Bookshops in North East/County Durham

Bondgate Books/BISHOP AUCKLAND/50 Fore Bondgate

Bondgate Books Phone before travelling

50 Fore Bondgate BISHOP AUCKLAND DL14 7PE

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tel: 01388 665516

Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00. * SEE LATEST REVIEWS.

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Rather disorganised but a good stock of fiction both paperback and hardback, and particularly, science friction. There are also sections on biography, children's and a few DVDs. Worth a visit but not a detour. Geoff Martin 19.05.09

I called today at 10.30 and they were shut so times can be erratic I suspect . Geoff Martin 27.07.09

As a regular visitor to this shop I feel your previous reviewer downplays it somewhat.A really good stock of fiction, non-fiction, collectables and specialty books. Now has a book binding facility, and music selection is being introduced. Hidden jewel. John Crick 16.03.11

Rather on its own in this area, this shop is somewhat scruffy and a bit of a jumble. While there are a few good things to be had, some of the prices, particularly for Bishop Auckland, are a little on the optimistic side. Not really worth a special trip. Nicholas Pendower 14.08.12

Absolutely astounded at the prices of some potboilers in my preferred areas of interest. Always come away empty-handed, sadly. Anthony 27.10.12

Went back last Saturday, actually made a purchase! May make more occasional visits in future. Anthony 25.01.14

Have to agree with previous comments re pricing and layout. Nice welcome didn't make up for very optimistic pricing. I'm not about to pay £10 for a slightly dog-eared slim paperback which has to be teased out of a heaped pile of similar hopefuls. If these books sought asylum at some of the charity shops down the road, they'd be a quarter of the price. The front door didn't shut properly, either - making standing nearby a draughty experience! Graeme Rendall 09.02.14

I visit here several times a year. I find the staff pleasant & helpful with a good choice of books for a relatively small shop. I typically browse & sometimes find a bargain old book amongst the old SF & fantasy paperbacks making occasional visits worthwhile. Darania 23.10.15

The shop is closed for refurbishment, will reopen in March. Geoff Martin 12.02.18

The owner has opened up a temporary shop two doors down at number 52 until his shop is ready to open again. geoff martin 22.02.18

The March re-opening date appeared optimistic. Seems now to be called Gordon's Books (according to sign in window of No.50 which is still undergoing refurbishment). As above, currently trading from No.52 and has boxes of books in the adjacent shop (No.53?) as well. Due to the temporary nature of the current premises everything is a bit chaotic, although the owner has managed to sort out several hundred titles into broad categories on the available shelving. Everything else is in loose piles on the floor or in boxes next door. Owner very friendly and open about his situation and lack of stock on view - hopefully this will improve soon so he can attract more customers. Graeme Rendall 10.07.18

Stock rather disorganised. Owner helpful but he said he is going to be closing soon as doesn't want to be "the last man standing" as many businesses in the same street have gone. David 06.10.18

As many other reviewers have said, this is chaotic. That said I found three books of interest at very reasonable prices. The Driff label of FYA (Follows You around) is applicable to the very friendly owner who recommends random titles to you and bemoans that fact that he has no time to organise things. he also, unbidden, gave me a credit note for what appears to be a sister shop in Darlington. (I didn't use it). The owner works a market stall selling books. NWAD but worth a ferret if in the area. parking is close by. Jonathan Morgan 31.07.19

I can confirm that Gordon has reopened to a slightly smaller Bondgate bookshop with two floors of books ranging from geography, history, science, poetry, general fiction & a decent selection of SF, fantasy & horror & will sell selected paperbacks at small discounts to regular customers. Darania 31.07.19

Plucked up courage to visit today, if you are into mining and industrial history, there is an amazing treasure trove but seemingly unpriced. To quote the owner "always a deal to be done". Chaotic crates of books block the shelves and despite temptation, I didn't make a purchase as time was short. Anthony 18.01.20

Opening hours are erratic. He does have a stall in Crook Market on a Tuesday, but check the shop if travelling. Steve Bamlett 18.06.23

I've wandered past a few times recently and it's not been open. Not sure if it's erratic opening hours or a permanent closure. Still plenty of stock to be seen through the window but it currently resembles the GET free bookshop down the same street, which has yet to open despite piles of visible stock. Anthony 27.01.25

The landlord has taken possession of the property, it seems. The books are still in the shop. In a rather unusual situation, the landlord is selling them off at 10p each, pending the start of renovation and building work, at which point the books will be removed. Access to the shop can be obtained by asking for the key at the jeweller's next door. Booker T 27.04.25

Book Aid/BARNARDCASTLE/10 Galgate

Book Aid

10 Galgate BARNARD CASTLE DL12 8BG

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tel: 01833 630209 web

Open: Monday - Saturday 11.00 - 3.00

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Charity bookshop devoted to theology and allied subjects, but including non-Christian classics.

It sounds like a charity shop but actually turns out to be a small Christian bookshop. Jeremy Briggs

Seems to be well run and organised, but it is exactly what it says it is and has nothing for the general reader or collector. Nicholas Pendower 14.08.12

If this is the same shop I went in about ten years ago it is a real tardis of a place. Downstairs is a small Christian bookshop but find the hidden away staircase and go upstairs to attics full of of hardback theology and academic texts. Shardovan 14.06.14

Now at 10 Galgate (across the way from its former base at no.5), it is essentially the same as before. The only marked change is that Maurice Abrahams, who established it and ran it for a long time, is rather less in evidence than before: a great shame. The Bookman 06.05.19

I visited this shop for the first time this morning. If Christian theology isn't your thing, then the range of other subjects is limited. But if it is, the shelf space is simply enormous and the stock well organised. The shop is certainly worth a detour. Best one I've found since Barbican in York closed (sob!) and friendly, helpful staff. Glen Simpson 11.10.24

As the previous reviewer rightly notes, this shop is WAD, but only if Christianity is one of your interests. There is a very large stock of second-hand books on a diverse range of religious topics. These include theology, ethics, Christian living, leadership, pastoral care, evangelism, prophecy, healing, preaching, liturgy, worship, prayer, devotions and bereavement. Also an impressive range of Bible commentaries, books on church history, individual denominations, saints and the Bible lands, as well as personal testimonies and biographies and dozens of shelves of works by Christian thinkers. Quite a good selection of Christian books for children. All reasonably priced. A bookcase near the front of the shop contains uncategorised recently arrived stock. The non-religious books have retreated somewhat since my last visit about six years ago and the shop has little to offer the general reader. They are on the left-hand side as one enters, but the selection is very limited in both quantity and range. There is a small stock of hardback classic fiction, including a few dozen Collins classics in fine condition (£2). Very little non-religious non-fiction: a small selection of local interest titles, plus a handful of books on travel, railways and crafts. OS maps at £1 each. Also a few dozen Ladybirds (mostly quite recent editions) at £1 each or three for £2 and five for £3. The shop is in the centre of town, right by the bus terminus (the most frequent service is the X75/X76 from Darlington). Booker T 28.04.25

Book Emporium/DURHAM/Unit 55Durham Market HallMarket Place

Book Emporium Open at advertised times

Unit 55 Durham Market Hall Market Place DURHAM DH1 3NJ

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tel: 0191 384 6153 web

Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 4.30

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Selling a wide range of second-hand books of all types.

Worth a look - some other good units to browse too. A decent selection of fiction and non-fiction stock. Chris K 15.01.16

Not a lot of any great interest. Mainly mass market paperback fiction and remainders but not a huge stock of these. Nice market though. Jonathan Morgan 31.07.19

Small room's worth in an indoor market. Middle of the road stock, no "collectable rarities" and no unsaleable rubbish. Pleasant owner. Adrian 11.04.22

I always have a look when passing and spending time in Durham, never yet made a purchase, but the stall must do ok for it still to be there. I guess paperback fiction is the stock in trade and must turn in a decent income. Anthony 24.07.23

Lovely bloke selling mainly mass market paperbacks but I did pick up a lovely John Clare hardback of poetry. Definitely worth a visit as I suspect turnover is swift. Very cheap too. EMS 26.04.25

Darlington Lion Club Bookshop/DARLINGTON/Houndgate Mews ArcadeBlackwellgate

Darlington Lion Club Bookshop Open at advertised times

Houndgate Mews Arcade Blackwellgate DARLINGTON DL1 5HG

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tel: 07504 429 635 e-mail web

Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00

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Situated in Blackwellgate between Boyes & Guru We have a vast selection of good quality paperback & hardback fiction and non fiction books devoted to biographies, mysteries, cookery, sport, gardening, health, science fiction. Classics, children's books and many more topics. All books are donated & all proceeds go to charity. Please visit our website.

Pleasant charity bookshop with wide range of fiction-non fiction titles all at bargain 50p each & friendly, helpful staff. Only problem is that it's only open erratically 3 days a week, so visiting is often a gamble. Zeitgeist45 10.05.14

Lived in the area for 12 years, first visit today - going to be a place to watch. Only made one purchase today but surprisingly well laid out, bright and some good stock. Anthony 18.02.16

An unsung gem. A bit like a lucky dip, sometines you win, sometimes you lose. Nothing higher priced than a pound, give it a go! Anthony 02.05.23

A reasonable selection of fiction and non-fiction. Very low prices. According to a notice in the window: "95% of all books are priced at £1, with a special offer of three books for £2". The exceptions are children's books, many of which are only 50p, and a few dozen "display books" (anything deemed to be rare or valuable). For this latter category, prices are generally fairly sensible. There are actually two shops, a few yards apart in the same covered arcade (one at the Blackwellgate end, the other at the Houndgate end); both are staffed by volunteers, but all purchases are paid for at the former. The better-quality books, including a small stock of uncommon titles on local history, are predominantly in the Blackwellgate "front" shop; the "back" shop contains mostly popular fiction, much of it in hardback, including a large selection of crime novels/thrillers, but books on sport, railways and travel can also be found there. There is a display cabinet at the rear of the arcade, near the "back" shop, containing some of the more desirable books. The turnover is fairly rapid, aided by a stock control system (the books have a sticker on their spines to indicate how long they have been on the shelves). Anything unsold "after three or four months" - the timescale varies according to how much newly arrived stock needs shelf space - is removed and sold to online retailer World of Books. Booker T 13.03.24

Farplace Animal Rescue/DARLINGTON/171-175 Northgate

Farplace Animal Rescue Open at advertised times

171-175 Northgate DARLINGTON DL1 1UB

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tel: 01325 238105 e-mail web

Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00, Sunday 10.00 - 4.00

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Large stock of second-hand books at charity superstore. Very low prices. Dogs are welcome!

Animal charity Farplace has almost 40 shops, mostly in northern England and in Wales. Its massive Darlington branch has the largest book selection of any of its stores. There are 5,000 books here (including 1,500 children's books in a separate room). The books are upstairs, in a huge room that also contains DVDs, CDs, videos and vinyl. The prices are very low: paperbacks and children's books are 50p each or three for £1, and hardbacks are £1 each or three for £2, except for any that are individually priced (almost none).

The fiction - about 2,200 books, mainly in paperback - is shelved alphabetically, but not subdivided by genre. Typical charity-shop stock: mainly mid- and mass-market, including a decent quota of crime novels, but also a fair amount of literary and classic fiction. The non-fiction is mostly uncategorised, a hotch-potch of generally mediocre quality. However, there is quite a good selection of sports books and also some decent travel and natural history titles, as well as some high-quality books about dogs. Small and unexceptional selections on gardening, crafts and military history. Celebrities and sports stars feature heavily among the biographies. The children's books, also upstairs, are nearly all recently published: a good selection, especially for younger children.

Farplace, which has free car parking for customers, is to the north of the ring road, almost opposite the junction with Oxford Street. It is about a 12-minute walk from the town centre. To walk from Darlington railway station takes almost double that time. However, North Road station, on the Bishop Auckland-Saltburn line, is only half a mile from the shop, but it has only an hourly service.

If walking from the centre of Darlington, you pass British Heart Foundation (Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5pm; Sunday 10.30am-4pm) at 61 Northgate, on the town side of the ring road. Some 75% of its 800 books are unremarkable paperback fiction at low prices (mostly £2; some £1). But there are a couple of shelves of "collectable" books, which, although not over-exciting, are cheaply priced and might just be worth a quick glance. Booker T 28.04.25

Head Bookshop/DARLINGTON/22 Post House Wynd

Head Bookshop Open at advertised times

22 Post House Wynd DARLINGTON DL3 7LP

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tel: 07501 800294

Open: Monday - Thursday 11.00 - 5.30, Friday & Saturday 10.00 - 5.30, occasional Sundays 1.00 - 4.00

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Independent family-owned shop with a good stock of second-hand books. Also sells vinyl and DVDs. Payment by cash or bank transfer.

Failed to check this one out on a visit to the town earlier this month. It moved to these premises in September 2023. Also sells vinyl, CDs and musical instruments. Booker T 31.03.24

Not sure if this shop has closed or moved premises, but there is no bookshop on this street. Jane 30.12.24

In response to the previous comment, Head Bookshop is very much still trading and is indeed located at these premises on Post House Wynd, although the lettering in the signage is perhaps not the most conspicuous. It is situated between Luminous Hair & Beauty and Number Eight Bakehouse, and is directly opposite Ingledews jewellery shop. Head Bookshop is a pretty good shop, actually, with an interesting stock at generally reasonable prices. Although a fair amount of the space is given over to vinyl and DVDs, there are a lot of books packed in here. Soon there will be more as the likeable owner, Jenny, plans to open up the back room and fill it with stock that is currently in storage. The shop is strong for fiction, especially for classic and more modern literary novels (Penguin paperbacks mostly £3, but up to £7). A decent selection of mass/mid-market novels (paperbacks £1.50 each or three for £4). Quite good too for crime fiction, with the likes of Conan Doyle and Christie well represented (paperbacks mostly £3 to £5; some cheaper). Also a reasonable selection in the sci-fi/fantasy genre. A small but nice stock of plays and poetry. About 30 Folio Society volumes (£8 to £15). Quite good for modern children's books (mostly £2/£3); also a few vintage titles. Old children's annuals - although nothing ancient - at £3 to £7.

For non-fiction, the stock is weaker, although very good for books on modern/popular music. Some nice local history books, some a bit pricey. Also a small but fairly good transport stock - mostly railways - at decent prices. Quite a lot of recently published military/world war titles (£2 to £4). Small sections on history, sport, art and natural history, with little above £5. Dozens of steeply priced OS Explorer (orange) maps (£4 to £6). Payment by cash or bank transfer only (the card reader cannot be made to function). The shop is in the heart of Darlington's rather nice town centre, about a 12-minute walk from the railway station. Booker T 27.04.25

JN Vokes/DARLINGTON/61 Coniscliffe Road

JN Vokes

61 Coniscliffe Road DARLINGTON DL3 7EH

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tel: 01325 469449

Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00.

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20,000 titles including books about North East England, the arts and topography.

Smart, bright, well laid out, medium sized shop just off the town centre, with a friendly welcome and a good selection of books. Jeremy Briggs

Awkward to find but well worth the effort. The holdings on the North East are superb and account for most of the quality stock. Plenty of other titles which are fairly average. Chris Harte 13.10.09

As a regular patron of this excellent shop, I am in a good position to comment. The books are in well above average condition. If there is a problem Jeremiah will tell you about it. The service is friendly and the shop is well kept. Mark Hemming 12.10.11

Easy to find on the outskirts of the town centre. An attractive shop; was a chemists before. Has good high ceiling and white walls. Table with local history and transport pamphlets etc to search. Owner now thinking of closing down in a few months as local trade fairly quiet. Will still attend PBFAs fairs. Found 2 good volumes of old postcards of the town to add to my collection. Chris K 09.01.15

Called to arrange a visit & shop was open upon arrival. Owner very articulate & friendly & I made several purchases. Small but very neat shop reflecting owners character. Specialising in Sherlockania, local history & Tolkien. Darania 11.08.16

A very nice shop, only a few minutes' walk from the town centre. The stock is of commendably high quality and the books are in very good condition. There are two main specialisms: Sherlockiana (and detective fiction in general) and a notably strong selection of local history, covering the entire north-east of England. At present, also a large number of books on transport, especially railways, as the proprietor recently bought a substantial collection of these. The stock of general fiction is relatively small, but the titles are carefully selected. Most of the stock is hardback; almost the only exceptions are among the local history books, the paperbacks of which are arranged in stacks (to some extent arranged by area/theme) on a large table in the middle of the shop. The affable owner, Jeremiah, has been selling second-hand books in Darlington since 1979, first at a shop on Bondgate, and since 1995 at the present premises. Visit the shop while it is still there! He is thinking of closing it at some point in the next few years, but will continue selling at book fairs. Note that the opening hours can be slightly variable. The shop is usually open by about 9.45am but on some (but not all) days is shut for about an hour at lunchtime (from about 12.30pm); in the afternoon, it tends to close at about 5pm. The proprietor is active within the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association and so the shop is closed on those Saturdays when he is exhibiting at fairs. If planning a Saturday visit, it would be wise to check in advance. Cash only (there are ATMs a few minutes' walk away). Darlington is quite a nice town and there are other bookshops to visit, although the other outlets are all charity shops and nowhere near the quality of this fine establishment. Booker T 13.03.24

John Turton/CROOK/1-2 Cochrane Terrace Willington

John Turton Appointment necessary

1-2 Cochrane Terrace Willington CROOK DL15 0HN

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tel: 01388 745770 e-mail

Open: By appointment only

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General stock in shop, specialist stock of antiquarian, bindings, ecclesiastical history and architecture can be viewed by arrangement.

This really is the ultimate in Aladdin's Cave. Search for hours in the dim light and you will be rewarded. Allegedly has a warehouse full of books I collect but I am always told that I have called at the wrong time. Chris Harte 14.04.09

Best bookshop in North east - if only it wasn't so far from anywhere. As soon as you enter - that special smell of quality old books... priced fairly as well considering just how interesting the books are. Really WAD Paul P 11.05.10

I strongly advise checking some days in advance that the shop will be open. I turned up on a Friday within the stated opening hours to find the shop locked. There was no reply to the phone. This is hardly a novel experience in visiting out of the way bookshops but it's always an annoying one. There were few other reasons for visiting Willington that I could see. Laurence Purcell 30.09.10

This shop is no longer open at anytime, but if you ring they will arrange to let you view. Geoff Martin 19.03.13

Has anyone been here of late? The location is actually Willington, and the frontage looks most foreboding and uninviting. I visited years ago, and despite being local, have never really fancied venturing back! Anthony 02.05.23

The answer seems to be that the High Street premises are no longer in use, and the business operates from another address nearby. Details now corrected. TBG2 02.05.23

McNab_s Books (was Curlews)/BARNARD CASTLE/11-13 Market Place

McNab's Books (was Curlews) Open at advertised times

11-13 Market Place BARNARD CASTLE DL12 8NF

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tel: 01833 630455 e-mail

Open: 7 days 10.00 - 4.30.

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Small secondhand stock and new books. We have the cafe next door, No.15. We stock giftware, greetings cards, wrapping paper and Lamy Pens and refills. Regular evening events, including storytelling.

Just reopened with new owners, this is a nice shop with some tables and sofas if you purchase food from the cafe next door, the secondhand stock takes up about half the shop. It is a varied range of subjects and reasonably priced. The food is good too. Geoff 30.01.19

This shop is half new and half s/h. The amount of stock in each half is therefore relatively small. The pricing of the s/h is rather higher than experience suggests that the locale will support. But, who knows, the shop may develop. One thing is for sure: 'was Curlews' is not an apt description, because the two summon up very different ideas. The Bookman 06.05.19

Pleasant visit, the ambience is really nice. Worth having a shuffle through the "save us from recycling" box! Small stock, but worth popping in, you never know what's going to be in here. Anthony 02.05.23

This is undoubtedly a nice shop, with quite a good-quality stock, comfy sofas, an ETGOW proprietor and a welcoming atmosphere. There is a drawback, however: the prices are rather steep. (A more minor cavil is that certain parts of the premises are rather ill-lit.) A very good range of classic fiction in both hardback and paperback, including a large stock of Penguins (£3 to £8; mostly £5), some of which are in rather iffy condition. Also a good choice of more modern fiction. Quite a lot of crime novels, including vintage green Penguins (£3 to £9), and also historical fiction. About 50 Folio Society volumes at rather high prices. A small but high-quality selection of plays, steeply priced. The poetry is slightly less impressive, but equally pricey. The children's section is fairly small and of average quality. Quite a lot of children's annuals (1960s onwards), at £6 to £20, including some less common titles (Jinty, School Friend, Girls' Crystal). A few dozen Ladybirds (mostly £6 to £9).

History is the largest non-fiction section - half a dozen shelves - and probably the best in terms of quality. Also some quite good art books and some decent biographies. Smaller sections on natural history, travel, politics, gardening, crafts and local interest are fairly unremarkable but have the odd good title. Several dozen Pelicans (£3 to £9).

Barnard Castle is very pleasant, and if you are visiting, McNab's is certainly worth a look, especially for fiction. However, the shop's rather small size, coupled with the elevated prices, means it is not worth a special trip in its own right.

A short walk along the street, at 1 Horse Market, is Oxfam, which has only about 700 books, predominantly fiction, but the quality is slightly above the Oxfam norm and the prices surprisingly low for a tourist town. Ten shelves of novels, mostly in paperback (£1.99/£2.49), with a small stock of Penguin classics (99p to £1.99). Also a shelf of reasonably priced vintage books, although nothing too impressive among these. Oxfam's opening hours are Monday to Saturday 9.30am-4.30pm. On Sundays it aspires to open from 10.30am to 3pm, but it doesn't always achieve this. Booker T 28.04.25

Mission Hall Antiques Centre/BARNARDCASTLE/51 The Bank

The Mission Hall Antiques Centre Open at advertised times

51 The Bank BARNARD CASTLE DL12 8PL

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tel: 01833 631101, mob: 07977 146583 e-mail web

Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, Sunday 1.30 - 5.00.

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Two or three bookcases of secondhand books.

Good general stock, scattered in places around the centre. I bought a lot here a year or two ago, but my subject now has more overall titles. I guess it depends on the owner buying up specialist collections. Very reasonable prices indeed. Anthony 18.02.16

The stock is fairly narrow in scope, and high in price. Good to visit with a credit card funded by a rich relative. The Bookman 12.02.18

A Saturday afternoon browse revealed a reasonable stock, mainly of books on the countryside, Teesdale, antiques and railways. An eclectic mix added to the general joy of wombling round the rest of the shop looking at prints and maps. It's a lucky dip - I haven't bought a book for a while from here, but have found other things, to the detriment of my bank account. Anthony 20.03.24

Only one book dealer has stock here: Richard J. Hodgson of Kirklevington, near Yarm, who has two large bookcases, a dozen shelves in total. The non-fiction is good-quality, but quite specialised: clockmaking, cricket, furniture, heraldry, canals, railways and natural history are the main subjects stocked. Very little fiction. The prices are steep, but there may be scope to negotiate, especially if making multiple purchases; I was not really tempted by any of the stock, so did not test this out. One or two of the other alcoves have a smattering of books, notably one on the right as you enter, which has a few dozen random volumes, as well as lots of OS and other maps, priced at £3. Although this venue is not very fruitful territory for the book buyer, some of the antiques and collectables here are really quite nice. Booker T 28.04.25

Needful Things Boutique _ Bookshop/HARTLEPOOL/23 Church Square

Needful Things Boutique & Bookshop Open at advertised times

23 Church Square HARTLEPOOL TS24 7EU

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Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Saturday 11.00 - 4.00

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Vintage shop in the centre of town. Two floors of second-hand books, music, fashion and collectables.

This shop opened in late 2021 and is situated in an attractive and historic part of this old port town, right by the art gallery and a couple of minutes' walk from the railway station. Books account for about half of the stock - the owner describes herself as a bookseller who also "sells other needful things in order to pay the rent". Recommended to me by a colleague, but alas I did not have time to get here during a quick trip to the north-east earlier this week. Hope to rectify this omission before too long! Hartlepool has been a bit of a desert for the second-hand book trade for a while now, so the presence of this shop is very welcome. The nearby quayside is home to the National Museum of the Royal Navy (a sister museum to the one at Portsmouth), so a visit to the town might be enjoyable for other reasons too. Booker T 14.03.24

A moderate-sized general stock of second-hand books at this rather characterful shop. Books take up all of the ground floor and there are a couple of hundred more upstairs, along with vintage clothing, records and collectables. A reasonable selection of fiction; classic literature and sci-fi feature strongly. Among the non-fiction, history, including military history, and art are the strongest sections. There are quite a lot of very dated books on science. The stock, by and large, is fairly ordinary, although the non-fiction in particular includes a smattering of higher-quality books. Prices for fiction are very much at the low end of the scale for both paperbacks (Penguins £1 or £2, as is the sci-fi) and hardbacks, but this is less true for the non-fiction, some of which seems rather optimistically priced. The ETGOW owner is enthusiastic and chatty. NWAD, but there is no other bookshop in this gritty and rather deprived town, so don’t pass it by if you are in the area. Booker T 04.06.24

Oxfam Books and Music/DURHAM/18 Elvet Bridge

Oxfam Books and Music Open at advertised times

18 Elvet Bridge DURHAM DH1 3AA

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tel: 0191 384 7440 e-mail web

Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.30, Sunday 11.00 - 5.00

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Large and well-stocked. Thomas Krebs

The nicest Oxfam Bookshop that I have been in. Housed in a three storey building in the historic centre of the cathedral city, this shop has a lot more character than most of the rest of the Oxfam bookshop chain. Medium sized, the books are spread over three rooms on the three floors with the second floor also having a small room with CDs, vinyl, DVDs and the inevitable video tapes. The usual glass cases for what they consider to be rare titles are in evidence, but in this instance are also used for some antiques and collectables as well. Jeremy Briggs

On three floors it is one of the best I've seen. Geoff Martin 27.07.10

The most expensive Oxfam in the region, nothing priced to sell, how they make any money for their charity beats me. Frustrating as Durham needs a good secondhand bookshop. PaulP 05.11.11

This must be the most expensive Oxfam bookshop in the country. Advisable, also, to take earplugs due to the loud muzak played throughout the shop. Antimuzak 24.01.12

I'd like to revise the above comment ... The shop must have a new manager, because the prices seem more reasonable and the shelves packed with good things so now WAD. PaulP 06.03.13

Climb: the ground floor is dull, the two above are full of interesting stock. Evidence of past over-pricing, but much very sensible, 1950s Pelicans at 2 for £3 a good example. James Mackay 22.11.14

A new room on the top floor has opened, covering local interest and other matters. Came away with a small pile and change from £20. Good visit this time, but a bit of a lottery over regular visits like all Oxfam shops. Anthony 26.01.15

Good while since I was back at Durham. Found 2 decent non-fiction books on the top floor. They need to remove some of the out-of-date/old stock to add the newer books to the shelves; lots of them on small tables and in boxes on the floor. Chris K 15.01.16

This shop is moving down the road to 18 Elvet Bridge, Durham, DH1 3AA. The stock will be all on the ground floor so I'm worried that the character of the shop will be lost but will call when it opens next week and see. Geoff 02.09.16

This shop is now open and I called at it today. The stock is all on the one floor and as a result rather crammed together. The charm of the old shop is lost and while there is a good range of stock, the academic section is reduced, which is odd for a University city. Some of the book shelves are very close together making it difficult get a good view of the books on the lower shelves. Overall I was disappointed with the change but even so the shop is still worth a visit. Geoff 09.09.16

Bought a good £4.99 item on the 24th of May. Do though wish they made all the non-fiction items properly sorted - other Oxfams do this. Chris K 03.06.17

I donated several books here recently & planned to purchase several books but agree with previous comments that they should consider revising their impractical pricing policy as much of their stock frankly remains too expensive to purchase. Darania 30.08.18

Rather cramped and prices a bit high. A lot of the stock tatty. Managed to buy some books mainly due to the buy 4 for 3 offer on at the time. David 06.10.18

Shop is nicely laid out but very cramped. Prices eye-wateringly high even when 4 for 3 items offer taken into consideration. Graeme Rendall 11.10.18

Have to agree with the above descriptions. lovely shop just off the Elvet bridge. Better than the moribund flagship store in central London.

Bigger inside than it looks outside but little room to pass other browsers. Some good quality stuff here but some very high prices too. Jonathan Morgan 31.07.19

Yes, cramped, with tourists on a spring Sunday and with volunteers making it hard to pass. Not a bad Oxfam but not in my opinion better than the Boomsbury Oxfam. Prices? Well, Oxfam prices such as we now expect in most branches. Adrian 10.04.22

All the sections recently moved around and the shop is much less cluttered than it used to be. If you're into local history and coal mining, the local history section is chock full of unusual titles at present. Mishmash of pricing, but I still came away with some good purchases. Anthony 02.05.23

Some real gems to be found digging through the stock. Amazing selection on Canadian Railways currently! Anthony 24.07.23

Popped in whilst in Durham and as other posters have stated - the prices are bonkers. I can only presume non UK tourists are buying from them as no Brit would pay the prices. They were selling non fiction paperbacks published in the last 5 years for £4.99 up. Some of the over produced and poor Folio Society titles for £20 when any self respecting independent second hand store would be pricing them at £5 max. Rather self satisfied manager was also in attendance... Really not worth it until they get a grip on their pricing. EMS 26.04.25

Oxfam/DARLINGTON/24 Skinnergate

Oxfam

24 Skinnergate DARLINGTON DL3 7NW

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tel: 01325 382415 e-mail web

Open: Monday - Saturday 9.15 - 5.00, Sunday 10.00 - 2.00

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A large bookroom on the first floor. Extensive stock of fiction and non-fiction, with notably low prices.

A decent selection in a very large and well laid-out bookroom. Darlington has one of the largest Oxfams in the country, and the first floor here is given over exclusively to books, with the exception of a small section selling music and DVDs; children's books are on the ground floor. Lots of modern novels, mostly mass-market, with crime fiction a particular strength. Plenty of non-fiction too, with a high degree of organisation: the division of the stock into sub-categories is more detailed than I have seen at any other Oxfam. Most non-fiction categories have a reasonable stock, with the selection of travel books notably good. There are two separate sections of "antiquarian" books (for fiction and non-fiction); some of the stock in these is in a fairly battered condition and little of it is of any real interest. What really marks this shop out is not so much the quality (which is no better than average for Oxfam), but the prices, which are rock-bottom in every category. All fiction, including hardbacks, sells for 99p. Most of the non-fiction is £1.99 or £2.99. Even the so-called antiquarian books are sensibly priced. NWAD for most readers, but the large stock and cheap prices make it worth a visit if in town. Booker T 13.03.24

People_s Bookshop Durham/DURHAM/Unit 19, Prince Bishops Place, High Street

People's Bookshop Durham Open at advertised times

Unit 19, Prince Bishops Place, High Street DURHAM DH1 3UJ

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tel: 0191 384 4399 e-mail web

Open: Sunday & Monday 11.00 - 3.00, Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00

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A radical, independent bookshop in the heart of Durham, now in larger premises. Second-hand books as well as new books from left-wing and local publishers. Specialities include political biography, socialism, Marxism, labour history and the local history of north-east England.

Really nice little bookshop with friendly chap and comfy seats, has reasonable general stock as well as specialities mentioned above a bit pricey but still worth the climb. PaulP 12.06.12

I made it four staircases not two: just keep climbing. Worth getting there: not huge, but a thinking person's stock, especially for thinkers of the Left, and for local history and topographer; and a thinking owner too. James Mackay 22.11.14

Travelled a long way to come here only to find the shop closed - on annual holidays!!! This is no way to run a bookshop!! Advertise your hours and stick to them - or you will go bust. Recommend you phone them before a visit - otherwise you are likely to find them closed. PJD 01.08.15

To be found up a very small alleyway and then up some lethally winding and angled steps, stopping for oxygen on the way. Almost designed to put most of the lumpen proletariat off. The chap behind the desk did not communicate greatly as he was hearing large headphones Some good stuff on policing the Miners strike but nothing I could see on the Chartists. Not a huge stock - perhaps a few hundred or a great deal of any interest either. Jonathan Morgan 31.07.19

Some good news to report: in August this feistily radical bookshop moved to bigger premises and is now open seven days a week, and for considerably longer hours (up from five afternoons a week). The days of struggling up four flights of vertiginous stairs to the admittedly characterful attic at Saddlers Yard are gone! I used to quite enjoy going there as much of its stock was difficult to find anywhere else and, as a bonus, I could eavesdrop on the fulminations of ageing Corbynistas. For labour history in particular, its range of titles was superb for such a small operation. The shop, which is a volunteer-run collective, now occupies a modern unit in the Prince Bishops Place shopping centre on the High Street, a stone's throw away from its old home, which it had occupied since 2011. The larger size of the new premises means that it is able to expand its stock to include a wider range of subjects, as well as fiction and children's books. Hopefully this will not detract from or dilute its distinctive nature - it is the only radical bookshop remaining in the north-east. The shop is about half a mile from Durham railway station and slightly closer to the city's bus station on North Road, both of which are on the other side of the River Wear. Durham is quite small but rather a nice place to visit, with some fine buildings (including, but not limited to, its majestic cathedral) and attractive riverside walks. Its Oxfam bookshop - a couple of minutes away from the People's Bookshop, at Elvet Bridge - is a cut above average too. Booker T 08.12.24

Visited whilst in Durham on a day trip. Lovely shop - well organised, clearly marked prices and lovely people. Of course there are lots of lefty books - new and old titles, but they stock a decent range of paperback fiction, arts and local history and some decent nature titles. Mainly second hand with some new titles. Knowledgeable and friendly staff. EMS 26.04.25

Sound _ Vision/CHESTER-LE-STREET/156D Front Street

Sound & Vision Open at advertised times

156D Front Street CHESTER-LE-STREET DH3 3AY

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tel: 07940 025614

Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 3.00

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Vinyl record shop with books lining a large room. Appear to be mainly recent popular fiction, at reasonable prices.

Us4books/HARTLEPOOL/Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Victoria Road

Us4books

Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Victoria Road HARTLEPOOL TS24 7RZ

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tel: 07852 239602 e-mail

Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00

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Mainly popular paperback fiction, as well as comics and children's books. Small non-fiction stock. Also a few new books.

Us4books started out in the 1990s with stalls on markets across north-east England. Almost 20 years ago it settled permanently in Hartlepool, at the market hall at Middleton Grange Shopping Centre. The market hall has recently had to close after structurally unsound concrete (RAAC) was discovered in its roof. So in September 2024, Us4books moved into the main part of the shopping mall, to a unit located between Heron Foods and Home Bargains. It mainly sells paperback fiction - especially romance, family sagas, crime novels and thrillers - but also has a fairly large selection of children's books as well as pre-owned and vintage comics. The non-fiction stock is quite limited. Middleton Grange is right in the centre of Hartlepool, about a five-minute walk from the railway station and the bus station. Booker T 04.01.25

Village Bookshop/BARNARDCASTLE/36 Market PlaceMiddleton-in-Teesdale

The Village Bookshop Phone before travelling

36 Market Place Middleton-in-Teesdale BARNARD CASTLE DL12 0RJ

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tel: 01833 640373 e-mail web

Open: Monday - Saturday 10 - 4.00 in winter, 10.00 -5.00 summer.

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A small but good quality stock covering all subjects, but particularly country life and pastimes. Payment in cash only

Bright and pleasant shop with charity shoppish stock and prices, excellent range of local interest books. Toward the west end of the town. PaulP 24.03.14

Can't believe no-one has reviewed here before. Very welcoming, nice atmosphere and good selection of collectanle and antiquarian titles. Keen prices, and nice to see a section on mining given the history of Middleton. Cash only, but mercifully there is a Barclays bank with an ATM over the road. Anthony 24.07.23

Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK and Republic of Ireland