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.
Excellent 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
I have commented in the past on this shop and the new owner Jill has really spruced it up over the last year or so. It remains my 'go-to' secondhand book shop in central London but its shelves, in common with many other central bookshops are looking sparse. I know books fly off the shelves here but it does appear that central London secondhand shops (Notting Hill, Oxfam etc) are having problems with stock with may shelves empty and books face-on to fill space... Could be the time of year, except that I have noticed it for some time now. Possibly that internet sellers are cornering the market? Still worth a visit as there is good turnover and at least some new stock comes in. It does not seem to have affected Skoob, where despite the always interesting prices, the shelves are full, even if there is little apparent change in stock from visit to visit. Jon Morgan 06.02.20
The stock is much like it has always been but the shelves have a few gaps now. No more boxes of new stock lying in the basement as there used to be. Adrian 01.07.21
I haven't observed any falling off in the quality or quantity of stock in this shop which I still regard as perhaps the best in central London. There's good turnover, the prices are low and there are bargains to be had. Laurence Purcell 09.09.21
I have started to lengthen the gaps between my visits to this shop as there are continuing gaps in shelves and little evidence of stock rotation. It is a pity, as, at its best, this is / was a goldmine. Firedrake 30.09.21
I've no wish to start a silly running battle here but I would urge readers to visit this excellent shop and make up their own minds. There has been a substantial arrival of new stock in the last couple of weeks (as there is regularly) and when I was in the shop last weekend there were no empty shelves. There were however some boxes of new stock on the floor if that is what you like. Laurence Purcell 14.10.21
Called in yesterday and found the shop much as it always was. No empty shelves or books face on now. Bargains to be had if you search the basement, a lot easier now that some organisation has taken place there. If you are in Central London don't miss this gem of a bookshop. Steve Newman 29.11.21
Sorry to disagree with Steve Newman et al. but on visiting yesterday I found quite a few empty shelves and the dreaded books turned outwards to make the shelves look fuller. (I have photos of both) The review copies both hardback on the ground floor and paperback proof copies in the basement, are almost non-existent and both used to be a really good source of new books.
As previously posted I used to visit this place weekly and invariably came out with a bagful. It is now three visits since I have bought anything. Basement stock is largely unchanged and little new - in my interest areas at least - seems to have been added. It is still high on my list of 'must visit' in London, but is not alone in its lack of new stock.
Come on Jill, This place is one of the stars in the firmament of second hand bookshops. Firedrake 04.12.21
Well I too visited last week and didn't have anything to add. However, the shelves are definitely fuller than they were a few months ago, and there were even some crates of new stock at the bottom of the stairs as there used to be. At a time when new stock seems plentiful (charity shops at least are refusing donations) I trust this is a temporary logistical/staffing problem.
I do have to agree that there was little obviously new or interesting. Adrian 04.12.21
They don't open till 11.30 now. Stock seems more sparse than pre-covid. The £1 rack near the doorway has gone (for obvious reasons) and there were fewer £1 boxes outside last visit. PeterM 19.04.22
The curse of the empty shelf continues to afflict AAOB as well as some other central London shops. It is quite depressing to see. Prices have risen here but not quite as sharply as some outlets. What really surprised me was the increase in pricing of the proof / review copies. The former are of no great value as cover and pagination are often different from the final issue but many (and there weren't that many proofs on the shelf) were priced at around the £5 mark. The review copies which used to be a real draw in this shop are barely evident. A pity as I used to cancel my pre-order on Amazon when I found them here. The shop is tidier and better organised with many new fiction paperbacks. It would be a pity to let it turn into a remainder shop! Firedrake 12.05.22
Pre-Covid there used to be 4 trolleys full of £1 books outside as well as the crammed shelves of £1 books by the door. I would find gems here every week. Now there is only one trolley outside and it is almost empty. Inside the bargain shelves are a pale shadow of the past. There is still much stock otherwise, and the prices are reasonable. Despite no longer being the fount of treasures it used to be let us keep visiting to keep it afloat, the last proper second hand bookshop left in Charing Cross Road. PeterM 11.10.22
This place is a shadow, nay, a ghost, of its former self. Both ground floor and basement have high gaps on the shelves. It is not a temporary blip but a permanent situation.
Many new staff instead of the old familiar, knowledgeable and friendly faces with whom it was possible to chat.
I never used to leave here without a bagful, now it is rare that I can find anything to buy and some of what little stock there is is there week after week.
As Peter M said, only one truckle outside.
It appears to be dying on its feet as a physical bookshop.
Firedrake 1942 17.10.22
Clearly customers & guide reviewers care a lot about this shop. It has more reviews than any other shop. Its longevity and iconic street name make Any Amount of Books a barometer for the trade. It seems to me to be the Everyman of the routine bricks & mortar second-hand book market in London. So many other books shops on Charing Cross Road having been lost over time. (Number 84 bearing its blue plaque is a MacDonald's). It's a workaday shop catering for collectors & tourists alike and has an open house, pop-in, pop-out feel to it. A fine window display. I've always found fair prices here. Upstairs is the collectable, current & interesting.
Downstairs in the basement is the rummage and the good value where surprises can be found. The basement stock was fuller than I remember,(sorry, no way round the steps down). The shop was buzzing with visitors coming & going. Footfall figures here must be very good.
The wall shelves upstairs can be tall and kickstools only help so far. With less than perfect eyes I really needed a stepladder but none found. The staff are helpful. I ask to view the locked glass cabinet and the venerable key on a string is pointed out. Ask politely at the small pay counter and the backroom stock can be viewed.
An enjoyable visit, missing only one vital ingredient. Some nice music. On leaving I suggested that Van Morrison soothes the soul. So stepping out lightly, just like a ballerina, I met my bank manager outside and we wandered together hand in hand for support up to Henry Pordes. SaltaireTom 11.05.23
Loved the basement. I found so many titles in the '4 for £5' section that my big bag was full on leaving. They may have been unsaleable books at normal prices but to me they were quality titles. Chris 24.05.23
Wide range of books to satisfy most interests. They have a small selection of Folio Society books. Bargains to be had downstairs including a 4 for £5 section although nothing there took my fancy. There were plenty of customers in while I was there so they seem to do a brisk trade. Two trollies outside of budget books. Currently scaffolding all along this section of Charing Cross Road which both obscures the top of the shop and increases the density of people on the pavement. Jon R 24.08.23
This Charing Cross Road institution may have declined slightly in recent years, but it is still well worth visiting, even though the turnover seems rather slower these days. Prices have crept up but are still, on the whole, fairly reasonable. Extensive stock of literary criticism, poetry, drama, biography, history and - in particular - art. The famous basement is usually less cluttered these days, but bargains can still be found, even if some of the shelves down there (fiction in particular) are rather thinly stocked. The history section downstairs is distinctly unexciting, in contrast to the rather good selection upstairs. The “£1.50 or four for £5” shelves seem to contain a higher proportion of near-unsaleable dross (even at those prices) than formerly. But these are minor cavils; this is an interesting shop and WAD from time to time. Booker T 14.10.23
The opening hours are now somewhat less expansive than they were - gone are the days of browsing in the evening till 21:30. I haven't visited Charing Cross Road for a while, so I have read the recent reports with some interest. The stock here continues pretty much as before (one recognises some of the books, in fact). The section behind the counter, i.e. the rarer stuff can be inspected on request+. The basement is at once tidier and less full of books than formerly. Really, looking back, it was the abundance, disorder and inexpensiveness of the basement that made the place and gave it a distinctive character - that, and the fact that the proprietors were the people behind the counter. So much for what has gone. The main point to make now is that Any Amount of Books continues to trade - which cannot be said for most of the shops one remembers in Charing Cross Road. That fact is sufficient for us to be glad that Any Amount continues to be, if not exactly what it was at least something close to it. The Bookman 21.07.24
Open at advertised times
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