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
At the Sign of the Dragon
St Ninians
New Road
WIGTOWN Dumfries and Galloway DG8 9JL map
tel: 01988 403446 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday by appointment.
We stock New and Secondhand books and magazines on SF, Fantasy, Horror, Crime Fiction, Children's Fiction especially Fantasy, Film and TV tie-ins, Naval and Military both Non-Fiction and Fiction. Transport especially Railways
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsSpecialist SF, Fantasy, Horror, Detection dealer. Outhouse with large stock in these genres, mostly paperback, plus garage of more general stock. - Mark V 08.08.15.
Beltie Books and Cafe
6 Bank Street
WIGTOWN Dumfries and Galloway DG8 9HP map
tel: 01988 402730 e-mail web
Open: Wednesday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00, Sunday & Holiday Mondays 12.00 - 4.00.
An eclectic selection of books with an increasing focus on local and Scottish interest and history rewards the careful browser.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsNamed after the distinctive local cattle, which sports a black coat with a white band in the middle, making it rather panda-ish. One room of interesting stock, with a Scottish emphasis, and a very nice cafe beyond.
Byre Books
24 South Main Street
WIGTOWN Dumfries and Galloway DG8 9EH map
tel: 0845 458 3813 e-mail web
Open: Mar - Oct 10.00 - 5.30, Nov - Feb - phone in advance.
Folklore, mythology, storytelling, stage and screen, Scottish and general.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsDon't be put off by their name, which means a cowbarn, as this is a small to medium sized, well laid out and friendly shop. Set a garden area behind flats, it has a fairly general selection of mainly reference books. - Jeremy Briggs.
A sterile shop which took a short time to browse. Heavy on theatre and film and a few Scottish titles. We got the impression from the man whacking his laptop that we were intruding into someone's front room so we crept out quietly. - Chris Harte 18.06.12.
This is a potentially delightful shop. The stock is very interesting and browsing unearthed many unusual items. Book Byre is quite unlike the concentration of shops on the two Main Streets, being set behind the street frontage, beyond a tiny but lush and shady garden, quite a romantic tangle. I normally appreciate silence in a shop, but in this single room the ambience would be enhanced with music of qualities to match the stock. - TravellingLibrary 27.06.15.
A nice selection of folklore,mythology, history etc approached through a mysterious shrubbery. One of only two shops open on Sunday (the Bank was the other). - Mark V 08.08.15.
Curley Tale Books
18 North Main Street
WIGTOWN Dumfries and Galloway DG8 9HL map
tel: 01988 402255 e-mail web
Two rooms of secondhand children's books.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsSecond hand and new children's books. Very friendly and understanding staff who made it a pleasure to visit with a lively 21 month old. - Laura.
It looks like an ordinary children's shop on entering and if it was busy I can see why people could be forgiven for assuming that it was not a second hand bookshop. The two rooms of children's books are hidden away at the back and could probably do with a notice for newcomers to realise that they are there. However they have an excellent medium sized selection of most types of children's books from annuals through paperbacks to collectable hardbacks. Box of Frogs probably has as many children's books as the rest of Wigtown put together. - Jeremy Briggs.
My wife commented that although there were old children's books on many of the shelves, the prices were through the roof. While she was looking at those I was enjoying glancing through substantial holdings of titles by Enid Blyton and W.E. Johns. - Chris Harte 18.06.12.
A lovely shop with a real warmth about it. The large front room has new books and games for children, while the two rear rooms have collectable children's titles at appropriate prices and secondhand books respectively. This last room is a bit of a cave for reading kiddies. - TravellingLibrary 27.06.15.
Changed ownership and name, autumn 2015. Still specialises in children's books, old and new. - Roger Scoppie 15.01.18.
Glaisnock Book Cafe
20 South Main Street
WIGTOWN Dumfries and Galloway DG8 9EH map
tel: 01988 402249 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 9.00 - 5.00.
Thousands of books displayed in our book cave room. Modern fiction and non-fiction at affordable prices. Our book cave is located at the rear of our book themed cafe
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsFairly humdrum selection of 'charity shop' type books - so not really on a par with the other Wigtown shops. However the prices are fine - if you are on the lookout for a coffee table book or an airport-type novel then it will probably be here. - Steven Kelly 16.10.13.
The beating heart of Wigtown. The books are a clean and bright selection of largely modern paperback fiction, 50p for a paperback, £1 for a hardback. You can get your holiday novels here, but you don't come to Glaisnock for the books, you come for a warm and friendly welcome, a chat over a superb 'Full Scottish' breakfast and excellent coffee - and to earwig on the community at its ease. My paperback novel came free, courtesy of Glaisnock's very own "Happy Cafe Day". I'm sure a stay in their B&B would be a pleasant one. - TravellingLibrary 27.06.15.Very nice, friendly cafe. The books, in one room at the back and a few other shelves, are pretty much charity shop fare. But you do get a free copy with your cafe order. - Mark V 08.08.15.
Reading Lasses Book Shop
17 South Main Street
WIGTOWN Dumfries and Galloway DG8 9EH map
tel: 01988 403266 fax: 01988 403266 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00 & Sunday: Easter to October: 12.00 - 4.00.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsAlso a cafe. The food may be good value, but the book stock is very highly priced. - Richard 29.07.09.
Located in Scotland's "National Booktown", this is the UK's only bookshop specialising in books about women by women. You want a Women's Press title? They've probably got it. The shop also carries a large range of secondhand academic and general titles in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere enhanced by the smell of freshly ground coffee and home-made brownies from the in-house cafe. Truly a mouthwatering bookshop. Accommodation is also available, which is useful as there are NINE other secondhand-book shops within a two-minute radius of Reading Lasses, and others in the surrounding area. - S+S 16.07.11.
This was the nicest, friendliest and socially warmest place in the whole of Wigtown. The ladies could not have been more helpful. Very strong on imported lesbian & gay studies as well as women's books in general. The cafe's home-made cakes were superb as was their coffee. No wonder the shop was bustling during our visit. - Chris Harte 18.06.12.
Interesting and varied stock, friendly service and good food ... well worth a visit. - Mike 17.08.12.
Supposedly a repository of specialist women's writing. The experience was a sad one. The business is in the process of changing hands and this is probably the cause of the shop's apparent confusion over its identity. - TravellingLibrary 27.06.15.
Very much more just a cafe now, with small amount of miscellaneous stock in no particular order, and empty shelves too. - Mark V 08.08.15.
The Bookend Studio
23 North Main Street
WIGTOWN Dumfries and Galloway DG8 9HL map
tel: 01988 402403 e-mail web
A relatively small selection of books on a wide variety of subjects, stocked at the rear of the property, allowing for uninterrupted browsing.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsSecond-hand stock kept at the rear of the shop. Generally books on crafts, gardening, cookery and the like. What the front part of the shop represents was beyond me. Maybe it was art of some kind. - Chris Harte 18.06.12.
I didn't manage to find this shop open on my two days in Wigtown. Opening hours are quite restricted. - TravellingLibrary 27.06.15.
One room of mixed stock at the less collectable end, and not open all that often. - Mark V 08.08.15.
The Bookshop
17 North Main Street
WIGTOWN Dumfries and Galloway DG8 9HL map
tel: 01988 402499 e-mail web
Scotland's largest second-hand book shop.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsVery large ,comprehensive ,quite good quality stock at reasonable prices. Also stocks new Scottish, mainly local, material. - Second Nature 01.04.09.
Good quality stock, prices higher than they should be. Nice to browse in. - PaulP 02.08.11.
I seriously doubt their claim to be "Scotland's largest second-hand bookshop." I can think of at least four larger and with far better and more interesting stock than the tired old offerings presented here. How many runs of 'The Waverley Novels' does it take to claim the record for the most boring titles? I agree that there are good books in this shop, some of which are very rare, but even the completely bored shop assistant admitted that sales this year "are slow." And the prices ... ! - Chris Harte 18.06.12.
The Bookshop (such modesty!) clearly models itself on Shakespeare & Co in Paris, with its sleeping loft, and written postcards bearing booky quotes and other eccentric features which I will leave you to discover for yourselves, so as not to spoil the fun. The stock is large, with all subjects well represented and a substantial Antiquarian section. Architecture and Art are housed on a splendid staircase to the (private) upper floor. Here I even found a book sold at my own shop well over ten years ago, complete with my pencilled price and code! There is much to browse here and the stock is of good quality, with mid-range prices. Customer service could be improved: the assistant carried on talking to her friend throughout my purchasing and charged me for my plastic carriers, which I thought was pretty stingy considering what I spent. This left a bad taste on an otherwise enjoyable visit. - TravellingLibrary 08.08.15.
Certainly extensive and with a large stock to look at in characterful premises. - Mark V 08.08.15.
Seemed quite popular when we visited in June, albeit Wigtown was pretty quiet (midweek). No doubt the owner having written a book about his time owning the shop helps. All that aside, stock was well arranged in an attractive shop with separate rooms heading into the back of the shop. A very old building and I enjoyed having a browse. Came away with a few books at decent prices - shop owner was pleasant and chatty. Didn't have time to browse the other shops in town but as we're moving to nearby Ayrshire shortly, no doubt I'll be back again and again to Wigtown. Very decent cafe just around the corner - Cafe Rendezvous in Agnew Crescent. - Flip M 30.08.18.
Popular when I went midweek recently. Stock turns over a fair bit - while I was there, the owner was on the phone negotiating to go and visit another collection to purchase. Quite different stock every time I go. Lighting could be better in some areas (really struggled to see the military titles). Owner friendly and happy to chat. If you've never been its definitely worth it - a quite labyrinthine old building (ground floor and 1 staircase only, is the actual shop) containing thousands of books on almost all subjects. - Flip M 21.08.19.
The Old Bank Book Shop
8 South Main Street
WIGTOWN Dumfries and Galloway DG8 9EH map
tel: 01988 402111 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.30, Sundays 12.00 - 5.00.
Now under new ownership our focus will include: fiction, biography, history, politics, international issues, art and design and foreign languages.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsMuch improved since our last visit.Large very good quality general stock,nicely displayed and at reasonable prices. - Second Nature 01.04.09.
Now probably the best shop in Wigtown. - Richard 29.07.09.
Agree with above, wide range of stock properly priced for Wigtown. - PaulP 02.08.11.
The second best of the bookshops. Quite a number of rooms stock from floor to ceiling with a large section on Scottish interest. A lot of sheet music and a comprehensive art collection. General stock but, in all honesty, mainly for the casual visitor. - Chris Harte 18.06.12.
On my first visit here I was nonplussed to find a seminar in progress in the Topography room, impeding access to the shelves and blocking the route to Art and Architecture in the next room. This was uncomfortable for all parties, and not a little irritating. However, the shop is a handsome one with a pleasant quirky layout and well presented stock. Some flexibility on the part of the visitor may be needed. I recommend retiring to the Glaisnock for a pot of tea until 'bookshop' reasserts itself over 'multifunctional space'. - TravellingLibrary 08.08.15.
Friendly and helpful, and with excellent, interesting stock at moderate prices. Definitely worth a visit. - Mark V 08.08.15.
On the other side of the Square from the more famous "The Bookshop" (and down the hill, a bit), this is a well laid out shop covering all the areas in their description pretty well - quite a large world and military history section in particular which is an interest of mine. Also lots of vintage sheet music if that's your interest. All in well-labeled sections and subsections (I much prefer this to rooting blindly through jumbled shelves and piles). Several rooms with high bookshelves all around so one can easily lose one's self (and one's wife, as I did today). Prices seemed fair, on the whole, although I did notice a couple of fairly recent HBs optimistically priced when PB versions are available in discount bookshops for a couple of quid.
That said, I picked up a few things for good prices and while paying and we had a very pleasant chat with 1 of the owners (which, to be fair is quite a regular occurrence in this part of Scotland).
Quite different The Bookshop over the road - not better, or worse, just different. Which makes taking some time to browse both a pleasure. - Flip M 21.01.19.
Well lit, thousands of books, well arranged around the ground floor of what I suppose was an old bank at one time! Tall shelves all over, stocking most subjects. Military is particularly well covered but they stock most things. Friendly owners too. Prices ok. There aren't too many bargains in Wigtown but it's not over priced like Hay on Wye tends to be. - Flip M 21.08.19.
The Open Book
2 High Street
WIGTOWN Dumfries and Galloway DG8 9HQ map
tel: 01988 402010 e-mail web
Open: Monday-Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Large general stock.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsChanged hands about two years ago! Still specialises in new and secondhand natural history and gardening, but no longer publishes books or has natural history art exhibitions. - Second Nature 01.04.09.
Stock was of a fairly general nature but with some good Southern Scotland titles. Strong on modern fiction and children's books. I was the only customer during my half-an-hour visit. Nothing antiquarian. - Chris Harte 18.06.12.
Now called The Open Book and run by the Wigtown Festival Company, the shop occupies just the ground floor. Attractive and presentable general stock. At the time of our visit the shop was being run by a rapid succession of "residents", individuals wanting to try their hands at bookselling "as part of the unique Wigtown community." - TravellingLibrary 27.06.15.
A small but well laid out selection, occupying the ground floor only nowadays (accommodation is now upstairs) run by paying guests who stay for a week or 2 at a time. Not quite sure how stock is brought in (guessing the show owners do that) but there's a reasonably priced general selection on offer - I picked up 2 PBs for just under a couple of quid each. Might not take too long to browse but as it's near the other larger bookshops, it's no hassle to visit, when in Wigtown. - Flip M 21.01.19.
Comments as per January really - not 2 floors as per the description - just the one, on the ground floor. Everything pretty well labeled and sorted; prices are to sell, I think. I picked up 2 well used but good paperbacks for less than some charity shops would charge. Fair general selection - well worth a browse when in Wigtown as it's not large but not far from other shops. Always worth chatting to the people running the shop for that week too. - Flip M 15.08.19.
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