Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK and Republic of Ireland
News:
Shudehill Book Centre is no longer a bookshop
New bookshop Greenhouse Books Cheadle
New listing St Ann's Hospice Stockport
new listing the Children's Society Bookshop Heaton Moor
Greenhouse Books has moved from Cheadle to Stockport
New listing Urmston Bookshop
Sharston Books is now online only
new shop Emmaus Secondhand Superstore Mossley
new shop Alexandria Library Rochdale
new listing Bopcap Books Levenshulme
new Oxfam Superstore Manchester
Manchester Bookbuyers has closed
new listing (though opened on 1980) Eagle's Bookstall Bury
new listing Wooden Canal Boat Society Shop Ashton-under-Lyne

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Alexandria Library/MANCHESTER/247 Wilmslow Road
Alexandria Library
247 Wilmslow Road MANCHESTER M14 5LW
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Open: Monday - Saturday 12.00 - 8.00
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We have about 5000 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.
Alexandria Library/ROCHDALE/4 The Walk
Alexandria Library
4 The Walk ROCHDALE OL16 1EP
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Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9.00 - 5.00
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Community venue and bookshop in Rochdale town centre, selling new and second-hand stock since 2022. As with Alexandria Library in Manchester, the focus is on Christian and foreign-language (Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish) books, as well as books on Middle Eastern and North African cultures, but other genres (including fiction) are also available.
Anywhere Out Of The World/MANCHESTER/70 Tib Street, First Floor
Anywhere Out Of The World
70 Tib Street, First Floor MANCHESTER M4 1LG
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Open: Thursday - Sunday 12.00 - 6.00
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An odd mix of classic literature and eastern philosophy/mysticism. Quite a small stock of books, on two floors. Cards accepted.
Distinctly niche, this shop should be on the visiting list for anyone interested in its main speciality: theosophy. Adherents of the teachings of Blavatsky, Leadbeater, Besant and their ilk will be in their element here. For the rest of us, it's rather a take it or leave it kind of place. Other than theosophy, a large proportion of the (rather small) stock is on allied subjects such as hermeticism, hagiography, philosophy, theology etc. Smaller sections include history, architecture, and Ancient Greece and Rome. Prices are not cheap, but not completely unreasonable. A small but high-quality selection of classic and literary novels (paperbacks £3-£5) in very nice condition, as well as some decent drama and poetry. The shop is up quite a lot of stairs, on two floors, the upper one of which also houses a nice coffee bar. The entrance is inconspicuous: the door is to the right of the Beermoth beer shop. Tib Street is in the heart of the city centre, within easy reach of Manchester's two main railway stations (about half a mile from Victoria and not much further from Piccadilly). Booker T 27.02.25
Book Exchange/STOCKPORT/Unit 20, Stockport Market, Market Place
The Book Exchange
Unit 20, Stockport Market, Market Place STOCKPORT SK1 1EU
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tel:
07973 786683 web
Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday 9.00 - 4.30
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Medium large stall in the market hall in Stockport, probably about the size of a small shop, generally romance and thrillers. New and as-new for half price or less. Also jigsaws. Card and cash accepted.
Bopcap Books/MANCHESTER/The Old Police Station, 963 Stockport Road, Levenshulme
Bopcap Books
The Old Police Station, 963 Stockport Road, Levenshulme MANCHESTER M19 3NP
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Open: Thursday & Friday 11.00 - 5.00, Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, Sunday 11.00 - 4.00
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Second-hand bookshop that also sells some new books. Specialities include art, design, photography, cinema, fashion, vintage children's books, cult fiction and graphic novels. A small amount of antiquarian stock. Also ephemera (vintage posters, magazines etc). The premises are next to Levenshulme Antiques Village and close to Levenshulme railway station.
A nice little shop, with an eclectic and good-quality but rather small stock of books. A fair amount of older hardback fiction, reasonably priced in the main. Also Penguin classics (mostly £3.50) and vintage Penguins (most £2-£4, but up to £8). Quite a lot of sci-fi paperbacks (£1.50 to £3). A small but interesting stock of poetry and plays. Lots of old children's annuals, including dozens of Rupert books (1960s onwards) in good condition (£3 to £6). A large stock of Pelicans, some rarely seen (mostly £2/£3, but up to £5). The non-fiction is generally of high quality. In most sections, the second-hand books are shelved with the new. Music, art and architecture are the best sections, with some unusual titles in evidence and not too pricey. Also a small but good stock for history, cultural issues and natural history. Several dozen Observer books (£6 to £20; first editions are towards the upper end). The next-door antiques centre has nothing to offer in the way of books, by the way.
Levenshulme is an unlovely and rather deprived suburb about three miles south-east of Manchester city centre. Bus routes 191 and 192 from Manchester to Stockport pass the shop. There is also a very frequent train service from Manchester Piccadilly. Bopcap Books is less than a five-minute walk from Levenshulme railway station. You may see a surprising number of people photographing the station's unremarkable (indeed rather horrid) brick exterior, at the western entrance. Look up. The tiny side street was never officially named and now an unofficial street sign has been put up: 'The Street With No Name'. High on the wall, it has been stolen several times, but always replaced. When it's there, it draws in the tourists. Hopefully some of them proceed down Stockport Road to Bopcap Books, as if you're in the area, it's worth a visit. Booker T 23.02.25
Children_s Society Bookshop/STOCKPORT/212 Heaton Moor Road, Heaton Moor
The Children's Society Bookshop
212 Heaton Moor Road, Heaton Moor STOCKPORT SK4 4DU
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tel:
0161 432 0595 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 500
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Books and Music shop selling donated items for The Children's Society, a national charity.
Didsbury Village Bookshop/MANCHESTER/(Adjoining Art of Tea Cafe)
Didsbury Village Bookshop
(Adjoining Art of Tea Cafe) 47 Barlow Moor Road Didsbury MANCHESTER M20 6TW
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tel:
0845 521 3879 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 10.00. - 10.00.
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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.
Veni, 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
Prices are at least double what they should be. Payment is via the cafe so if the owner isn't in, no negotiation possible either. Stive 05.06.22
Much tidier and more organised than it used to be, with a great selection of secondhand books, though you need to check several sections for Fiction - there are lots of old 'orange' Penguins together, hardbacks together, very old classic fiction in another section near the crime and a rather disappointing SF section. Plus mainstream literary fiction separate too. In all, an old fashioned bookshop where you hunt around and often find a surprise. The prices are a little high though, £4 sometimes for novels that often crop up in charity shops for less. But don't let this put you off; this is a shop we'll worth a visit! Archy 10.06.22
Another thing to note about this bookshop is that it was owned by a bookseller who died and left it to his children. My understanding is that unless things have changed they were not really interested in running it and would sell off the stock until it had gone, replenishing gaps in the shelves from time to time with whatever books still lay in storage. Visited yesterday and didn't notice any fresh stock since my last visit so there may be little to tempt a repeat visit. The fact that payments are still being taken by the cafe in the front and reports of recent tidiness with piles of books vanishing from the floor tends to suggest that what is you see is all you will get from now on. Prices are still aspirational rather than realistic, so this shop may yet linger for a little while yet. Stive 04.09.22
E J Morton/MANCHESTER/6 Warburton Street
E J Morton
6 Warburton Street MANCHESTER M20 6WA
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tel:
0161 445 7629
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This 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
Basically an independent selling new books, though there are usually some secondhand books on the table outside (weather permitting) that are cheap but often not in great condition, and some more inside, plus a selection of Folios at £5 and some classic old paperback crime novels. Some new hardbacks that are signed. Plenty of new books, though some have been on the shelves a while. Still, an interesting bookshop with a helpful owner that is always worth a visit. Archy 10.06.22
Eagle_s Bookstall/BURY/10 Market Plaza, Bury Outdoor Market
Eagle's Bookstall
10 Market Plaza, Bury Outdoor Market BURY BL9 0QL
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Open: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9.00 - 4.30
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Market bookstall selling second-hand and some new books. Popular paperback fiction is the main speciality.
Eagle's Bookstall has been trading since 1980 at Bury's award-winning market, which was granted its charter in the 1440s and until recently boasted 370 indoor and outdoor stalls. At present, however, it is rather diminished as the indoor market hall, in which Eagle's was located, was forced to close in October 2023 after structurally unsafe concrete (RAAC) was found to have been used in its roof. A row is raging over the hall's future as Historic England has just refused to grant it listed status; demolition now seems likelier than repair. Meanwhile, its traders have already been braving the elements for more than a year - with their weekly trading days cut to only three - and will have to do so for quite some time to come. Eagle's Bookstall is in many ways a typical example of its kind, with lots of second-hand mass-market paperbacks, notably romantic novels, family sagas and crime fiction, mostly priced at £2. Non-fiction does not feature strongly. The stall is located opposite Tom's Bargain Corner discount shop. Bury Interchange Metrolink tram stop and bus station are within a five-minute walk. Booker T 20.12.24
Emmaus Department Store/ROCHDALE/Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre
Emmaus Department Store
Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre 50A Market Way ROCHDALE OL16 1ED
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tel:
0330 058 4264 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00.
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There is a floor purely of books.
There is a floor purely of books, including lots of fiction and poetry and particularly loads of pulp horror and SF. A load of it is trash but it might be worth some people exploring if heading to the Todmorden and Littleborough shops . Chris Browning 07.05.19
Emmaus Secondhand Superstore/MOSSLEY/Longlands Mill, Queen Street
Emmaus Secondhand Superstore
Longlands Mill, Queen Street MOSSLEY OL5 9AH
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tel:
01457 838608 e-mail web
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00
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A substantial stock of second-hand books in a specialised department of this large charity shop.
In late April Emmaus opened 'Sound and Vision', a department dedicated to the sale of second-hand books, music and media, which takes up the first floor of its premises here, just across from the railway station. As with the Emmaus department store a dozen miles away in Rochdale, it might be wise to dial down expectations in advance of a visit, as most of the stock there (at any rate) is mass-market fare. However, judging from the launch photos, there may be grounds for cautious optimism in this case. And, if shopping for books in this former mill town, there are few other options. If planning a visit, be aware that the shop is closed on the local holiday of Whit Friday (24th May), which is still a big deal in this part of the world. Booker T 24.04.24
Empire Exchange/MANCHESTER/1 Newton Street
Empire Exchange
1 Newton Street MANCHESTER M1 1HW
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tel:
0161 236 4445
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 6.00, Sunday 10.00 - 6.00
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Secondhand vinyl and CDs plus books, magazines and memorabilia.
Not really a book shop, but just about the only premises in Central Manchester selling books on weekdays.
A fascinating Emporium, full of various collectible items, with one section dedicated to books. I found nothing there of interest for me, but well worth popping in if in the area. Steve Newman 24.01.22
You descend below ground to a surprisingly large area, about a third of which is devoted to books. I can’t say the quality was particularly high though - I think most would have been rejected by your average charity shop. So not worth a visit for any serious book collectors. There’s also a large quantity of magazines on various subjects including many of the, ahem, top-shelf variety. Jon R 01.11.23
A large basement, filled with "collectables", most of which would not be out of place at a below-average car boot sale. The books are nothing special, to say the least, and the condition of many of them leaves a lot to be desired. There is a large stock of popular fiction in paperback and hardback. Crime fiction, adventure, horror and sci-fi/fantasy novels, mostly in paperback. Lots of children's books, with a few vintage novels and old annuals. Also huge numbers of comics (both of the Beano/Dandy variety and also Superman/2000 AD etc; mixed pricing, but mostly reasonable).
For non-fiction, sport is the best category, with a substantial stock (especially on football) of fairly good quality. Also lots of football programmes (many £2 or £3, with older/rarer ones at higher prices). The transport books are not too bad, and nor are the smaller selections for music, antiques and true crime, but the travel, topography, history, military and cookery sections are a notch or two below mediocre. Lots of biographies, but mostly of celebrities and sports stars. Quite a lot of the books are shelved in the wrong sections. Perusing the stock here is a rather dispiriting experience, not enhanced by the deafening music. Pricing is generally on the low side, although any books that the proprietors have identified as of higher quality (not many) are marked up to at least average price, if not somewhat above. The opening hours are not altogether reliable, especially at the start of the day. The shop is just under a ten-minute walk from Piccadilly railway station and slightly more from Victoria. But really, it's scarcely worth the effort. Booker T 24.02.25
Greenhouse Books/STOCKPORT/13 Great Underbank
Greenhouse Books
13 Great Underbank STOCKPORT SK1 1LF
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tel:
07586 777275 e-mail web
Open: Wednesday 12 - 5.30, Thursday - Saturday 11.00 - 5.30, Sunday 11.00 - 2.30
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Artisanal coffee and cake, curated second-hand books
Oxfam Bookshop/MANCHESTER/605 Wilbraham Road
Oxfam Bookshop
605 Wilbraham Road Chorlton Cum Hardy MANCHESTER M21 9AN
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tel:
0161 8817808 web
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Very 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
Oxfam Superstore/MANCHESTER/Unit 28, Manchester Fort Shopping Park, Cheetham Hill Road
Oxfam Superstore
Unit 28, Manchester Fort Shopping Park, Cheetham Hill Road MANCHESTER M8 8EP
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tel:
0161 641 3950 and 0300 200 1333 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 8.00, Saturday 9.00 - 6.00, Sunday 11.00 - 5.00
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Large flagship store, opened in July 2024. Extensive stock of second-hand books, as well as a wide range of other merchandise.
This massive new shop, occupying 10,000 sq ft over two floors, opened on July 19th. It is Oxfam's second UK superstore (the other is in Oxford) and has 15 paid staff and a roster of 150 volunteers. Up to ten more superstores are planned across the country in the next five years. So, what is this one like for second-hand books? I spoke to the duty manager, who told me that they are "an absolutely key part" of the retail offering here and that book sales have been "very rapid indeed" in the store's first week of trading. The number of books available here is equivalent to the total in a typical books-only Oxfam store. There is the usual range of fiction and non-fiction, plus a large selection of children's books. The book department is on the upper floor, but is fully accessible for wheelchair users via a lift. There is also a wheelchair-accessible toilet and a café. The store, which is located in a large retail park, is about a mile and a half north of the city centre. It is some way distant from the nearest railway station or tram stop, but is easily accessible by bus. Booker T 26.07.24
Paramount Books/MANCHESTER/25-27 Shudehill
Paramount Books
25-27 Shudehill
MANCHESTER
M4 2AF
map
tel:
0161 834 9509
web
Open: Irregular Saturdays & Sundays 12.00 - 5.00 or slightly later
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Opened in 1965. Large and high-quality stock of fiction and non-fiction. Also vintage comics and magazines. Cash only. Zero-tolerance policy towards mobile phone use.
Shutters 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
Closed today (Monday). Sign now says open Saturday and Sunday, Record cellar now open, Euro's accepted! Unlikely to be in Manchester on a weekend, so I guess I'll never discover the secrets hidden within! Steve Newman 24.01.22
By far the best second-hand bookshop in central Manchester, but there is one huge drawback: the pricing. Almost everything here is about twice the price it should be. The stock is sufficiently good to make this infuriating: you see plenty of books you want, but cannot really justify the spending. I trudged away empty-handed. The shop has a strict "no phones" policy, with a sign on the door about this, and other signs within the shop. The staff have apparently been known to eject those who defy the rule. Ostensibly, this is to promote a pleasant ambience. No one really wants to peruse books while someone three feet away indulges in loud and inane chatter with their friend Caroline in Chorlton-on-Medlock. But the stratospheric prices make me suspect that one reason for the rule is to deter customers from looking up prices on their phones and realising how much more cheaply they could buy many of the books here.
As for the stock, it is almost uniformly good. The fiction is excellent: a huge choice of popular, literary and classic, with hardbacks mixed in among the paperbacks (minimum price £5). Lots of sci-fi paperbacks, some in poor condition (£5 to £9.50). Very good also for poetry, plays and literary criticism. A good selection of children's books, both modern and vintage, but many quite ordinary modern ones are at least £5. Children's annuals (from the 1960s onwards) £5-£10. A huge selection of comics, at very high prices. Pelicans are £5-£10, including quite common titles. Outstanding for biographies, including many elusive literary biographies. Excellent too for books on the performing arts, notably music. There are large sections entitled "Male actors, A-Z; Female actors, A-Z". Other strong categories include art, architecture, history, cookery, transport and the social sciences. Perhaps a shade less good for travel and topography, but still fairly creditable. The aisles here are narrow and the shop can become very congested. If the prices here were lower, it would be WWAD. Still worth checking out, but brace yourself to summon up reserves of self-denial. Cash only (euros are accepted). The staff seem very pleasant and offered me a piece of fruit even though I had bought nothing. The shop is very close to Victoria station, but about a mile from Piccadilly. The Shudehill tram stop is only about a minute's walk away. Booker T 27.02.25
Closed on a Saturday afternoon (01/03/2024). Sign outside saying open Saturday and Sunday. Locals said it has closed down fully. George C 01.03.25
Paramount Books has not closed down - which is very good news as this august, if somewhat overpriced, institution is a bastion of the Manchester book scene. I spoke to the staff today and they told me that, although the opening days have been erratic recently, they are very much still trading, have no plans to shut down (and indeed are open this weekend). The shop's advertised days are Saturdays and Sundays, but it may be a bit of a lottery as to whether you find it open. Occasionally it opens randomly during the week. Bear in mind that it's very difficult to check in advance, as on most days there is nobody in the shop. You probably just have to just turn up and hope for the best. Booker T 22.03.25
St Ann_s Hospice/STOCKPORT/33 Great Underbank
St Ann's Hospice
33 Great Underbank STOCKPORT SK1 1NE
map
tel:
0161 222 0576 e-mail web
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 9:30 – 4:30
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Charity shop with a dedicated book room upstairs containing a decent amount of books. A glass cabinet holds old and collectable books. Probably nothing for the serious collector but worth popping in if you happen to be in the area.
The shop is downsizing the book department upstairs and bringing it downstairs. Currently, all books are 50p each. I managed to find a couple, one marked at £25! Not much in the glass cabinets, unfortunately. Stive 04.03.24
Talisman Books /STOCKPORT/Unit 4 Business Court Rear 32 Buxton Rd High Lane
Talisman Books
Unit 4 Business Court Rear 32 Buxton Rd High Lane STOCKPORT SK6 8BH
map
tel:
07523 236850 e-mail
Open: most days 11.30 - 4.00, ring or e-mail first
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Mixed stock of around 2000 books, 50p to £50 generally. Lots of ordnance survey maps. Cookery, Terry Pratchett, Stephen King, collectables. Modern 1st editions. Books wanted, please ring or email. Lots of stock on abebooks under Talisman Books. Most of this in the unit.
Small shop but well laid out with very varied stock. Prices are fair and owner is friendly. Well worth a visit. The Wanderer 09.01.09
Lovely little two-storey shop, in very picturesque setting. Prices are good - and stock is suitably eclectic. Very friendly owner - can recommend highly. Steve 10.05.12
Charming, friendly little shop with stock over two floors - mainly non-fiction upstairs. Strong on local history and topography with lots of maps. Worth a visit. Steven Kelly 30.01.16
Change of address! The Marple Bridge shop is closed. Flip M 29.07.17
Urmston Bookshop/MANCHESTER/72 Flixton Road Urmston
Urmston Bookshop
72 Flixton Road Urmston MANCHESTER M41 5AB
map
tel:
0161 747 7442 e-mail web
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 11.00 - 4.00
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Independent bookshop, opened in 2010. Mainly new books, but also a second-hand section.
Urmston is a leafy and increasingly sought-after area, with a growing number of young professionals and families moving in. Exactly the sort of place, you would think, that should be able to support a bookshop of this type, with lots of events and author visits. Let's hope so, anyway, because the shop was put up for sale in late 2023. I am not sure how extensive the second-hand stock is, but maybe a TBG user in the Manchester area could check it out? Booker T 22.03.24
There are a couple of shelves full of paperbacks and a few hardbacks. Less than you would get in the average charity shop and about the same quality. NWAD. Stive 07.12.24
Wooden Canal Boat Society Shop/ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE/173 Stamford Street Central
Wooden Canal Boat Society Shop
173 Stamford Street Central ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE OL6 7PS
map
tel:
0161 330 8422 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00
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Charity shop with a varied stock of books. Low prices. Cash only.
The Wooden Canal Boat Society, which restores and maintains historic narrow boats and puts them to use for community projects, opened this large second-hand shop (originally a Woolworths store) in the town centre more than 15 years ago. The back of the shop is given over to books: there are about 1,800 here. The vast majority are just £1; children's books are 50p. The fiction, which occupies 20 shelves, is typical charity-shop stock: predominantly mass/mid-market paperback novels, although quite a few hardbacks among them. Crime novels are mixed in with the general fiction. A couple of shelves of sci-fi/fantasy, but only one of classics. A small selection of plays, of quite good quality, but scarcely any poetry. The non-fiction is a little better. There is not a large choice in any category, but cookery and crafts have decent selections. History and travel are a bit thin, but the quality is reasonable. Lots of OS maps. The transport books are quite good, with a few high-quality titles on canals and waterways. A large stock of children's books. Some of these are given away free, as the volunteers are keen to inculcate a love of reading among local children, many of whose parents are on low incomes. "They tend to buy their children a toy. But we like to see the children leave with a toy and a book," the manageress told me. Although NWAD, the shop is by far the best the town has to offer for second-hand books; none of the many other charity outlets is worth bothering with. Ashton-under-Lyne is six miles east of Manchester and easy to reach from there, served by numerous bus routes, a frequent tram service from Piccadilly and hourly trains from Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge. Also buses from Stockport (7, 330), Stalybridge (237, 356, 387), Oldham (356, 409), Rochdale (409), Glossop (237) and Holmfirth (Tuesday only, 357). The shop is about a seven-minute walk from the transport interchange. Booker T 24.02.25