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Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK and Republic of Ireland

News:
R J Caffrey has closed
new shop Mainly Books in Eton

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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

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Bas Books/BRACKNELL/First Floor
Bas Books  Open at advertised times
First Floor  Princess Square Shopping Centre   BRACKNELL   RG12 1LS
map
tel: 01344 305042  web 
Open:  Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
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Donated books sold for Sebastian's Action Trust.


Eton Antique Bookshop/ETON/88 High Street
Eton Antique Bookshop  Open at advertised times
88 High Street   ETON   SL4 6AF
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tel: 01753 855534 
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Having made a special lengthy journey to the shop after two telephone conversations with the owner, who had assured me that he "had loads" of the titles I was seeking, I arrived to find that I had been seriously misled. I did see some quality books on the shelves but my annoyance was such that I spent little time having a detailed look.  Chris Harte 09.02.10
A Samuel Beckett Special which will make me have nightmares. There are a few interesting books but 99% of the stock is dross. Eton deserves better.  OWC 22.09.12
Not worth a detour but certainly worth a look if you are in Eton or Windsor. "99% of the stock is dross" is OTT IMHO.  Steven 21.06.14
Plenty of non-book antiques (i.e., maps and prints) and plenty of books that are not antiques and indeed the shop is a bit of a mess (see what I did there?) However the owner is ETGOW and knows what he has got and where to find it and while NWAD it is certainly worth a look. However I did much better over the river in in the Windsor Oxfam book room in the cellar at Queen Anne's Court.  Steven 03.01.20
We're told that it is for sale and is barely open with little stock in the mean time.  TBG2 09.01.23
Now partially reopened by Oxana Soleil specialising mainly in Art and Music books with a grand piano now resident in this small bookshop!  Russ Houghton 18.10.23

Hungerford Arcade/HUNGERFORD/26 High Street
Hungerford Arcade  Open at advertised times
26 High Street   HUNGERFORD   RG17 0NF
map
tel: 01488 683701  e-mail 
Open:  Monday - Friday 9.15 - 5.30, Saturday 9.15am - 6:00 and Sunday 11.00 - 5.00.
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Invicta Books and Martin Smith have stalls in the arcade.

Now has Elmo Books (01730 716351) selling high class sports books, mainly football and motor racing but also boxing and rugby.  John Bacon 28.01.09
Other than being a splendid place to find trinkets and the like the upstairs bookshop part is excellent. It is many a while since I spent time in going twice around the shelves of a dealer's offerings. There was a very varied stock with some antiquarian gems in places you would not expect to find them. Well worth calling in if you are passing. As noted above the ground floor sports section is also first rate.  Chris Harte 31.08.10
Agreed above. There are goodies if you are prepared to confront the rather hectic filing system. Also has excellent postcard unit and decent cafe.  Norman Davies 14.08.12
Hungerford has lots to offer and is worth visiting, which I do regularly, particularly for the Arcade which has plenty of good books on a variety of subjects.  OWC 22.09.12
Three and a half years since my last visit and I still enjoyed rummaging through the piles of books on the first floor. Prices were very acceptable and I came away with bagfuls of titles concerning my various interests. The downside were the boorish day-trippers who loudly gave of their ignorant opinions.  Chris Harte 04.03.14
Elmo Books now moved out.  John Bacon 13.02.16
I was in the Hungerford Arcade today in the large book store - piled high in places. He has a £2 sale on at the moment. There are some good sections with the local books occupying a number of shelves.  Chris Harte 14.11.17
NJ Bridger now has space on the first floor here (he used to have an area in a shop in Marlborough) and has a good stock of reasonably priced railway books and miscellaneous railway items. A visit from time to time usually results in at least one book being purchased.  SteveBrissle 18.01.20
Plenty of mixed stock to see here in the bookrooms upstairs, but it has a bit of a lucky dip feel about it. I would have been happy to spend longer checking through the shelves, but with record-breaking temperatures outside today, the upstairs was getting uncomfortably stuffy. Prices seemed reasonable.  Wessexman 18.07.22
Watch out for low ceilings and precarious piles of books on the floor. Might repay patience, though. On the shelves that were easiest to browse, I picked up some cult fiction at irresistible prices. Wonder what I might have found if I'd dug deeper?   Paul O 19.08.22
As I was rummaging through the piles of books my wife wandered over and commented that she liked the look of a large, but fairly thin book which had been illustrated by Phil May. "It's only £2," she said," so I'll buy it." On arriving home she checked prices on the internet and found only one other copy for sale. When she saw the asking price she screamed. I am a jealous husband so I'm not taking her again. As for me? Only 28 purchases on this visit - and change from £50. Please don't think of visiting until I've paid my return visit which is planned for early next month.  Chris 19.02.24

Hungerford Bookshop/HUNGERFORD/24 High Street
The Hungerford Bookshop  Open at advertised times
24 High Street   HUNGERFORD   RG17 0NF
map
tel: 01488 683480  e-mail  web 
Open:  Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00, 5.30 on Saturday.
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Hundreds of good quality secondhand books downstairs, including a wide range of history, art and biography. Paperback fiction to pick up also. Old and new titles available. Run by a friendly husband and wife team with 20 years bookselling experience between them.

The ground floor is new books, with second-hand in the basement. Stock a little limited.  Clive Cheeseman 15.08.07
New upstairs, second hand in musty basement. Don't agree above - fairly extensive collection if a little pricey. Well worth a visit taking in Hungerford Arcade nearly next door.  Norman Davies 14.08.12
The new books upstairs are ever so tempting unlike the dull and dreary small selection of secondhand books downstairs.  OWC 22.09.12
A basement full of some interesting titles. What was on offer varied between the dull and the surprising. The children's section was strong as were shelves of military and historical books. Found a rare volume which was most reasonably priced.  Chris Harte 04.03.14
A really inviting little independent that conceals a large basement of second-hand. Lots on special subjects, like transport and militaria, and plenty of fine art, but the fiction's a bit limited in range. Nevertheless, I came away with a few titles. Unusual to see new and second-hand on the same premises nowadays.  Paul O 19.08.22
A basement full of good books; well laid out and with no dross. I found two rare titles which I wanted so was a happy bunny. The only downside is the poor lighting so take a torch.   Chris 19.02.24

Mainly Books Antiquarian bookshop/WINDSOR/93 High Street Eton
Mainly Books Antiquarian bookshop   Phone before travelling
93 High Street Eton  WINDSOR  SL4 6AF
map
tel:  01753 855534  e-mail
Monday - Sunday 12.00 - 6.00
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Approximately 3,000 books in this small friendly shop set in historic Eton High Street: a short walk from the college and Windsor Castle. Subjects are wide ranging with strength in Natural History, childrens and antiquarian as well as a selection of graphic novels and illustrated books; maps and prints. We don't sell online but are planning to create a website in the near future to show some of the more interesting books and collections that are available from time to time.


Oxfam Bookshop/READING/105 Crockhamwell Road
Oxfam Bookshop  Open at advertised times
105 Crockhamwell Road  Woodley   READING   RG5 3JP
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tel: 0118 944 2724  web 
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Very good quality books but the prices appear totally unrealistic. Quite a difference compared with a similar shop in nearby Henley, wont be going back.  JF Bacon 18.07.12
Not at all a bad Oxfam. Plenty of fiction and autobiographies by people whose names meant nothing to me. However, tucked away in the Arts section was a recently released book with a £60 price tag. I paid £2.99 and the lady on the till thought it was too expensive at that price! Look in if passing.  Chris 12.03.24

Oxfam Bookshop/READING/8 High Street
Oxfam Bookshop    Open at advertised times
8 High Street    READING  RG1 2EA
map
tel:  0118 939 3868    web
CLOSED pending relocation, check website
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A good example of an Oxfam bookshop. Within walking distance is an excellent Oxfam Music shop which is WAD for books of music and books about music as well as CDs, etc.  Steven Whitehead 22.03.12
I like this shop. There is always an interesting (and often quirky) range of books for both readers and collectors and I have never found the prices too expensive.  Steven Whitehead 10.05.14
Still the best bookshop in Reading. Greatly impressed by the customer service. While I was there a bag lady came in off the street looking for a book and the courtesy shown to her was exemplary. The chap at the till had to call the manager to find the book and between them they found it. If only all charity shops were as charitable.  Steven 03.06.16
Really impressed with the range and quality of the books in this shop. It is now closed for a couple of weeks due to refurbishment.  John Bacon 25.03.17
A large well stocked shop with reasonable prices on the railway books I looked at and purchased.  John Edwards 12.10.17
Still the best of the charity shops in Reading by a country mile. I only get there once a year or so and always find something I wasn't looking for and, more often than not, at the right price.  Steven 06.12.18
There's usually something to be had here, but don't expect any bargains as they seem to know the appropriate 'going rate'.  Wessexman 08.03.22
Just as good as in pre-pandemic days. Highlights are sci-fi (especially mid-century writers); French literature (some hard-to-find stuff); and English literary fiction. Collectables are unappealing, but there's a decent fine art section. And prices are reasonable.  Paul O 19.08.22
Was closed for refurbishment at the end of 2022 and supposed to reopen Easter 2023. It is still closed and I now understand that the building has been found to be uneconomical to repair and so the bookshop will remain closed until it can relocate somewhere else  PaulH 11.11.23
I called in at the nearby Oxfam Music Shop to ask for an update on the Bookshop (24th November 2023). The helpful chap at the counter said that there was no firm news yet but he believed that Oxfam wanted to re-open a specialist bookshop in the town centre, ideally close to the music shop again, but no suitable premises had become available. In the meantime, the music shop has its usual stock of books of music and books about music plus a couple of spinners of mainly vintage paperbacks. And it is a damn fine record shop with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic team. WWAD for music lovers but not for readers, unless books about music are your bag.  Steven 25.11.23