Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK and Republic of Ireland
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Bookshop/BUCKINGHAM/Buckingham Chantry Chapel (National Trust)
Bookshop
Buckingham Chantry Chapel (National Trust) Market Hill BUCKINGHAM MK18 1JX
map
web
Open: Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday 10.00 - 3.00 - but check website.
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This fifteenth-century chapel was restored by Gilbert Scott in 1875 and is now open to the public as a secondhand bookshop selling donated books.
Free to gain entry as this hall is a coffee and bookshop. Bookcases all categorized around all the walls of perhaps 1,000 books at near charity shop prices. No purchases made as zero naval books on offer. Worth visiting if also visiting N.T. Stowe book loft or the places in Brackley. There is also 5 general charity shops in walking distance in Buckingham selling books the best of which was Oxfam. Laurence Batchelor 06.12.18
Crazy for Books/MILTON KEYNES/Central Market
Crazy for Books
Central Market MILTON KEYNES MK11 1AY
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Open: Thursday 9.30 - 4.30.
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Market book stall.
Stock is mainly readers' paperbacks but the turnover is good, the prices very reasonable and the owner e.t.g.o.w. There are often some charity stalls with books on the market but these are less reliable. Steven Whitehead 09.06.12
I can confirm that the stall is called Crazy for Books and repeat what I said last time. Excellent for paperbacks but little else on show. Steven Whitehead 31.05.13
I was in Milton Keynes on a Thursday before Christmas 2017 and again on a Thursday in February 2018 and the stall has gone, unless it is seasonal and only comes out in the warm weather. One charity stall with a few books but NWAD. Steven 28.03.18
Hayloft Bookshop/BUCKINGHAM/National Trust Stowe
Hayloft Bookshop
National Trust Stowe New Inn Farm BUCKINGHAM MK18 5EQ
map
tel:
01280 817156 e-mail web
Open: 7 days, please see website for seasonal opening times.
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Located in the New Inn Visitor Centre, the Hayloft Bookshop is a treasure trove of good quality books. You'll find a comfy reading chair for a rainy day or drop in for an array of titles as well as historic editions. Free entry to New Inn Visitor Centre, includes NT shop and café.
Given the name it should be no surprise it's reached by way of a (narrow) staircase and consists of a quaint but small room, over the reception area. As with any NT used bookshop they rely on donations and has a limited general stock but if you're local or nearby it may be worth a look. The nearby NT Chantry Chapel used bookshop in central Buckingham has more stock (doesn't require a membership or entry fee and has cheap refreshments - but is only open a few days a week). Flip M 28.03.18
The sale on books I found was not the ones in the Hayloft but in one of the downstairs rooms on the other side of New Inn Farm. The Hayloft did surprisingly have a good selection of military and children's books so 4 purchases made. You do not need to pay to enter the park or property in order to view the books as the volunteers escorted me to the narrow staircase. Seating was provided in the small loft to rest weary legs. I'd say there were a few hundred books in all. If not a National Trust member parking is £2. Laurence Batchelor 06.12.18
The bookshop is no longer in the Hayloft, so no more climbing stairs! It's located nearby on the ground floor. polypody 27.09.22
Nooks and Crannys/CHESHAM/9 Market Square
Nooks and Crannys
9 Market Square CHESHAM HP5 1HG
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tel:
01494 778855
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Describes itself outside as an an antique shop and only has a small area of books at the rear of the shop. Stop if you're passing but don't make a special trip. Nicholas Pendower 05.02.09
Oxfam Book and Music Shop/OLNEY/Adam House
Oxfam Book and Music Shop
Adam House Stanley Court OLNEY MK46 5NH
map
tel:
01234 714592 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, Sunday 11.00 - 2.00, Bank Holidays 11.00 - 4.00.
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All categories - subject to donation. We are tucked away off the High Street near the Co-op and have been open since 2005. We are frequently complimented on the quality of our stock and we also have a specialist music section with a great selection of vinyl.
Oxfam shops are often criticised for being more expensive - this most certainly isn't! We bought 8 books all in excellent condition for £11.44 this morning. Not large, but sections covering fiction, history, biogs, the usual charity shop areas I suppose - often for less than a pound. There were a number of antiquarian books incl some unusual things. I saw nothing over £9.99 and most far less (I picked up a 1956 Agatha Christie for £1.99 with a VG+ DJ). Well laid out and worth a browse if you're in the area. Flip M 26.07.16
Well laid out with books of above average calibre and condition and fair prices. Too small to be WAD but if you add in the antique and other charity shops there is enough in the town to make a worthwhile visit. Parking is free and there are some good places to eat. Steven 21.04.17
Repeat visit (August 2018) and I repeat what I said last time (April 2017). Steven 09.08.18
Agree not worth WAD on its own but as I was visiting the other book shops in the County I called in. Found one paperback for £1 which the assistant brought from upstairs but overall the military section was weak. Upon chatting to the staff it seems the locals regularly buy up the quality donations quickly. Laurence Batchelor 25.09.18
As per my comments from 2 years ago really - still worth popping in if you're in the area. Prices still very reasonable - I recently paid £8.99 for 1 book (which was roughly the expected price) and the cashier did say it was unusually expensive for them! Usually pay no more than £2. Olney has good places to eat and a couple of charity shops and antique centre. Flip M 01.10.18
I repeat what I have said before: a pleasant little shop with helpful staff. Not strong in any categories although there is probably a shelf for most subjects. Good for readers and collectors may get lucky. Steven 13.06.19
Oxfam Books and Music/BEACONSFIELD/5 Station Parade
Oxfam Books and Music
5 Station Parade BEACONSFIELD HP9 2PB
map
tel:
01494 730005 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30.
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Ever-changing selection of current titles, classic literature, CDs, vinyl records,
Very Good quality stock but a trifle expensive fairly large shop John Bacon 23.10.17
As John Bacon says, very good quality stock, much of it appears new and un-read... Remainders perhaps or unwanted presents donated by the extremely affluent residents of Beaconsfield? Prices okay for the standard Oxfam charity shop stock, but hardbacks and history (Good general and local stock) were quite steep. Oddly, no crime section! There are several other charity shops in town, some with quite good ranges of books. The town has changed massively since the mid seventies when I was a boy living there - looks quite tatty now! Jon Morgan 30.10.17
I found this a surprisingly good bookshop. Everything was neatly stacked on the shelves and clearly marked as to its category. It was mainly titles which had been published since around the 1980s and so I was able to pick up quite a number of children's books which were suitable for my grandchildren. Sue Harte 07.10.21
Oxfam Bookshop/AYLESBURY/32 High Street
Oxfam Bookshop
32 High Street AYLESBURY HP20 1SF
map
tel:
01296 423843 web
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Not as good as the Berkhamsted one but about all that there is left in Aylesbury. Steven Whitehead 27.04.11
While Aylesbury has POCS only the Oxfam shop is reliably interesting. Prices are reasonable and bargains not unknown. Steven 16.02.17
Return visit. Aylesbury town centre may be dying but the Oxfam Books and Music Shop remains a beacon. Good turnover and fair prices - what's not to like? Steven 24.03.19
First post lockdown visit. A well presented shop with books where I would expect to find them, all major subjects covered, and room to browse. Prices for readers' paperbacks and the children's section were sensible but anything collectable is at the top end. If I had found that elusive title to fill a gap then I would have been reaching for my credit card but several books that I might have taken a punt on and returned to be sold again if they were not what I expected were just too pricy to take the chance so I left empty handed. Worth a visit if you are in Aylesbury but not worth a special journey. Steven 18.11.21
Repeat visit. Still much as it was last time. Keen on old cameras and photography books and a good selection across most subjects. Some of the 'collectable' books do not fit my definition of the word and the prices were frankly silly. However, if you stick to the main shelves there is some good stuff to be found at a fair price. Steven 07.04.22
Pemberley Natural History Books/IVER/18 Bathurst Walk
Pemberley Natural History Books
18 Bathurst Walk Richings Park IVER SL0 9AZ
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tel:
01753 631114 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - -5.00.
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Natural history bookshop selling new, second-hand and antiquarian books on Entomology and other natural history subjects. On-line ordering via a secure website. Occasional printed catalogues.
St Andrew_s Bookshop/GREAT MISSENDEN/61 _ 65 High Street
St Andrew's Bookshop
61 & 65 High Street GREAT MISSENDEN HP16 0AL
map
tel:
01494 862168 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00.
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Christian bookshop with a room of secondhand / remaindered books.
Mainly general Christian with some theology plus a few bits and pieces in other genres. NWAD for the general reader but would be of interest to those who read Christian literature. Steven Whitehead 15.12.18
First visit post lockdown. Quality and quantity both improved since my last visit and for those interested in Christian literature WAD. Owner etgow. Steven 09.10.21
Wolverton Books/MILTON KEYNES/202 Stratford Road
Wolverton Books
202 Stratford Road Wolverton MILTON KEYNES MK12 5RL
map
tel:
01908 319 620 e-mail web
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 9.30 - 4.00.
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Charity bookshop. We have a wide selection of all types of books including some unusual & collectable ones. The shop is next to the street level entrance of the Wolverton Branch of Tesco's. Visitors arriving by car may use the Tesco's customers car park.
Prices very good & shop belongs to Age UK, so money goes to a good cause. Barumboy 15.06.13
Prices always very reasonable. Never very busy. Often "2 for 1" offers on some ranges. Small antiquarian section. Very rarely do I leave without buying something. Flip M 22.10.15
Always worth popping in if nearby though - prices for most books are a pound and they're very often almost as new. The antiquarian books are usually a pound or two more. I found a very nice pre-war House at Pooh Corner for £2. Possibly little for serious collectors but the best range of any of the charity shops in the MK area with a constantly replenished stock. But do note the new opening times. Flip M 26.01.16
The antiquarian stuff is no longer there - due to making room for a large amount of crime non-fiction stuff, I was told. They're just figuring out where to put the antiquarian stuff - but that was over a month ago and its not back so at the moment, while the stock is decent and cheap for scifi/crime/fiction and run of the mill recent biogs, it's not the "must see" it was. Flip M 29.04.16
Update - the antiquarian cabinet is back - indeed there are now 2 glass cabs with old books in. But the quality really isn't up to much, from what I can see. I suspect the best stuff now goes on their Amazon store. If you're nearby, they still have a good range of used books in the usual genres for £1 each in excellent condition. Flip M 29.10.16
An excellent charity shop spread through 2 largish rooms. The 1st is filled with your usual paperback fiction but the 2nd has a good selection of children's, transport, local history, archaeology and military amongst others. The shop assistant allowed me to browse their stock room which was a nice touch but all my purchases were from the shop. I came away with a bag load for £16! Outstanding shop and a place where rare finds can be made as some of mine included Italian language warship books. Free parking in nearby Tesco. Laurence Batchelor 25.09.18
Plenty for readers and some items of interest for collectors too. Lots of vintage pulp paperbacks and a decent children's section. Prices very reasonable and there is an invitation to negotiate on the prices of their Internet stock. With the closure of the Penn shop I would say this could now be the best in Bucks. Steven 15.10.18
