Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK and Republic of Ireland
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Bookfinders has closed.
No Alibis sells only new books
New entry Linen Hall Charity Library
New listing An Ceathrú Póilí
Atomic Collectables closed in 2020
New listing Covenanter Bookshop
Open at advertised times
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An Ceathrú Póilí/BELFAST/216 Falls Road
An Ceathrú Póilí
216 Falls Road BELFAST BT12 6AH
map
tel:
028 9032 2811 e-mail web 
Open: Monday - Friday 9.30 - 5.30, Saturday 9.30 - 4.00
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Independent bookshop, established in 1983 and at these premises since 1991, specialising in Irish-language books but also selling English-language books about Ireland. Mainly new books, but a small and good-quality second-hand stock.
An Ceathrú Póilí, located in Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (an Irish-language cultural centre) in the city's Gaeltacht Quarter, is the place to go in Belfast for Irish-language books. As with the new books, the second-hand stock in the English language is highly specialised and consists only of books on the history, politics and culture of the island of Ireland. The second-hand selection is of good quality. It varies in quantity, according to what has recently been bought in, but is seldom more than a couple of hundred books (including the Irish-language ones). The staff are friendly and helpful, and are keen to emphasise that you will not be made to feel in any way unwelcome if you cannot speak Irish. Booker T 28.09.24
Belfast Books Limited/BELFAST/112 York Road
Belfast Books Limited
112 York Road BELFAST BT15 3HF
map
tel:
028 9075 1466 e-mail web
Open: Monday & Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
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Sci-Fi, Troubles books, politics, fiction,Doctor Who, horror. Opened November 2014. A work in progress as we expand to first floor.
Small but bursting at the seams with books the previously internet-only Belfast Books is relatively new as a shop and they were reorganising their shelves when I was there so their layout was still evolving. An impressive selection of children's novels and a lot of Doctor Who books were the most obvious sections at that time with the large crime section in the process of being reorganised. Near the Grove Wellbeing Centre there is plenty of free parking nearby either in York Road itself or in North Queen Street. One to keep an eye on. Jeremy Briggs 09.04.15
Not always open, even at the advertised times, but there's a QR code on the door that you can, apparently, zap to request that they open it.
(I was unable to do so, due to a broken phone, so had to go away empty-handed.) darkling 19.04.25
Covenanter Bookshop/BELFAST/37 Knockbracken Road, Carryduff
Covenanter Bookshop
37 Knockbracken Road, Carryduff BELFAST BT8 6SE
map
tel:
028 9081 4110 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Friday 10.00 - 5.00, Saturday 10.00 - 1.00
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Religious bookshop run by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. Substantial second-hand stock and new books.
Covenanter Bookshop, established more than 50 years ago, carries a large stock of Christian books of various denominations, with a small upstairs room filled with second-hand volumes. Prominent among these are titles relating to Reformed Christian theology, as well as the history of the Reformation, Bible notes and commentaries, Presbyterian testimonies and evangelical literature. On Saturdays, the shop sometimes stays open an extra hour, until 2pm. The shop is located in quite a rural area, next to Knockbracken Reformed Presbyterian Church, on the very fringe of Belfast, about six miles south of the city centre, and is best accessed by car as public transport options are very limited. Booker T 25.01.25
Keats _ Chapman (was The Bookstore)/BELFAST/21 Lower North Street
Keats & Chapman (was The Bookstore)
21 Lower North Street BELFAST BT1 1LA
map
tel:
07939 315434
Open: Monday to Saturday 11.00 - 5.00.
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The stock is well organised, with some unusual items and good on local subjects. The prices are very fair. William and Lisa say they will still keep their book stall at the St. Georges covered Market which opens on Fridays 8.00 am to 1.00 pm. Aidan O'loan
A long narrow, medium sized shop in a busy location in Belfast city centre. On entering the shop looks quite chaotic with bookshelves to the ceiling, in which books are often double shelved, in addition to several layers of books on the floor in places but, once you are used to the layout, The Bookstore can prove to be somewhat of a treasure trove at times with its wide selection of subjects. Jeremy Briggs. 15.01.08
Now renamed Keats & Chapman but still in the same place with the same insane quantities of book Tinman 10.10.19
Linen Hall Charity Bookshop/BELFAST/55-59 Royal Avenue
Linen Hall Charity Bookshop
55-59 Royal Avenue BELFAST BT1 1FX
map
tel:
028 9032 1707 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Thursday 9.00 - 5.00, Friday 10.00 - 4.00
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An eclectic range of good quality donated used books. Subjects range from popular romantic and crime fiction through local studies, Irish and world history, military history, classic literature, art, religion, philosophy and much more.
Currently also has a stall at St George's Market on Fridays Rnug 18.06.24
The bookshop has its own premises once again and is now at Royal Avenue (opposite the CastleCourt shopping centre), having moved out of the Linen Hall Library at nearby Donegall Square in July 2024. In most weeks, it also has a large bookstall at St George's Market (opposite the Waterfront Hall) on Fridays (9am to 2pm), Saturdays (9am to 3pm) and Sundays (10am to 3pm); the starting times are approximate. Booker T 28.01.25
Oxfam Bookshop/BELFAST/33 Botanic Avenue
Oxfam Bookshop
33 Botanic Avenue BELFAST BT7 1JG
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tel:
028 9033 3040 web
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Virtually opposite Botanic Railway station and just over the road from the War On Want bookshop, the books that used to share a shop with furniture on the Dublin Road have broken free and now have their own smart shop. Fitted out to the same high standard as the central Belfast Oxfam bookshop the shop, it has a medium sized selection of books covering a variety of subjects. The smartness of the shop means that it lacks something of the character of the War On Want bookshop opposite but the pairing of them makes the 10 minute walk from the city centre worthwhile. Jeremy Briggs. 30.09.08
Has taken over the next door shop and knocked through the wall so it is now twice the size and has an impressive selection of titles. Jeremy Briggs 12.01.12
Rather spectacular charity shop with modest prices. Huge amount of academic non-fiction, virtually all priced at £5. I bought 11 books and paid £55. Gary 08.07.22
Oxfam Bookshop/BELFAST/35 Ann Street
Oxfam Bookshop
35 Ann Street BELFAST BT1 4EB
map
tel:
028 9032 0527 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.309.30 - 5.30.
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Oxfam's first separate bookshop in Belfast, this small shop is just around the corner from the bus and taxi ranks of Bridge Street. Slickly laid out and very well organised, you would be forgiven for mistaking it for a normal bookshop with a range of excellent condition second hand books to appeal to the general public. Jeremy Briggs 27.03.08
Oxfams smaller Belfast bookshop has moved from Rosemary Street to larger and better located premises in Ann Street near one of the entrances to the Victoria Square shopping centre. Well laid out and well stocked when I was there, each person in the group that I went into it with came out with one or two items (books, DVDs & vinyl) and everyone thought that they had got a bargain. Jeremy Briggs 09.04.15
War on Want NI/BELFAST/24 Botanic Avenue
War on Want NI
24 Botanic Avenue BELFAST BT7 1JQ
map
tel:
028 9024 7773 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 4.30.
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Secondhand charity bookshop specialising in antiquarian and irish books. Also stocks books on religion, biographies, hobbies, travel, geography, history, horror and sci-fi as well as paperback novels and childrens' books.
Run by large team of very friendly volunteers who each work on different days. Very wide selection of second hand books including unusual items. Prices are very, very cheap, some spectacular bargains. Aidan O'loan
Beside Botanic Railway station this small to medium sized charity bookshop looks for all the world like a normal secondhand bookshop. Set in the university area of Belfast it has a higher than usual percentage of reference books, but retains the variety of other book types. Busy yet welcoming, it is worth the walk from the city centre. Jeremy Briggs 27.03.08
Across the road from the Botanic Road Oxfam. The stock is smaller than Oxfam's but similar in character. Prices are as cheap but not as predictable as Oxfam. Gary 08.07.22
War on Want NI/BELFAST/370-374 Upper Newtownards Road
War on Want NI
370-374 Upper Newtownards Road BELFAST BT4 3DY
map
tel:
028 9067 3350 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 4.30.
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Secondhand charity bookshop specialising in antiquarian and irish books. Also stocks books on religion, biographies, hobbies, travel, geography, history, horror and sci-fi as well as paperback novels and childrens' books.
