Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK and Republic of Ireland
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BHF Book Shop/DUNDEE/14 Reform Street
BHF Book Shop
14 Reform Street DUNDEE DD1 1RG
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tel:
01382 223412 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00, Sunday 12.00 - 4.00.
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Charity selling donated books.
One of a number of BHF shops within easy walking distance of each other in Dundee city centre, this is the only one that is a dedicated bookshop. Just up from the Desperate Dan statue and across the road from the Oxfam bookshop, it isn't as big as Oxfam but had a good general selection of books, and was very busy, on the Saturday that I was there. Jeremy 15.08.15
Better Read Books and Gifts/ELLON/18 Ythan Terrace
Better Read Books and Gifts
18 Ythan Terrace ELLON AB41 9LJ
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tel:
01358729922 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00.
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A large stock of quality affordable secondhand and antiquarian books. Friendly and helpful staff. We also stock new books, hold poetry evenings and do book launches for local authors. Art by local artists available.
Great bookshop very helpful with suggestions for new books and wide range of new and old books for all tastes, very kid friendly as well mthom 07.10.17
Bookends /ABERDEEN/The Hub Elphinstone Road Old Aberdeen
Bookends
The Hub Elphinstone Road Old Aberdeen ABERDEEN AB24 3TU
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tel:
01224 273779 e-mail web 
Open: Monday - Friday 10.00 - 4.00 during term time. See website for more details.
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We are a second-hand charity bookshop on the University of Aberdeen campus, run entirely by student volunteers. We currently have over 6000 books in the shop, ranging from medical and science textbooks to literature and fiction.
Standard problem for a Student Union website: page not reliably available (e.g. not online at 30.8.12); but the www.qype.co.uk page seems to be current ... xanthias2002. 05.09.12
Website changed again. xanthias2002 15.01.18
According to their Facebook page they've moved to The Hub and are closed for the summer. David 12.07.19
Website link updated. There is also a Facebook Page. TBG 02.05.20
Books and Beans/ABERDEEN/22 Belmont Street
Books and Beans
22 Belmont Street ABERDEEN AB10 1JH
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tel:
01224 646438 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.30, Sunday 10.00 - 4.30.
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We have over 15000 titles in stock at any one time, they're searchable in store via our database and are all divided into categories alphabetically. The Coffee Shop specialises in quality coffees, teas, sandwiches and home-made soups.
Close to the main shopping street and with a small to medium stock of books, a bookshop combined with a coffee shop sounds like the perfect combination - unfortunately the reality for the dedicated book hunter is somewhat less. With tables and chairs positioned in the main first floor book section you are left with all too many bookshelves shielded by customers sitting in chairs. Waitresses politely ask to get past you as you try to see the books over tables and chairs whilst trying not to listen in to the conversations of those you are hovering over. The shop's computer searchable stock list cannot really replace the browsers delight of finding an interesting looking volume on a shelf. So while the coffee and soup certainly smell wonderful, this is really a caf? with books for sale rather than the other way around. Jeremy Briggs
I agree entirely with Jeremy about the difficulties of looking at the books, but I would add that the staff are really nice, and if you go in early it is much easier to see everything. Rosemary Kaye 15.03.11
My first visit to Aberdeen. Already had a snack at the closing Art Gallery, so I only looked quickly at the books here. Bought a nearly new local guide to help my next, longer visit. Also have nearly12,000 items online... Chris K 07.03.15
Deeside Books/BALLATER/18-20 Bridge Street
Deeside Books
18-20 Bridge Street BALLATER AB35 5QP
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tel:
013397 54080
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
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General stock with emphasis on local history, Scottish, military, fishing and field sports, transport, travel and topography. Stock of approx 10,000 varying from paperbacks to collector's items along with some remainders. Located on main A93 Aberdeen to Braemar road. In centre of Village.
An excellent shop. Extensive non-fiction holdings, and some antiquarian material, in general at very reasonable prices. Also stocks interesting Scottish remainders. Well worth a visit. Second Nature 16.08.11
A tidy bookshop with a wide-ranging general stock, including strong Scottish history and topography sections (as one would expect). Interestingly, a varied Africa selection as well. S+S 09.08.18
Jane Jones Books/ABOYNE/The Old Shop
Jane Jones Books
The Old Shop Dinnet ABOYNE AB34 5JY
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tel:
07834 768228
Open: Sunday - Tuesday & Thursday - Saturday, variable but usually 11.00 - 6.00.
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A small but interesting stock with emphasis on natural history, local history, Scottish and children's. Good section on Deeside and Aberdeen. Collectors items and plenty of bargains. Booksearch facility. Shared premises with antique shop. A relaxing and friendly atmosphere with a complementary cup of coffee.
Interesting natural history stock, but most items very overpriced. Second Nature 16.08.11
Madigan_s Food Emporium/DUNDEE/25 Castle Street
Madigan's Food Emporium
25 Castle Street DUNDEE DD1 3AA
map
tel:
01382 699202 e-mail web
Open: Monday to Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
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Tea room in the heart of Dundee city centre, with books.
Round the corner from the sadly deceased Big Bairns Books, Madigans appears to have rescued some of Big Bairns stock. However as the name suggests , this is a café with some bookcases which, typically of all such establishments I have been in, doesnt work as a bookshop. The soup may smell excellent as you enter but most of bookcases are blocked by tables & chairs which if they are vacant only impede the book hunter but if they are in use complete prevent access to the adjacent books, while many of the childrens titles are trapped in the kids play area. OWADIYAH only worth a diversion if you are hungry. Jeremy Briggs 29.04.14
Mercat Bookshop/ABERDEEN/45 Castle Street
Mercat Bookshop
45 Castle Street Castle Gate ABERDEEN AB11 5BB
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Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 3.30.
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VSA's Charity Bookshop has a selection of donated good quality, second-hand books from best sellers to science fiction, educational and science to nature, and history to art.
This has just relocated from King St and now has lovely new premises. It's a straightforward charity bookshop, shelves are well spread out, prices are very low indeed, and you never know what you will find. Good coffee shop in Salvation Army Citadel just across the Castlegate. Rosemary Kaye 17.03.11
I was there from CANADA in April. Excellent, friendly and knowleageble service. Wish I had their e-mail to order more books on SCOTLAND from people who know ABERDEEN! Claude Boyer 10.07.15
Old Aberdeen Book Shop/ABERDEEN/140 Spital
Old Aberdeen Book Shop
140 Spital Old Aberdeen ABERDEEN AB24 3JU
map
tel:
01224 658355 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Friday 11.15 - 5.15, Saturday 11.30 - 5.00.
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We specialise in buying and selling good quality books, covering a wide range of authors and subjects. We have over 7000 books on display, many of which are out of print.
Best in Aberdeen, this shop has a good range of general stock. Its nearness to the University means it usually has quality literature, history, military, religion, politics etc. as well as good stocks of local interest. Well worth a visit. Ken Clark 13.09.11
A good variety of intelligent reading in hard and softback. Modest prices. Decent turnover of stock. Pierce Roche 08.06.12
Excellent shop larger than seems from outside. Owner very helpful. mikey 29.03.14
Orb_s Community Bookshop /HUNTLY/10½ The Square
Orb's Community Bookshop
10½ The Square HUNTLY AB54 8BR
map
tel:
01466 793765 e-mail
Open: Monday & Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
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Run by not-for-profit organisation, Huntly Heritage and Bookshop Community. General secondhand and new Scottish interest books. It is a place to find what you never knew you wanted!
Moved to new address. Alternative e-mail huntly.heritage@btopenworld.com TBG2 07.07.21
Oxfam Books and Music/DUNDEE/45 Reform Street
Oxfam Books and Music
45 Reform Street DUNDEE DD1 1SL
map
tel:
01382 612528 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
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Newly opened after a number of years absence from Dundee, now in a larger shop than before. Medium-sized stock. At present probably carrying a smaller stock than the shop is intended to have.
About half way between Desperate Dans statue and the McManus Galleries this is a medium sided Oxfam shop which is 80-90% books with the rest being CDs and DVDs. While it may still have been a new-ish shop with the cream of the stock when I was there, the wide range of topics both fiction and non-fiction and a surprisingly good selection of titles within each made this the best Dundee bookshop during my April 2014 trip. Jeremy Briggs 29.04.14
Oxfam Bookshop/ABERDEEN/5 Back Wynd
Oxfam Bookshop
5 Back Wynd ABERDEEN AB10 1JN
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tel:
01224 642490 web
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Just off the main shopping street, this small Oxfam bookshop is long and narrow with its central shelf units angled like arrow heads towards the door. While their positioning may allow more units to be fitted in, it does not help free movement around the shop however, since they reach above head height, it means that this shop does have a surprising amount of stock for its size. Jeremy Briggs
I agree with the review - the shelves are arranged so that it is v difficult to browse without being in someone's way. It is also quite pricey for paperback fiction. They do, however, have a display of "new in", which is a frequent source of good finds. Rosemary Kaye 16.03.11
In the centre of the city, just off Union Street. Pleasant selection of attractive foreign books in the windows. It is small and narrow but locals can easily re-arrange to let you browse your areas. Couldn't find anything special but will certainly look back, on my next visit. Chris K 07.03.15
Winram_s Bookshop/BALLATER/Balgairn
Winram's Bookshop
Balgairn Bridge of Gairn BALLATER AB35 5UA
map
tel:
01339 755440 e-mail
Open: Thursday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
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5000+ books, paperbacks, Scottish, natural history, fishing and shooting, military history, mountaineering, children's, art & collecting, travel, history, antiquarian, and many other subjects. We are friendly! Established 1976. 2 miles west of Ballater on A93.There is a bus from Aberdeen going to Braemar. Get off at Bridge of Gairn stop.
