Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK and Republic of Ireland
News:
New listing Neighbourcare Book Shop Andover
New listing The Bookshop Alehouse Southampton
New listing Greyfriars Bookshop Ringwood
Twenty5books Southsea has closed
New listing The Triangle Farnborough
New listing Mayflower Christian Bookshop Southampton
Oxfam Books & Music Fareham has closed
New listing Oasis Romsey
New listing St Faith's Charity Shop and Bookshop Havant
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Alton Second Hand Books/ALTON/43-45 Normandy Street
Alton Second Hand Books
43-45 Normandy Street ALTON GU34 1DQ
map
tel:
01420 89352 web
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
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Medium sized stock of general secondhand books
Fantastic shop! Lovely general stock and friendly, knowledgeable staff. Really good children's section, too. lovemelovemybooks 31.10.11
Good wide ranging stock in which some inte.resting finds are possible. Herne 25.11.11
My favourite bookshop. Well organised and diverse range, with a continual flow of new stock. Friendly and helpful staff. A browser's delight. Sputnikchaser 03.03.12
I had a very enlightening chat with the owner who completely understands the spirit of secondhand bookshops. This one has an extensive stock on most subjects and comes highly recommended. OWC 22.09.12
Really plesant bookshop and decent stock in all areas: ruined by the bonkers decision not to take card payments. I had to leave a large pile of books behind as it was a long walk back into town to a cash point. I know it costs a little bit but this is 2013 and it must be loosing them business. RX 10.07.13
Enjoyed my visit here, and came away with some nice paperbacks - the literature and science fiction stock wasn't huge, but then it wasn't stuffed with dross. Good range of other books. Prices were at times a tad on expensive side though. Yossarian 10.05.14
Friendly welcome from owner/staff member. Good size bookshop. Well worth a visit. Map on the wall telling you where all subjects are is a little out of date so may need to ask or just have a wonder round. Hardback and paperback. Fiction and nonfiction. Lots of different price points. Something for all budgets. Came away with a big bag of books. Will visit again next time we are in the area. Jayne 22.03.22
A lovely shop, WAD and ETGOW. PeterM 10.09.23
I've had this one on my list to visit for a while, but have never got round to it until this week.
Spectacular and overflowing -- lots of double-rowing in evidence for the paperbacks, so don't expect to see everything on the shelves without a lot of shuffling. A rich and chewy collection of paperback fiction, which satisfied me. Walked away with a good foot and a half of books. I'll definitely be back at some point. As Drif would say, WAD. darkling 13.06.26
Bookends/EMSWORTH/7 High Street
Bookends
7 High Street EMSWORTH PO10 7AQ
map
tel:
01243 372154
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Disappointing. Nearly all modern stuff, decent selection, well organised, but in my view NWAD. Norman Davies 08.04.17
Visited 12/08/21: open and welcoming. A small shop, but tidy and organised. Stock was a mix of hb and pb, seemed reasonable to me given the size of the premises. Not much in my area of interest (F&SF). James Doyle 12.08.21
Hedge End Bookshop see Tanti Books below
Bookshop Alehouse/SOUTHAMPTON/21 Portswood Road
The Bookshop Alehouse
21 Portswood Road SOUTHAMPTON SO17 2ES
map
e-mail 
Open: Tuesday 3:00 - 11pm, Wednesday - Sunday 12:00 - 11pm
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Moderate stock of around 1000 general second hand books. Good selection of football programmes and other sporting literature as well as an interesting stock of various auction catalogues. The pub itself sells a good range of locally produced ale and cider.
An amazing find that I'd tried to visit previously to find they were away on holiday. This was previously solely a second hand bookshop until 2016 but has traded as pub and bookshop since. It's run by the son of the former bookseller and combines the best of both worlds.
The stock is general and not hugely sorted, so a trawl through the shelves can reap rewards, as my daughter found. At the end of the main bookshelves, the cases tuck round a corner at the front of the shop where children's literature and sporting books can be found, including old programmes and the like. A table in front of that has a fascinating box of auction catalogues for country house, antique and classic car sales through Bonhams, Christies, Sotheby's and others. Pricing is nicely affordable.
To me the attraction of good beer and second hand books makes this a must visit. You may not find the books you want, but you can enjoy a decent pint whilst finding that out! Anthony 03.01.25
The beer is good, as is the ambience. The collection of books in the shop is rather limited. The bookseller (Peter Rhodes) has a much larger collection, which he mostly sells online. darkling 13.06.26
Greyfriars Bookshop/RINGWOOD/Greyfriars Community Centre, 44 Christchurch Road
Greyfriars Bookshop
Greyfriars Community Centre, 44 Christchurch Road RINGWOOD BH24 1DW
map
tel:
01425 472613 e-mail web 
Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 5.00, Saturday 9.00 - 12.00
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Second-hand bookshop in community centre. Small general stock.
Greyfriars, a large Georgian house opposite the War Memorial Gardens in the town centre, is the home of the Ringwood & District Community Association. The second-hand bookshop here raises funds for its activities. The shop is quite small, with about 1,500 books, but attracts a regular stream of donations. As well as a diverse range of fiction (mostly in paperback), there is usually a fair amount of good-quality non-fiction on the shelves and also a decent selection of children's books. The prices are modest, in order to achieve a steady throughput of stock. Ringwood's railway station closed long ago, but the Salisbury-Bournemouth (X3) and Poole-Bournemouth (X6) bus routes serve the town. Booker T 21.01.25
Holybourne Rare Books/ALTON/7 Market Street
Holybourne Rare Books
7 Market Street ALTON GU34 1HA
map
tel:
01420 82808 e-mail web
Open: Tuesday, Thursday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00, Monday & Wednesday by appointment
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Modern first editions, antiquarian books and fine bindings.
Nicely laid-out shop on two floors in the centre of Alton. Heavyweight stock (lots and lots of Jane Austen): prices to match. Richard 30.04.09
Good selection in Ancient History / Archaeology: books I haven't seen in shops for years, and at very reasonable prices. Richard Bridgland 26.04.11
Some bargains to be found in what is mainly an antiquarian/first edition stock. Herne 25.11.11
Packed with wonders and if it had been my birthday I would have splashed out on all sorts of fascinating treats but as I had a bag full from elsewhere I resisted temptation. Website under construction... OWC 22.09.12
Closing time daily is 4.00 pm, not 5.00 pm, as I discovered, arriving at 4.30 pm! Francis Marsden 19.03.13
Single smallish room, high class stock. Strong on art and childrens fiction. Prices reasonable for the quality. Rack of cheap books outside (£3 each). PeterM 12.09.23
Some good news to report! Holybourne Rare Books has recently opened a second shop, in Farnham, Surrey (about nine miles away). As a result, the Alton shop's regular opening days have been reduced to four per week: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 10am to 4pm. However, the shop can open by appointment on Mondays and Wednesdays. Closed on Sundays. Booker T 08.09.24
Jade Mountain/SOUTHSEA/17 - 19 Highland Road
Jade Mountain
17 - 19 Highland Road SOUTHSEA PO4 9AH
map
tel:
023 9273 2951 e-mail web
Open: Monday, Wednesday , Friday & Saturday 9.30 - 5.30.
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We have been in business since 1997, and we pride ourselves on providing customers with the best-quality products and personal service. You can order from us using our online catalogue, order over the phone, or visit one of the retail locations that carry our products.
Medium general stock. [Note: Highland Road is the eastward continuation of Albert Road.] - Richard.
Excellent well laid out stock with books on all subjects at reasonable prices I would suggest that it is a fairly large bookshop and not medium sized. John Bacon. 24.03.09
A favourite bookshop. A Very reasonably priced stock. Always worth repeat visits. Nothing exceptionally rare or valuable but all subjects covered pretty well for the size of the shop with the possible exception of Childrens books which could be considered a little thin. RS 11.06.10
I'd agree that this is probably the best all round of the four shops on the street, with decent stock at fair prices. Ian 22.03.11
I am a frequent visitor. Friendly helpful owner with a good selection of ever changing books. I especially like the large selection of Penguins and Classics all very reasonably priced. Mr C. 09.04.11
Excellent well laid out shop with reasonable prices. Parking nearby. Worth a detour. The Drifter 22.08.13
Still excellent well laid out stock, with books on all subjects at reasonable prices. John Bacon 13.02.16
Laurence Oxley Bookshop and Gallery/ALRESFORD/17 Broad Street
Laurence Oxley Bookshop and Gallery
17 Broad Street ALRESFORD SO24 9AW
map
tel:
01962 732998 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00.
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More of a Shop selling new books and carrying out Picture Framing - never seem to get any new second hand stock. John Bacon 30.08.07
Nothing seems to have changed since the last review - especially the stock ! Gavin 28.01.09
Have now visited three times this year and on each occasion have left with a small box full of books. Pricing all over the place and had to decline one wanted title due to high cost. However, still picked up a couple of bargains. Will visit again. Chris Harte 11.08.09
Definitely worth a visit but time needed as books double rowed in places. Prices seemed fair. David 13.02.19
Double rowing mentioned in the last comment no longer in evidence. Moderate stock interspersed with with art/gifts. Prices reasonable. Easy to miss the art section in a small semi-basement. Very pleasant lady in charge of the shop. PeterM 14.04.22
Tending much more to the hardback and/or antiquarian than the mass-market. Nothing of note in my particular interests (sciences and SF&F). darkling 13.06.26
Mayflower Christian Bookshop/SOUTHAMPTON/114 Spring Road, Bitterne
Mayflower Christian Bookshop
114 Spring Road, Bitterne SOUTHAMPTON SO19 2QB
map
tel:
023 8044 9398 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Thursday 10.00 - 3.00, Saturday 11.00 - 2.00
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Mainly new books, but also a good-quality stock of second-hand Christian books.
The Mayflower Christian Bookshop was established in the Sholing area of Southampton in 1976 but moved to its current site in nearby Bitterne/Merryoak five years later. It is closely linked to an independent (Calvinist) Baptist church, but stocks a wide range of Christian literature and is staffed by a large team of volunteers. Most of the books are new, but there is a second-hand section with hundreds of good-quality books, including many out-of-print and some rare titles. About 400 of these are also available for purchase via the shop's website, but not all are online and some recent acquisitions are not listed. The prices are on the low side. The second-hand stock includes not only scholarly theological works, Bible commentaries and concordances, but also personal testimonies and Christian fiction.
The 13 bus (Southampton city centre to Harefield) stops almost outside the shop; alight at Merryoak Road. The nearest railway station is Sholing, on the Southampton-Portsmouth line (one train per hour), about a 20-minute walk; Bitterne station is not within easy walking distance. Car parking is often available on the forecourt of the premises, and is usually straightforward in the adjacent roads. Booker T 16.07.25
Neighbourcare Book Shop/ANDOVER/14 Union Street
Neighbourcare Book Shop
14 Union Street ANDOVER SP10 1PA
map
tel:
01264 404142 (office) e-mail web
Open: Monday - Friday 10.00 - 4.00, Saturday 10.00 - 2.00
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Charity-run second-hand bookshop in the town centre, opened in 2018.
Andover Neighbourcare is a charity that provides support for local senior citizens to help them maintain their independence. To raise funds, it operates a bookshop and a general charity shop, next door to each other, in the town centre. The bookshop is quite small, but seems to attract some good-quality donations. Much of the stock is priced as follows: paperbacks £1 each; classic fiction £1.50; hardbacks £2. Other books are individually priced, although the shop managers are keen to ensure a rapid flow-through of stock and so the pricing is generally on the low side. The bookshop has recently had a large influx of donations and so is temporarily not accepting any more books, although this situation is not expected to prevail for more than a few weeks. It also sells records, DVDs and jigsaws. The shop is only a short walk from the bus station, but Andover railway station is almost a mile away. Booker T 28.09.24
Oasis/ROMSEY/25 Church Street
Oasis
25 Church Street ROMSEY SO51 8BT
map
tel:
01794 512194 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 4.30
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Christian bookshop. Mainly new books, but also a significant second-hand stock.
Oasis opened in Romsey in 1984. As well as selling new books, it has quite a large second-hand stock, a fair proportion of which is not out on display, so if you cannot find what you're looking for on the open shelves, the staff will be happy to check the storage area. The Oasis Christian Trust is interdenominational and there is a wide range of religious books here, some long out of print and quite hard to obtain. The shop also sells fair trade products and, rather unusually, Scout and Guide uniforms.
Oasis is in the town centre, next to the Post Office and very close to Romsey Abbey. The shop, which was built in 1601, is a Grade II listed building. It is about half a mile from Romsey railway station (frequent services from Southampton and Eastleigh, and also hourly trains from Portsmouth) and within a quarter of a mile of the bus station. Booker T 11.08.25
Oxfam Books _ Music/PETERSFIELD/32 The Square
Oxfam Books & Music
32 The Square PETERSFIELD GU32 3HH
map
tel:
01730 260142 web
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This Oxfam has now become a bookshop only - quite to the annoyance of several locals who tried unsuccessfully to leave clothes like they had been doing for many years. John Bacon 31.03.09
I really like this shop. It has a large selection of sensibly priced modern books in excellent condition and a section for old and interesting books. There are some amazing finds to be had. arhicks56. 26.01.11
Assuming this was the same shop, it wasn't just books? Standard Oxfam. Norman Davies 08.04.17
Very small, limited stock, but low prices for Oxfam. I got lucky with one cheap treasure found. PeterM 10.09.23
A small shop but well laid out. My gripe with the layout was that some fiction is shelved close to the door so browsing there effectively obstructs the entrance.
The stock was not bad for Oxfam and I bought two books including a Hesperus reprint of a 1929 book by a WW1 nurse detailing her time in forward aid posts in France.
While we were browsing, some donors came in with a single box of books. ...
The chap on the till said 'Oh don't put them there' and then grudgingly accepted a single box muttering that Saturday was not a good day for donations and 'we can only take one box.'
He made the donors as welcome as lepers and I was just waiting for him to refer them to the local Lazar House. They left with a parting shot of 'We will go elsewhere next time.'
More fool Oxfam! Why do they do this? I appreciate that storage space, and sorting volunteers may be at a premium, but these are FREE books and are their lifeblood to gain cash for their charitable endeavours...AAArgh! Firedrake 07.04.24
Oxfam Books and Music/ROMSEY/25 The Hundred
Oxfam Books and Music
25 The Hundred ROMSEY SO51 8GD
map
tel:
01794 517855 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00, Sunday 11.00 - 3.00
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Town-centre bookshop with a wide range of fiction and non-fiction.
Small to medium sized shop. Pleasant staff (as usual in Romsey) and sensible pricing. Some interesting stock. PeterM 06.04.22
Quite a decent little Oxfam bookshop, well-organised, with nice volunteers. Generally solid stock, but some way short of exceptional. The 15 shelves of general paperback fiction are mostly mass/mid-market, but literary novels account for about a quarter of the titles: mostly £2.29, but up to £3.99. Also 15 shelves of paperback crime/thrillers: £2.29, some £1.99. A couple of dozen recent hardbacks (general fiction/crime): £1.99-£3.99. About 80 'sale' books, including literary fiction: 99p. A few vintage Agatha Christie paperbacks: £3.99-£4.99. Three shelves of sci-fi/fantasy paperbacks (£2.49/£2.99) and a few hardbacks (£2.29-£4.49). Also a small selection of manga: £3.99-£6.99.
Four shelves of classics: paperbacks, including vintage Penguins, £2.49/£2.99. One shelf each of poetry and drama; the former has a few nice volumes at reasonable prices, but the latter is poor. The children's section is quite large, with some decent non-fiction. The children's fiction is also good: mostly £1.99, some 99p. The six shelves of 'collectable' books are a let-down: in a town as affluent as this one, I expected better. Dull old novels, unjustifiably expensive; non-fiction almost as overpriced, but the odd half-decent title; and some unexceptional vintage children's books, also quite pricey.
For non-fiction, the best sections are cookery (six shelves, generally high quality), natural history/ornithology, religion, health, gardening and crafts (especially needlework). The music/film/TV section has some good stock, but the sheet music, although reasonably priced (99p-£2.99), is insipid. The biographies (four shelves: £1.99-£2.99) are mostly the witterings of self-aggrandising minor celebrities, although those in the sports and 'stage and screen' sections are a bit better than usual. Transport has the odd good railway title, but the science, local history, politics/social sciences and travel books are rather bland. Six shelves of history and three of military books: neither section is bad, but real quality is absent. Art, architecture and photography each have a few better books, steeply priced.
The shop is right in the town centre, a couple of minutes from the bus station and within a ten-minute walk of Romsey railway station. There are buses from Southampton (routes 4 and, Monday-Saturday only, X7R), Winchester (66), Eastleigh (5; not Sundays) and Salisbury (X7R; not Sundays). Frequent trains from Southampton, Eastleigh, Portsmouth and Salisbury. Booker T 28.01.26
Oxfam Books and Music/SOUTHAMPTON/6 The High Street
Oxfam Books and Music
6 The High Street Hythe SOUTHAMPTON SO45 6AH
map
tel:
023 80 849501 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00, Sunday (seasonal): 11.00 - 3.00.
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Specialist sections; railways & transport, sailing, London, local interest and antiquarian/collectable.
A fairly large shop mainly books. Excellent selection of titles on London plus a bookcase of first editions. Helpful staff. Much on WW1 and local publications. Chris Harte 11.08.09
Small selection of books, even for an Oxfam bookshop, and nothing of note in the specialist sections they list here. Disappointing. Paul H 06.10.11
Smallish stock but varied. I found a few oddities at reasonable prices. Seems to have improved a little over the last few years. PeterM 26.11.21
A nice surprise find, not having read the bookguide first. Daughter found some incredibly cheap academic books for her degree course. Make a trip of it from Southampton by the ferry and the 100 year old pier tramway! Anthony 07.06.23
Stock seemed very limited. I found nothing of interest. NWAD PeterM 10.09.23
Oxfam Books and Music/WINCHESTER/74 Parchment Street
Oxfam Books and Music
74 Parchment Street WINCHESTER SO23 8AT
map
tel:
01962 841627 web
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Of the numerous Oxfam Bookshops I visit this one seems to have the most uninteresting or over priced books . Unlike the one at nearby Farnham which always seems to have interesting and reasonably priced books. John Bacon 07.05.09
Certainly a contender for most expensive charity bookshop but loses out to the Bristol Queens Road, Oxfam. Dull overpriced stock. Not worth a detour. The Drifter 22.08.13
I didn't find this quite as barren and expensive as I expected. The manager was willing to negotiate on one map that I though was overpriced. CB 17.05.14
Probably one of the best stocked and organised Oxfam Bookshops I have seen outside London. That said some of their prices for children's books (Arthur Ransome, and not even 1st editions) and French DVD were just silly and I left empty handed. The other charity shops are rather a desert which is surprising given the nature of the City , its client base and general prosperity. Worth a look but not a detour unless you visit the Cathedral Inner Close Book cabins at the same time (Recommended). Jon Morgan 04.08.14
Stock overpriced and dull with little choice. Not worth a detour. David 13.02.19
Nice shop, large stock. Good welcome from staff. Prices often optimistic but sometimes reasonable. I suspect it's well combed regularly by local collectors as on my occasional visits I have hardly ever seen a rarity in my fields. PeterM 26.11.21
A good find for my daughter, realms of oceanography academic books last week. Tidy shop, and busy too. Nothing much in my lines of interest, but along with other bibliophile venues in Winchester, one to add to the list to visit. Anthony 04.06.24
Not far from Winchester Bookshop and plenty to interest. Upstairs an interesting selection of history and literary commentary. Downstairs mainly fiction, good on classics Herne 20.11.24
A pocket-sized Oxfam shop, or so it appears from outside. But there are two floors -- bring crampons for the steepest staircase I've seen in a bookshop -- and plenty to look at. Upstairs I was surprised to see a shelf dedicated to fashion. And I have to agree with Herne that the section of literary biography and criticism is worth checking out. There's a compact and well-organized vinyl and CD corner too. Downstairs has plenty of mainstream contemporary fiction, plus some classics. It's just a few steps from the much bigger Winchester Bookshop, so worth adding to your itinerary. Paul O 16.01.26
Oxfam Bookshop/LYMINGTON/73 High Street
Oxfam Bookshop
73 High Street LYMINGTON SO41 9AL
map
tel:
01590 671580 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00
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A fair-sized stock of quite good quality. Prices fairly moderate.
An above-average Oxfam bookshop, albeit a stiflingly hot one. Twirling ineffectively, the ceiling fans wafted overheated air from one part of the shop to another and I pitied the ETGOW volunteers. The premises, in a rather nice Georgian building, consist of two fair-sized rooms, now divided by an archway: fiction at the front; children’s books and most of the non-fiction at the back.
The ‘general fiction’ takes up 28 shelves, mostly mass/mid-market, including a fair proportion of crime novels. Four shelves of literary fiction/classics. In these sections, paperbacks are £1.99-£3.49; mostly £2.99; hardbacks £2.49-£3.99. Two shelves of sci-fi/fantasy, almost all paperbacks: older titles 99p, newer mostly £2.99. Only a small stock of poetry (poor) and drama (slightly better). Nine shelves of children’s fiction, varied and good-quality, including older titles: mostly £1.49/£1.99, some £2.49. A good selection of foreign-language children’s books, mainly German and Dutch.
Eight shelves of ‘collectable’ books, mostly older hardback fiction, not especially interesting, but moderately priced: many just £1.99/£2.99. A few quite good non-fiction titles. Also vintage children’s fiction, although nothing too exciting. A dozen Pelicans (£1.99-£2.49) and a few vintage Penguins (£1.99-£3.99). A dozen vintage Ladybirds (99p-£2.99) and a handful of 1950s/60s children annuals (mostly £1.99-£2.99). Also a few vintage Observers (£2.99-£3.49). A glass cabinet contains uncommon but overpriced works on alchemy, Kabbalah, the Essenes etc.
For non-fiction, the pricing is generally reasonable. The quality is mostly above the Oxfam norm. Art is among the best sections: five shelves, generally good-quality, with a few excellent volumes, cheaply priced. Also a few good titles on photography and architecture. Eight shelves of history/military: British history rather mundane; military slightly better; world history quite good. Four shelves of travel include unusual and nicely illustrated volumes.
No other subject takes up more than two shelves. Cookery, crafts and gardening are all good, as are science and literary biography/literary criticism. Several of the smaller sections have a minority of seriously good or unusual titles among the more commonplace books: this is true for cookery, natural history, religion/spirituality and sport. The last of these contains some rather fine sailing/yachting books and also a few extremely niche titles: the 192-page, lavishly illustrated, large-format ‘Vintage Fishing Reels of Sweden’, for example, which could be yours for £3.99. Quite good stock for politics/current affairs, philosophy, economics, health and self-help. A handful of decent titles on film and music. No real quality for either transport or local interest.
Lymington is an affluent town, with a nice feel to it. The bookshop is half a mile from Lymington Town railway station, although the lower part of High Street entails a steep climb. The rail line is a spur, which terminates across the river at Lymington Pier for ferries to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. For other stations, change at Brockenhurst. Lymington can be reached by bus from Bournemouth (81, 82), New Milton (81, 82, 119, 120), Southampton (86), Lyndhurst (86) and Hythe/Beaulieu (112, Tuesdays and Thursdays only), as well as by the summer-only tour buses NFB (Lymington, New Milton, Brockenhurst) and NFG (Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Lymington, Beaulieu, Hythe). The Post Office stops on the High Street are very near the shop. Booker T 27.07.26
Oxfam Bookshop/NEWMILTON/112 Station Road
Oxfam Bookshop
112 Station Road NEW MILTON BH25 6LR
map
tel:
01425 613736 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 4.30
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Varied stock at low prices.
The stock here may be unexceptional. The prices, however, are not. Even the regular prices are very modest, but those for large swathes of the stock are reduced to bargain levels. “The low prices keep it all moving,” a volunteer informed me.
Seven shelves of general fiction, mostly frothy: paperbacks £2.49. Also seven shelves of crime (recent paperbacks: £2.99), including one of ‘classic crime’ (modern reprints) at £1.99/£2.49 (the £1.99 books are three for two). Only a few hardbacks: £1.99-£2.99. One shelf of classics and two of modern literary fiction: many 99p; up to £2.99. Very little sci-fi. The odd good title on the poetry shelf; a smaller stock of run-of-the-mill drama. A few French-language paperbacks: 99p.
The ‘sale’ stock includes eight shelves of general fiction/crime paperbacks and two shelves of recent hardbacks, mostly mid-market: all 99p. A couple of baskets of paperback classics: 99p or three for £2. The low prices for fiction extend to the ‘collectables’ section, which includes about 20 vintage Penguins (99p-£1.99) and a few vintage green crime ones (all 99p). Also some nice 1920s hardback novels by Sheila Kaye-Smith (Cassell’s ‘Sussex’ edition): £4.99.
A fair-sized children’s section: largely modern paperback fiction (most 99p, a few 49p). Three shelves of ‘young adult’ fiction: 99p-£2.49. Some good non-fiction. A couple of dozen modern Ladybirds: 99p each or three for £2. A few dozen annuals, 1960s onwards: ‘Girls’ World’, ‘Blue Peter’, ‘Rupert’ £1.99; ‘Princess Gift Book for Girls’ £2.99. A few vintage children’s books in the ‘collectables’ section and in a cabinet, some uncommon: prices fairly reasonable.
The non-fiction prices are generally low: many books are 99p or £1.99. Seven shelves for history/military: a few good volumes for the latter. Three shelves of cookery: quite good. A couple of shelves each for art, sport and transport: nice art books at modest prices; quite good for railways and trams; the odd decent volume on sport. A basket of cricket books: 99p each or three for £2. Two shelves for music, also varied sheet music/songbooks. Also two shelves for local interest: a minority of good titles, reasonably priced. Other sections are smaller: gardening and crafts quite good; religion and travel dull. About 200 OS maps (Explorers £2.99, Landrangers £1.99; some 49p). Natural history stock rather depleted.
The ‘collectables’ section (four shelves) is slightly above typical Oxfam standard and below typical prices. A dozen Observers: most £2.99, a few £1.99. A few interesting volumes on local/natural history in two locked glass cabinets: prices mostly reasonable. Also a couple of tables and baskets of books at 99p: some half-decent art, cookery, gardening, natural history and biographies/memoirs.
New Milton is a small and unexciting town on the southern edge of the New Forest. Oxfam is on the main shopping street, a ten-minute walk from New Milton railway station: frequent trains from Southampton, Brockenhurst, Bournemouth, Poole, Winchester, Dorchester and Weymouth. Buses 81 and 82 from Lymington and Bournemouth; also, Monday-Saturday only, 119 and 120 from Lymington. The summer-only NFB tour bus serves New Milton, Lymington and Brockenhurst. The Bradbeers and Ashley Crossroads stops are close to the shop. Booker T 27.07.26
Oxfam Music and Books/SOUTHAMPTON/1 East Street
Oxfam Music and Books
1 East Street SOUTHAMPTON SO14 3HE
map
tel:
023 8023 6581 e-mail web
Open: Monday 10.00 - 4.00, Tuesday - Friday 9.30 - 5.30, Saturday 9.00 - 5.30, Sunday 11.00 - 3.30
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Oxfam Book and Music shop, large range of vinyl, CDs and sheet music. Fair selection of books to side of shop.
Small stock, but no rubbish. Keenly priced and well sited in Central Southampton. Made some good well priced purchases, if you want bus albums there are loads here! Anthony 07.06.23
Small, but with interesting stock, much more than the Hythe branch. Always feels as though you might find something good, even if you don't. PeterM 10.09.23
Another visit and more surprisingly good quality and interesting stock despite the small size. Anthony 07.11.23
One year since first visit, still worthwhile purchases to be made from a small but interesting stock. British Heart Foundation's general charity shop up the road also had a substantial book holding of quality covers. Anthony 04.06.24
Small stock still, a 10 minute browse sufficed me. No purchases made, and probably NWAD but drop in if in the area. Much larger proportion of the shop is given over to vinyl and other music. Anthony 02.06.25
Daughter has finished her four years at University, so probably my last visit for a while. Still a small but eclectic stock but worth a trawl. Some high value art books now behind the counter along with vinyl if those are your thing.
Someone clearly chooses the stock here as there were titles I've never seen in a charity shop before. Go in expecting nothing, chances are you'll come out with something, but beware the price labels which can detach themselves from the stock, creating an entertaining guessing game at the till. Anthony 16.06.26
Small selection indeed. The shop looks more interesting from the window display but flatters to deceive. Once inside, a lot of space is given over to music and this looks to be where the staff's interest really lies. As far a the book selection is concerned, I saw nothing that would prompt a return visit. YMMV as ever. Stive 31.07.26
Petersfield Bookshop/PETERSFIELD/16A Chapel Street
The Petersfield Bookshop
16A Chapel Street PETERSFIELD GU32 3DS
map
tel:
01730 263438 e-mail web
Open: Wednesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00
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The Petersfield Bookshop specialises in buying and selling antiquarian and second-hand books, but also sells antique maps and prints, new books, Ordnance Survey maps, artists' materials and has an on-site picture framing workshop.
Initially everyone would find this shop fascinating, but it doesn't bear repeated visits. Prices are somewhat optimistic, stock doesn't shift very quickly and there is a dearth of new things going onto the shelves. Nicholas Pendower 03.01.09
I agree with this review - in addition they have taken out selling space to incorporate a book binding room and crammed the books into two other rooms where browsing because of restricted space is difficult . I sometimes feel that owners forget that it costs money to visit their shops and should do everything to ensure that items can be viewed comfortably. Gavin Richardson. 27.01.09
I would have to agree with the comments above that, whilst the place is large enough to interest any first time visitor, there does seem to be a significant problem getting new books on the shelves and a second visit often isn't really worth the trouble for quite some time after the first. The books that are there are somewhat ambitiously priced although oddly this is not always true of the more 'expensive' books behind glass. The staff are helpful but can be somewhat eccentric. Don't hope to make an appointment with the owner who seems more interested in football than in books. Great to have both picture framing and bookbinding on site but overall a little shabby and has the feel of shop in slow, gentle decline. RS 11.06.10
Alas, all of the above comments were rolled into one for my visit. There are some very good runs on the shelves and the shop has many good books all over the place. It was the lack of compromise which threw me. I presented 42 (yes, forty-two) titles and suggested that as some of them were damaged then possibly a job-lot price might come into the equation. I was firmly put in my place and informed that "each item has been priced as such for a reason. " I returned them all to the shelves and will no doubt see them again in years to come. Chris Harte 26.01.11
I visit this shop every 2 years .. I love it. Proper old fashioned bookshop, often hilarious prices but bargains definately known. PaulP 02.08.11
I used to value this shop but have grown increasingly frustrated. Four years ago I enquired about a pile of Victorian periodicals and was told they were waiting to be sorted. I have returned annually and every time they are still there unpriced and unsorted. What is the point? Why not give them away if youre not going to sell them. Andy 10.05.12
I have read the comments from our customers and take onboard what they have written and have to agree myself with some of the comments. We will endeavour to rectify the matters that have come to light because customer service is of the upmost importance. John Westwood, The Petersfield Bookshop 15.05.12
So when Mr Westwood has taken the appropriate action would he please post it here so that we can revisit his shop without the fear of being rebuffed by his staff. Chris Harte 17.05.12
Like Andy I have been asking for the price on the pile of Victorian journals here, on and off for several years. You would think that with at least two (and who knows how many more) potential customers keen to purchase, that someone would actually buckle down to some pricing. But no -- nothing happens. It's maddening! Richard 18.05.12
Dear Customers, with regard to your queries and problems, we are in the process of extensive change to the shop and the price structure of the cheaper books. Also, for some reason the pile of periodicals and the details of who wanted them have been lost. We appreciate your comments and would like to put things right for you our valued customers, so please can you call me on 01730 263438 so that I can speak to you in person and resolve or answer these matters, or any other matters or queries you may have. John Westwood, The Petersfield Bookshop 31.05.12
I am sure there are some good books here but can you find them? - No because empty bookcases are stacked in front of full bookcases - a total mess! Pauline 12.07.12
The whole place is full of unfulfilled potential and needs a dressing down and a make over from the likes of the hotel inspector. BTW bookshops are no longer about running away with bargains or bargaining. They are businesses and need to be run as such otherwise all we will be left with is Oxfams. OWC 22.09.12
My usual annual visit found even fewer books than last time and a mightily confused pricing structure. Were the books this price, that price, any price? Nobody seemed to know. What they certainly didn't seem to be was the price listed, either in the book or on the many notices hung around this, sadly, ever shrinking bookshop. Andy 15.06.13
I visit here about once every six months and have to say there do seem to be signs of change for the better. The shop is now smaller but still large by 2ndhand bookshop standards and the reduction seems to have concentrated the mind of whomever puts books on the shelves. There is new stock in lots of sections and less dross. Shop looks tidier and much easier to move around. I have to disagree with the previous comment and say I found the price structure for the general 2nd hand books very simple and straightforward, not rocket science. It's taken a lot of time and there's lots still to do but it seems this shop might just be getting its act together again. Worth visiting. RS 10.07.13
An excellent shop, well laid out, with something for most people and prices well within reason. Recommended. Paul Dear 19.07.14
What a change between visits. There has been a massive sort out of books; new shelving in place; some parts of the building leased out to other businesses and the formerly open frontage now enclosed. The quality of books on offer was good and I had no hesitation in making a few purchases. Prices somewhat high for the top-end range titles but that is a minor quibble. Chris Harte 08.04.16
I loved this shop having not visited it before. Large selection of all genres, I liked talking to the parrot, and it seemed well shelved and organised. Came away with several items after man on till made significant discount for some specialist titles. Norman Davies 08.04.17
A mixture of bookshop, antiques shop and museum. Large stock, mostly well organised. Some sections look tired, others have plenty of newer stock. Few bargains to be had, but worth looking if you have expensive tastes and budget to match. Worth visiting to be reminded of the way all second hand bookshops used to look. PeterM 10.09.23
Looking at the older comments, it is at least 10 years since my last visits when I used to pass by on way to Masters degree weekend schools in Portsmouth, It has changed (ie tidied) considerably. I do not recall the small units tool sellers, garden pots and antique bits tho.'
The place is navigable and fairly well organised with extensive (albeit not intriguing) stock, although nothing caught my eye. Much there in my areas of interest I already had. I was tempted by the Patrick Leigh Fermor 'Between the Woods and the Water' - apparently a first for £10, but as I already have two signed copies, I left it.
There is not too much dead stock but I could not access the children's books because of maps being sorted.
Given its size and potential it ought to be WWAD, but it is not. Is it a bookshop or an antique / tool / pot shop? They must be doing something right as it is still in existence more than 20 years after my first visit. Firedrake 07.04.24
Richard Martin Gallery/GOSPORT/19-23 Stoke Road
Richard Martin Gallery
19-23 Stoke Road GOSPORT PO12 1LS
map
tel:
023 9252 0642 web
Open: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10.30 - 1.00 & 2.15 - 5.00. Saturday 10.30 - 1.00.
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19th & early 20th century watercolours, oil paintings, etchings and engravings. Antiquarian, rare and out of print books. Albums, autograph letters, manuscript diaries, journals and logs.
A couple of walls of books, with strong emphasis on maritime. Richard
I visited about 4 years ago. Owner was half-hour late opening after lunch, was distinctly unwelcoming, AWYW [Drif's code for Asks what you want] and to top it all nothing was priced. I left emptyhanded wondering how he hoped to sell anything. Martin Stallion 10.10.08
I feel I must respond to the negative entry - I guess everybody has 'off days' but on the many occasions we have visited the bookshop we have always been met with unfailing courtesy - they have now moved to delightful premises within the old Clarence Dockyard and is now primarily an art gallery with a small though important selection of books with a maritime flavour - excellent parking - marvellous location and coffee and pastries etc can be had within a few footsteps - just the place to go on a sunny day! Gavin Richardson. 18.11.08
Secret Bookshop/HAVANT/The Elms
The Secret Bookshop
The Elms 2 Lower Road HAVANT PO9 3LH
map
tel:
07793 805 157 e-mail
Open: The second Tuesday of each month 10.00 - 12.00
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This is a small charity bookshop inside the library of a beautiful strawberry gothic, listed building. The book shop stocks general secondhand books with some antiquarian and collectable stock. Free parking at nearby Bidbury Mead Recreation Ground. Follow PO9 3JG
St Faith_s Charity Shop and Bookshop /HAVANT/2-4 North Street
St Faith's Charity Shop and Bookshop
2-4 North Street HAVANT PO9 1PR
map
tel:
07743 762191 or 07837 700891 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Friday 9.30 - 4.30, Saturday 9.30 - 4.00, Sunday 11.00 - 4.00
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Church-run charity shop with a separate room of second-hand books.
St Faith's Church has had a charity shop in Havant for 50 years, which moved to these premises in 2022. One of the rooms here houses the bookshop. It is quite small but has a decent selection, especially of fiction and children's books. The shop is in the town centre, within a five-minute walk of Havant railway station and only a couple of minutes from the bus station.
Havant has good rail links, with frequent direct trains from Portsmouth, Southampton, Petersfield, Horsham, Chichester and Brighton. Bus services connect the town with Portsmouth (20, 23), Southsea (23), Petersfield (37), Chichester (700) and Emsworth (700 and 27; the latter on Monday-Friday only). Booker T 25.09.25
This well-organised bookshop occupies the smaller of the two rooms at these premises, right in the town centre. About 2,000 books, divided as follows: 1,250 fiction, 500 non-fiction, 250 children’s books. The general fiction (about 550 books) consists overwhelmingly of paperbacks, mostly mid- or mass-market, including many romances, with only a sprinkling of literary fiction. Very reasonably priced: paperbacks mostly £1, a few £1.50-£2.50; hardbacks £2-£3. About 120 classic novels: paperbacks £1.50; hardbacks £1.50-£2. Four hundred crime novels, mainly paperbacks (£1-£2.50; most £1.50), although a fair number of recent hardbacks (£2.50). Small selections of paperback historical fiction (most £1.50, a few £2) and sci-fi/fantasy (£1-£2). A couple of shelves of ‘summer reading’ (light novels) in the general shop. Only a little poetry and drama, both rather dull.
The stock of children’s books is smaller than typical for a shop of this kind. Books for the very young are in the ‘kids’ corner’, near the back of the general shop; books for older children are in the bookshop: paperbacks 75p-£1.50. A few old children’s annuals: ‘Eagle’ (£5), ‘Blue Peter’ (£3-£5), ‘Magpie’ (£3).
For non-fiction, no subject has more than a few shelves. The prices are low: mostly £2, with very few above £4. The art section is small, but includes a few good volumes. The odd decent title too for history, military, religion, transport, crafts, natural history and pets. Nothing special for music or travel. A few OS maps: £1.50. Not many biographies (£2-£4), but a minority are good.
All the while, volunteer churchwomen of advanced age and faded gentility are beetling about in a fussy way, to little effect. Whether one finds this endearing or irksome depends on one’s character, I suppose. What is not really in question is that the small size of the stock, plus the fact that almost all of it is fairly typical charity-shop fare, makes this shop NWAD, although it would certainly be worth a quick look if in the town.
Havant has a few nice buildings, but seems rather a dull place. Its other charity shops have only small selections of books. Just one is worthy of mention here, and for one reason only: Cat & Rabbit Rescue, at 52 West Street, PO9 1PG (Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5pm; Sundays and bank holidays, 10am-4pm), a very short walk from St Faith’s. This has only about 700 books: paperbacks £1, hardbacks £1.50 unless otherwise priced (almost nothing is); children’s books 50p-£1. Although 90% of the stock is utterly unexceptional, there are about 80 (mainly recent) titles on cookery, many of which are very good indeed; real bargains at these prices. Booker T 24.07.26
Tanti Booksand Hedge End Bookshop/SOUTHAMPTON/Upstairs at Hedge End Post Office, St Johns Centre, Upper Northam Rd, Hedge End
Tanti Books and Hedge End Bookshop
Upstairs at Hedge End Post Office, St Johns Centre, Upper Northam Rd, Hedge End SOUTHAMPTON SO30 4QU
tel:
01489 790349 mob: 07747151114 or 07907758352 e-mail web
Open: Monday, Wednesday - Friday 8.30 - 3.00
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Father and son run separate buinesses within the same bookshop premises. With over 15 years experience, they mainly stock non-fiction, particularly Local History, Military, and Transport books. About 5000 books. Easy parking to rear of building.
Completely different from the Adelphi. Excellent, well laid out stock with books on all subjects at reasonable prices, and helpful owner. John Bacon. 24.03.09
Called them to buy my dads naval books and postcards , very pleased with price and service. Carol Rodrigues 16.07.11
Always stop off here when in the area. Helpful owner and good, general, mainly non-fiction stock with the emphasis on shipping and local history. Prices reasonable and we always come away with something. Melita 04.09.15
Entertaining find via a small stairway at the corner INSIDE the Post Office - take note, there is no external separate access. However, once upstairs, a joyful hour of rummaging and discovery. Very good on local/Hampshire plus history of all levels, sport, military and Transport - but railways in particular.
Cash only, but a good deal was done on the pile I presented to the owner, who was pleased to hear of the Book Guide. The shop seems popular and nice to see folks who are regular popping in for a natter and being concerned about other customers who they've not seen for a while. Worth seeking out. Anthony 07.11.23
Triangle/FARNBOROUGH/64 Kingsmead
The Triangle
64 Kingsmead FARNBOROUGH GU14 7SL
map
tel:
01252 519172, mob: 07436 274107 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00
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Long-established Christian bookshop, with a café. New and second-hand books on religious themes.
The Triangle was established in 1986 in North Camp, on the outskirts of Farnborough. In 2001 the bookshop moved up into the town, where it occupies a large unit in the Meads shopping centre. Most of the books are new, but there is a reasonable stock of second-hand books encompassing Bible studies, commentaries and concordances, prayer, devotional works, and biographies of religious figures and Christian thinkers, as well as a small amount of second-hand Christian fiction and children's books. The prices, with a few exceptions, are on the low side. The café closes at 3pm (4pm on Saturdays); the bookshop stays open until 5pm.
The Triangle is about a ten-minute walk from Farnborough (Main) railway station, served by London-Basingstoke trains, and is only a stone's throw from the Kingsmead bus stops. From Farnborough North railway station, on the North Downs (Reading-Redhill) line, it is a 25-minute walk; this station is not served by bus. Booker T 17.06.25
Winchester Bookshop/WINCHESTER/10a St Georges Street
The Winchester Bookshop
10a St Georges Street WINCHESTER SO23 8BG
map
tel:
01962 855630
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.30
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General books, archaeology, local and British topography.
Always helpful and interested; worth return visits. Not so much archaeology now that John Barton has retired as a partner. Richard 02.04.09
Things seem to be going well at this shop - nice new sign over the entrance and one of the partners saying trade was good. The first floor seems to have been renovated and the whole shop gives a good impression. John Bacon 07.05.09
I always enjoy visiting (4 or 5 times a year) this bookshop, and never come away empty handed. Good turnover of stock. Prices intelligently set according to book condition. Right now (recession), the owners are very choosy/cautious as to what they will buy-in. Stock on three floors. - Sub nomine.A highly regarded shop holding a splendid collection of rare and secondhand sensibly priced books which guarantees repeat visits. There is a good Oxfam across the road as well. OWC 22.09.12
Visited on a February Monday morning. A helpful lady chatted - surprisingly busy - to a procession of customers, the books are a fascinating mix and include some unusual older items as well as modern editions in two bright and sunny upstairs rooms. Prices OK. A good experience and worth the trip from London. ACRD 06.03.13
An excellent shop with good, well laid out stock at reasonable prices. Worth a detour. The Drifter 22.08.13
Excellent book shop with a pleasant, knowledgeable owner who was very willing to talk about books and bookshops. Possibly into my, currently non existent, top ten. CB 17.05.14
This shop is tucked down an alley just down the road from the Oxfam Bookshop. At first sight its stock of French novels outside seemed promising; However the ground floor is purely antiquarian and the other two floors are mainly older hardback stock of little interest to me. It is a generally pleasant shop and its presence is to be applauded, but as in Oxfam, I left empty handed. Jon Morgan 04.08.14
Always worth a detour. A good selection of books on various subjects, reasonably priced and an interesting rummage. A prime example of a secondhand bookshop. SteveBrissle 03.01.20
Nice shop but I found the prices high. Some stock has clearly been on the shelf for a very long time. PeterM 06.04.22
Good stocks in a variety of areas. I found some useful and fairly priced volumes in transport. Herne 15.06.22
Not been to a shop like this for years. Great selection, very welcoming owner and serious damage to the wallet. Rare to find three shelves marked "Industrial Archaeology and History" - very good for me. Spent an hour and a half in the shop and could have bought more. Looking forward to future visits, seemed very well patronised and busy. Anthony 07.06.23
One year on, another visit. Daughter and I restrained ourselves, but still did well. The owner was chatting to a gentleman at the counter where he compared Winchester to Hay in terms of bookshop choices (including new shops of course). Whilst I didn't argue, certainly we found enough to detain us for a good couple of hours in the city. Anthony 04.06.24
Back again after a couple of years. Found plenty to interest including literature at the top floor. Always pleased to see a shelf of Britain in Pictures. Herne 20.11.24
A traditional bookshop in a secluded alleyway within earshot of the cathedral -- as seems to be the case in many cities. Fiction, on the top floor, didn't disappoint. I unearthed things I hadn't seen before or expected to see. Best find was the first reprint of David Lindsay's gnostic quest novel A Voyage to Arcturus (the edition that rescued the novel from oblivion). Foreign and translated fiction was a little thin, but I had to have the first English edition of Kafka's short stories. On the same floor, there's a surprisingly large section for (Graeco-Roman) classics. On the next floor down, a transport section attracted a scrum, but there was also a somnolent topography and local history section. Back to the ground floor, and you'll find antiquarian and some modern firsts -- I hesitated over a Patrick Hamilton novel but held myself back. Worth checking out and a short walk will take you to the new statue of a rather austere-looking Jane Austen. Paul O 16.01.26
Winchester Cathedral Bookshop/WINCHESTER/The CloseWinchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral Bookshop
The Close Winchester Cathedral WINCHESTER SO23 9LS
map
tel:
01962 857 200, mob: 07779 024601 web
Open: 7 days 10.00 - 4.00 late March to late October, Saturday & Sunday 10.00 - 4.00 late October to late March
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Fund-raising bookshop selling donated books on a wide range of subjects.
Located in the Close, in the Deanery. Good stock of donated books, hbk, sbk, all subjects early C20th onwards. Prices very affordable, but additional monetary donation encouraged. All monies raised fund choral scholarships. Sub nomine 12.05.11
Alas it has closed. A helpful resident said that there had been an arson attack. Probably not the first time books have been burnt in Winchester Cathedral precincts, but how sad. Anthony Davis 06.03.13
The shop is open again. Good variety. Bev 07.05.13
This shop has reopened! Hooray!! It has a large secondhand stock. Very bright and pleasant the day I went, and pleasant people working there. Definitely a cut above Oxfam shops both for the variety of the stock, the size, the pleasant setting and the interest of the staff. Anthony Davis 15.05.13
Do not buy any history books here - you will deprive me of my bi-monthly 'fix'. I have considered moving to Winchester just to be closer to The Close! Hoarder 25.01.14
This is actually in the Inner Close, away from the mad throngs of tourists and consist of two sheds or log cabins with, on fine days, books outside on trestle tables. My visit, albeit that I shifted and sorted thru a load of banana boxes filled with books, in relatively logical order meant that I missed pulling many more boxes out. The second cabin is well organised with some really good stock and as mentioned by a previous reviewer the history section is outstanding, I hope my interests and his do not coincide and that I have not deprived him of a fix.
This is a lovely city and if going by train you can walk past one of the best libraries I have seen in modern times, combiing all media with an excellent cafe and meeting rooms - An example to others!. It had a good library sale as well! Jon Morgan 04.08.14
Large numbers of not very old paperbacks, a few collectibles. Large hardback sections which may contain just about anything. Prices sometimes in the book, sometimes gauged by the person taking money just outside. Worth a look if you're in the area, easier when it's sunny as the boxes of paperbacks are then outside and not piled high inside. PeterM 03.12.21
A sunny day. Loads of paperbacks outside in trays, volunteers adding to the shelves of hardbacks inside. Good for a forty minute browse, some unusual omissions in subjects covered, but I guess it depends on the donated stock. Some really good architecture and design holdings, as well as country pursuits. Bought two books which I thought would be £4 from the markings, was charged £3 for them. A pleasant find in lovely surroundings. Anthony 04.06.24
This place always surprises me with its size. It's got a broad, but not necessarily deep, selection. Definitely plan your visit around the weather -- I turned up on a rainy day, and spent some time moving plastic crates around in a cramped space indoors to see most of the titles. darkling 13.06.26
Renovations are currently under way at the cathedral with the result that access to the inner court from the side of the front entrance is shut off. The inner court can apparently still be reached by taking a long detour around surrounding roads. I left myself too little time for this and had to give it a miss. Check before travelling. Stive 31.07.26
Winchester City Mill Bookshop (NT)/WINCHESTER/Bridge Street
Winchester City Mill Bookshop (NT)
Bridge Street WINCHESTER SO23 9BH
tel:
01962 870057 e-mail
Open: Thursday - Sunday, 10.00 - 5.00 (summer), 10.00 - 4.00 (winter)
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Second-hand bookshop at National Trust property in the city centre. Free to visit.
The Winchester City Mill, run by the National Trust, is a restored ancient watermill on the River Itchen, in the centre of the city. The bookshop and the whole of the rest of the site are free to visit. The bookshop, which opened in 2019 and which is located just inside the entrance to the mill, tends to attract quite good-quality donations. The proceeds help to finance renovation work at the site, which includes a café, a garden and an "otter cam" (otters and water voles have recolonised this stretch of the river). The waterwheel is undergoing restoration and so it is not milling flour at the moment. The mill is about a mile from Winchester railway station, but only a short walk from the bus station. Booker T 05.05.25
