachim Duester 05.10.10.
Open - and busy - at lunchtime on Friday 19th January 2018. Bit of a Driff Special but the owner knew what he had and where to find it. Condition variable but prices are fair with bargains to be found. - Steven 01.02.18.
His business hours seem to be 12-4 so ring ahead first. His better stock is shelved (unmarked - you have to ask the price). On the tables books all mixed, higgledy-piggledy and all cheap. Through being constantly handled they get a bit beat up. Worth a call. - Johanken 26.04.18.
Owner was quite rude, implied I could not afford the book I was looking at and I would have to pay for it if I dropped it! As I have never managed to drop any of the first editions that I have I wasn't overly worried. Having said that I won't be going back. - Tracey Gilbertson 03.08.18.
Oxfam Bookshop
605 Wilbraham Road
Chorlton Cum Hardy
MANCHESTER Gt. Manchester M21 9AN map
tel: 0161 8817808 web
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsVery good example of its type - for once a good varied selection well worth a look. Avoid the "special collectors items" which are as usual overpriced. - Norman Davies 01.10.10.
I do not visit this shop often, I'm from out of town. Well kept, interesting stock; ordinary non-fic History and biogs reasonable at 3.99. But anything a bit special - watch out:an Oxford Historical monograph I wanted (ex library, stamped and stickered) was £25! - Johanken 26.04.18.
Paramount Books
25-27 Shudehill
MANCHESTER Gt. Manchester M4 2AF map
tel: 0161 834 9509
Open: FRiday - Sunday
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsShutters down and 'Open Thursday Friday Saturday' painted on the wall (I went on a Wednesday). - Gerald Baker.
A fun and quirky little shop with potted plants and a big sofa. Strong on sci-fi, comics, and ephemera, with a more limited stock covering most topics including history and novels. A bit pricey, but there really is nothing else in central Manchester. - George Marshall 26.10.09.
Only saw it from the outside on Wednesday - what I read said "open Friday and Saturday" - Joachim Duester 05.10.10.
Closed when I passed on a Tuesday. Sign outside saying Open Fri-Sat-Sun. - Johanken 26.04.18.
Sharston Books
Unit 15 Wearlee Works
Longley Lane Sharston
MANCHESTER Gt. Manchester M22 4WT map
tel: 0161 945 8604 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 10.00 - 5.00.
Extremely comprehensive stock, with a book on almost every subject.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsThis is a very large warehouse on two floors just off the main road. I spent just over two hours there and only managed to look through British topography and architecture. Prices are also very reasonable. - Graham Eastwood
Situated on an industrial estate just off the M56, most books are mainly to be found in the large building although others are in portakabins sited outside. There can be either hours of searching the thousands of titles or a brisk walk around observing little for the collector. Either way, it's worth a visit. - Chris Harte 15.02.10.
This is the best used bookshop in Greater Manchester, but the serious bibliophile or collector should ask to see the `internet section' upstairs. They have there sequestered thousands of quality books (at somewhat higher prices). - Jay Kennedy 11.05.10.
Certainly packed with huge numbers of books and agree WAD. There are however problems with book storage and condition, particularly in the walk in shipping containers. Best selection definitely upstairs which can be seen on request. - Norman Davies 01.10.10.
Well worth a visit. Massive selection on all subjects (not exactly my thing, but if a shop has a space for a whole shelf labelled "Marilyn Monroe biographies" then you know they have a lot of books). Came away with a £60 stash of books, which would have probably cost us double if bought in most secondhand shops - some real bargains. - M&O 17.08.12.
Dusty, cluttered gem of a place. All topics catered for and reasonably priced. Ivy growing through the roof, tight squeeze into SF section but I always find buried treasure here. - Rosie Gamgee 10.11.12.
A bizarre piece of Mancunian eccentricity, the likes of which I had thought had long gone (I must make a return trip just to check out that it is real, and that I wasn't dreaming). Yes, its stuffed full of books, but the Internet Section appears to have creamed off anything that is interesting or of value to the real collector, leaving the main shop with a stock that the devil himself would have trouble shifting. The very helpful and quaint staff wouldn't be out of place in an Alan Bennett play (apart from the fact they're on the wrong side of the Pennines) and the shop itself might be described as an overgrown Hobbit hole (I would suggest that overweight customers would do well to go on a diet for a few days before visiting). Im sure, if you're looking for reasonably priced, bog-standard books you'll be in heaven here, but Im afraid I really didn't find anything, apart from its entertainment value, that would make me want to go back. - Nicholas Pendower 12.02.14.
Don't make my mistake, their loo is staff only, not for customers. I got an embarrassing telling off for using it. - Rosie Gamgee 12.08.14.
It was five years since my last trip. Stock improved a good deal since then. Allow two hours to do a thorough reccy. 5-6,000 on line books which I was able to look through. Good bargains to be had on the ordinary shelves but lots of poor stock as well. Assistant very helpful. Converted warehouse about 6 miles S of Mcr city centre in a light industrial area. - Johanken 26.04.18.
The Shudehill Book Centre
34 Shudehill
MANCHESTER Gt. Manchester M4 1EZ map
tel: 0161 839 0376
General stock of secondhand hardback and paperback books as well as magazines.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsIt's like a disappointing fair ground ride: huge signs all the way up the front of the building promising 'Manchester's Number One Book Shop' quicken the pulse but inside its just a dark dank ground floor of well thumbed porn mags and a few sad remainders. - George Marshall 26.10.09.
As George Marshall wrote a year ago: mostly porn magazines, porn videos and a few paperbacks. - Joachim Duester 05.10.10.
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