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Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK and Republic of Ireland

News:
McLaren Books are now online only
RGM Books have moved to Bo'ness
new bookshop The Book Nook Stirling
the Strathcarron Hospice Book Shop has closed
new bookshop Seagull Trust Cruises Bookshop
new listing the Birnam Reader
new bookshop Kingdom Books Fife Community Bookshop

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Open at advertised times   Open at advertised times
Phone before travelling   Phone before travelling
Appointment necessary   Appointment necessary
Status unknown, update requested Status unknown, update requested

We do our best to make sure these details are correct and up-to-date. However we recommend that you contact bookshops before making a special journey.

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Barnardo_s book shop/ST. ANDREWS/43 Bell Street
Barnardo's book shop  Open at advertised times
43 Bell Street   ST. ANDREWS   KY16 9UR
map
tel: 01334 479624  web 
Open:  Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00, Sunday 12.00 - 5.00.
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Birnam Reader/BIRNAM/Station Road, Birnam, Perthshire
The Birnam Reader     Open at advertised times
Station Road, Birnam, Perthshire  BIRNAM  PH8 0DS
map
e-mail   
Open: Wednesday - Friday 10.00 - 6.00, Saturday - Sunday 10.00 - 7.00
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Independent bookshop offering wide range of secondhand books and classical CDs


Book Nook/STIRLING/24 Upper Craigs
The Book Nook  Open at advertised times
24 Upper Craigs  STIRLING  FK8 2DG
map
tel:  01786 357071  e-mail   web   
open 7 days a week between 9-5
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The shop is easy to find, close to the Thistles shopping centre. The main business appears to be selling tea and coffee, most of the tables were occupied when we visited on a Sunday morning. One side of the shop is taken up by a large selection of second hand books, the majority are fiction with smaller sections of non-fiction. The shop also sells new books, stationery and some gift items.


Book Stalls/ABERNYTE/Scottish Antique and Arts Centre
Book Stalls  Open at advertised times
Scottish Antique and Arts Centre   ABERNYTE   PH14 9SJ
map
tel: 01828 686 401  e-mail  web 
Open:  7 days 10.00 - 5.00.
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The largest collection of antique & art dealers under one roof in Scotland. A selection of stock from Mair Wilkes Books, as well as books on a number of antiques dealer's stalls.

Fewer book dealers than at Doune, although Mair Wilkes of Newport has a fairly large section close to the entrance.  Steven Kelly 22.12.14
A large antiques and art centre, filled with multiple dealers - some of whom have books, although only 1 or 2 specialising in books at June 2022. Not worth a special trip for the books alone - the books were generally unsorted, average condition and with optimistic pricing, what I pulled out to look at. About a third of what was on offer seemed to be "Scottish Interest", unsurprisingly.

The Centre does have a nice cafe if you're in the area and there for a browse but most antiques and collectibles there are high prices - not a place for a bargain hunter.
  Flip M 21.06.22

Book Stalls/DOUNE/Scottish Antique _ Arts Centre
Book Stalls  Open at advertised times
Scottish Antique & Arts Centre   DOUNE   FK16 6HG
map
tel: 01786 841203  e-mail  web 
Open:  7 days 10.00 - 5.00.
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Booklore/BLAIRGOWRIE/11 Upper Mill Street
Booklore   Open at advertised times
11 Upper Mill Street    BLAIRGOWRIE  PH10 6AG
map
tel:  01250 871120 
Open:  Monday - Friday 9.30 - 5.00, Saturday 11.00 - 1.00.
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Second hand books donated by the local community for charitable purposes.Good general stock and a few collectables. Bright modern premises shared with the community office- 'One Voice'. Myra is available on 01250 876729 on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9.30 - 5.00 in her other shop 'The Toy Box' for general enquiries.

Spacious charity bookshop located up a side street to the west end of the town centre. General stock as might be expected, small-to-medium sized. Prices are very reasonable (grouped in bands rather than individually priced) - although they do have a 'collectable' section which has some rather adventurously priced items.  Steven Kelly 11.05.15

Bouquiniste/ST. ANDREWS/31 Market Street
Bouquiniste  Open at advertised times
31 Market Street   ST. ANDREWS   KY16 9NS
map
tel: 01334 476724  e-mail 
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Very strong on Scottish matters particularly religion and history. Good holdings on these subjects but elsewhere was fairly general.  Chris Harte 17.06.10
Brief visit, but very impressed with the high quality of books in this small shop ... they seem to be very selective in the books they stock ... no rubbish shelf fillers!  Mike 14.09.12
Always interesting stock, more so given its small size. Prices are also reasonable.  Steven Kelly 02.10.14

Errol Car Boot Sale/ERROL/Errol Airfield
Errol Car Boot Sale  Open at advertised times
Errol Airfield   ERROL   PH2 7TB
map
Open:  Sunday 8.30 - 3.00.
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The organisers have storage containers (the sort that go on the back of articulated lorries) that they lease out to sellers to allow them to permanently keep stock on site. Several of the dealers have turned these into second-hand book "shops" that you can walk into and browse.  Jeremy Briggs 
Not worth the trouble of getting up early to go there. Mostly paperbacks.  TommyG 09.12.11

Hanselled Books/BURNTISLAND/19 Kirkgate
Hanselled Books     Phone before travelling
19 Kirkgate    BURNTISLAND  KY3 9DL
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tel:  01592 873323  e-mail   web
Open:  Monday - Tuesday, Thursday - Saturday 10.00 - 3.00, closed in winter. Check before travelling.
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Over 20,000 books in stock covering both fiction and non fiction. We are particularly strong in science-fiction/ fantasy and in Scottish , science, educational, computer and business titles. We also have a diverse range of difficult to find titles. Corner shop consisting of main shop area, back area of about 200 sq ft and basement area.

Also offer a good selection online.  Mark 10.11.12
The hours listed for this shop are not correct. I was there today (Sunday, 8 July) and the shop was double-padlocked at 4:30 in the afternoon. I did not reach anyone when I phoned ahead; it was only a little out of my way. Very disappointing!  Roxann 10.07.18

King_s Bookshop/CALLANDAR/91-93 Main Street
King's Bookshop  Open at advertised times
91-93 Main Street   CALLANDAR   FK17 8BQ
map
tel: 01877 339449 
Open:  7 days, usually 9.00 - 7.00.
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Large general stock, Scottish books, poetry, history and fine bindings. Garden at rear with plant sales.

A smallish bookshop, one room and a corridor although it wasn’t really clear what was shop and what was storage, but lots of books packed on to the shelves at very reasonable prices. Lots of paperbacks just £1 although many very run of the mill titles Very few of the shelves are labelled so you have to work out which section is which. The proprietor sat at a desk in the middle of the room with her cat, she was friendly and explained she was having a zoom call with friends (10.30am) but it was quite off putting when browsing. Left without buying anything, probably not worth a detour but pop in if you’re driving through Callander  HB 14.07.22

Kingdom Books Fife Community Bookshop/LEVEN/Clydesdale House, 9 Durie Street
Kingdom Books Fife Community Bookshop  Phone before travelling
Clydesdale House, 9 Durie Street  LEVEN  KY8 4EZ
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tel:  01333 421295  e-mail   web   
Tuesday to Saturday 11.00 - 5.00
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Not for Profit Organisation run by volunteers. Accessible ground floor shop. Approx. 5000 used books in stock but more added weekly through customer donations. Approx 2000 books in storage awaiting review and pricing. Specialist subjects Local History, Scottish, Military, Wine, Food and Drink, Gardening, Craft, Art, Academic.


Mair Wilkes Books/NEWPORT-ON-TAY/3 St Mary_s Lane
Mair Wilkes Books  Open at advertised times
3 St Mary's Lane   NEWPORT-ON-TAY   DD6 8AH
map
tel: 01382 542260  e-mail 
Open:  Open: Tuesday - Friday 10.00 - 12.30 & 2.00 - 4.30, Saturday 10.00 - 4.30.
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20,000 books across all subjects but especially, the history of ideas, philosophy and medicine. Scottish literature and topography. A selection of our stock can be found at The Scottish Antique and Arts Centre, Abernyte.

Easily missed on a side-street, a very large and eminently browsable stock in the upper floor of a large detached house. Somewhat reminiscent of Bookcase in Carlisle albeit on a much smaller scale. Prices reasonable for the most part.  Steven Kelly 02.10.14

Oxfam Books and Music/PERTH/118 South Street
Oxfam Books and Music  Phone before travelling
118 South Street   PERTH   PH2 8PA
map
tel: 01738 446790  web 
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Small outlet, similar in scale to the Edinburgh Morningside or Carlisle branch. Good stock nonetheless. Prices reasonable to steep-ish.  Steven Kelly 22.12.14
Small to medium sized shop in the town centre which, while catering for the mainstream reader, has a remarkably wide and good selection of books. Perhaps this is because Perth, despite its size, does not have another second hand bookshop (indeed in 25+ years of visiting I dont remember it ever having a second hand bookshop before Oxfam). I have found some interesting items here in the past and this visit was no exception.  Jeremy Briggs 16.04.15
Typically bright and well organised Oxfam shop with an interesting stock. Prices are generally high, particularly for anything deemed special, with an extravagant £50 price tag not uncommon on glass case items. Was pleased to find a recent history of the War Graves Commission at a more usual Oxfam price of £3.50. Perth has some fine Classical architecture and is well worth a visit.  TravellingLibrary 08.08.15
Seven years since the last reviews and the shop is still there and seems much the same as then. Normal Oxfam bookshop pricing, enough to make some complain about, but nothing too crazy that I noticed.  Adrian 07.04.22

Oxfam Bookshop /STIRLING/79 Murray Place  
Oxfam Bookshop   Phone before travelling
79 Murray Place    STIRLING  FK8 1AU
map
tel:  01786 462380  e-mail   web
Open:  Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4,.30, Sunday 12.00 - 4.30
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Approx. 5500 books, some vinyl, CDs and DVDs. Specialities: Scottish, Art, Literature, History, and Transport.

Smaller stock than the size of the shop would suggest - with Oxfam's own branded goods taking up a substantial part of the floorspace. However prices are very good by Oxfam's standards.  Steven Kelly 02.10.14
Selling all their stock at 50p apiece at the time of our visit, with a view to closing for a refit mid-August. Rather small stock available.  TravellingLibrary 08.08.15
Back at Stirling on 05/08/16; 24 years on. Popped into the Oxfam shop but couldn't find any non-fiction items to purchase. Sorry.  Chris K. 08.08.16

RGM Books/BO_NESS/53b South Street
RGM Books    Open at advertised times
53b South Street   BO'NESS  EH51 9HA
map
tel:  07722 555898  e-mail   web  
Open: Tuesday & Thursday 9.30 - 4.30, Wednesday & Friday 10.30 - 5.00, Saturday 9.00 - 5.00
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Bookshop, recently moved from Falkirk, selling a wide range of second hand books including Antiquarian & Collectable (PBFA Member)

Small room with a select range of quality books, at reasonable prices. A deceptively large number of items to peruse nonetheless!  Steven Kelly 11.11.21

River Thoughtful Fishing Books/BLAIRGOWRIE/Old Barn
River Thoughtful Fishing Books  Phone before travelling
Old Barn  Bridge of Cally   BLAIRGOWRIE   PH10 7JJ
map
tel: 01250 886327  e-mail  web 
Open:  Most days except Monday 10.00 - 6.00.
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A wide selection of second-hand, antiquarian and collectable fishing books,maps and prints. We also keep a small amount of general field sports titles. The shop is right opposite the Bridge of Cally Hotel. We are open most days but please ring ahead if making a special trip. Please ring the bell if the door is shut.


Seagull Trust Cruises Bookshop/FALKIRK/Unit 23, Howgate Shopping Centre
Seagull Trust Cruises Bookshop   Open at advertised times
Unit 23, Howgate Shopping Centre  FALKIRK  FK1 1HG
map
tel:  01324 629634, mob: 07935238113  e-mail   web  
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00
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Occupying the old premises of Strathcarron Hospice Bookshop, the Seagull Trust Cruises Bookshop opened in October 2021. About 2000 books, also available online. Prices are suggested, pay what you can afford. Donations go the Seagull Trust Cruises.


Stirling Books  /STIRLING/18 Maxwell Place  
Stirling Books    Open at advertised times
18 Maxwell Place    STIRLING  FK8 1JU
map
tel:  01786 461816  e-mail   web   
Open:  Monday - Saturday 11.00 - 4.00
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We currently stock around 8,000 secondhand books in a wide range of categories. Large theology and philosophy section, large natural history section, fiction titles from the 1800's through to current paperbacks and hardbacks. 400 free books currently available.

Broad range, strong on academic titles. Following a recent revamp they seem to have fewer coffee table and 'celebrity' biography type books. Prices reasonable, occasionally on the higher side.  Steven Kelly 02.10.14
Stirling Books may well have 30,000 books in stock, but I'd say only a fraction of that number were out on display in the shop. Very general coverage and rather high prices. Some books currently stickered at £2 and £3.  TravellingLibrary 08.08.15
New opening hours listed on their web site. Open 12.00 to 5.00 Monday to Saturday. Closed on Sunday  booksellerbull 18.07.19
This shop seems to have shrunk since my last visit a couple of years back. The helpful owner/assistant did check on her computer for any titles matching my interest, but sadly little was available.  Wessexman 22.09.19