A small shopping arcade completely full of over 100,000 books on almost every subject, including masses of old and new fiction.
As the name suggests, originally a furniture shop, but the books have taken over. 3 or 4 rooms of books, plus more in the corridors. Often has a lot of interesting older books, as well as the modern dustwrappered variety. I rarely come away empty handed, and sometimes with a bootful. Richard
One of the largest stocks of fiction I've seen, all reasonably priced and easily browsed. The poetry/drama selection is much smaller and haphazardly arranged though. Nick Campsall 04.11.08
This is still the best kept secret of Oxfordshire. There is little sign of it being a bookshop. They have recently converted the first floor to a night club (it's the town's old cinema) so the large first floor space has gone which has led to even more cramped storage of a lot of books on the ground floor. Wide variety at cheap prices. John Allen 05.07.11
An absolute gem of a bookshop, with an astonishing range of books on most subjects and very reasonably priced. One word of caution: the owner does not accept cards, so bring your cheque book or cash. There is an ATM a few doors away. Geoffrey Warner 07.07.11
The kind of place that justifies the word "explore". An immense stock, with plenty of out-of-print Penguin fiction when I was there, and all affordable. Paul O 14.09.12
This is the benchmark for general shops and luckily for me it is one of my locals. If you walk away empty handed from this large comprehensive stock then you probably cant read. OWC 18.09.12
A must to visit. Allow plenty of time to explore as is a bit of a warren and not everything is in order. Very cheap prices and exceptional variety. Brian Stringer 12.07.14
Totally agree with last comment (12.7) Zim 18.07.14
What a great place to rummage around. A number of rooms with all sorts of specialities which meant a good two hours of searching. Found enough titles to keep me happy. Pleasant owners and prices were most reasonable. Will revisit. Chris Harte 13.08.14
It is strange that a bookshop of this quality should be housed in a pine furniture shop, albeit that furniture is vastly overwhelmed by the books. From the entrance right through the labyrinth / maze that is these premises, from the tiny and easily missed entrance this is an absolute treasure trove of many different subject areas. The epithet 'something for everyone' was never truer than here. Even my recent jaunts to Felixstowe where there are two superb shops could not prepare one for this place. New books, old tomes, Maps and en plus, the prices are extremely reasonable I bought 10 books including some fairly rare Pan paperbacks for less than £20.00. The owner is a friendly and well informed chap and I bumped into another contributor to TBG. There is a small car park at the rear, although travelling from Cambridge I went by Train. The nearest station is Didcot which is a 35 minute plus bus ride ( the narrow Oxfordshire lanes and a long bus are an interesting combination. Neither the charity shops of Wantage nor those in Didcot are worth visiting - at least not for books. Jon Morgan 29.08.14
Been collecting for 40 years: how have I missed this before? Superb shop now all on one floor, crammed with thousands of decent books at realistic prices for the general collector, all subjects. Wow. WWAD. Norman Davies 03.12.14
I have to commend this bookshop as being one of the few really good shops left. Although not perfectly organised this attribute makes it more interesting, you never know what you might find or where. Even antiquarian volumes at affordable prices. Books are always coming in and out, and I never leave without a book, if not a bag full. uax13 18.04.16
Four years since my last report but I still visit every six months. My latest was no exception as there was new stock on the shelves of my interests and within a few minutes I had a pile ready. Spent four hours (and two large coffees) before I finally concluded examining the shelves. This place is a gem. WWAD. Chris Harte 11.10.18
Delightful owners and an impressive stock. I felt definitely one of the largest in the Midlands. They have their own car park around the back - turn in at the small opening opposite Waitrose. I was astonished how they seemed to have every topic covered. Definitely WWAD. Laurence Batchelor 24.12.18
The sort of place where bibliomaniacs like me go missing for half the day. All subjects covered, but standouts are countless orange and green Penguins, a strong selection of Virago classics, lots of older hardback fiction, and local history. Always a surprise or two -- this time it was a hard-to-find novel by cult chronicler of London lowlife Gerald Kersh. I usually depart with a dozen purchases. Paul O 19.08.21
A truly wonderful bookshop - relatively cheap, packed to the rafters, and with a good turnover of stock. Simon T 17.09.21
Can only endorse all the previous comments about this wonderful shop. We came out with bagfuls. Will definitely make the journey down here again. Did not realise that they had their own car park so will bear that in mind for next time. However we parked in the Portway car park which gave 2 hours free parking. Very civilised. David 18.09.21
Terrible furniture shop. I have no idea how they expect to fit wardrobes and desks in there with all those old books taking up most of the room. I did my best to help by hauling off two full bagloads of those and it could easily have been more; but I suppose they will just plug the gaps with all the volumes waiting in boxes and crates on the floor. Prices are more charity shop than specialist dealer. The car park at the back only holds three vehicles, so your chance of getting a bay is minimal. The entrance to the bays is on the High St just before you turn into Market Place; blink and you'll miss it. Everyone else in Abingdon seems to chance it in the streets around on a single yellow line. Stive 20.10.21
What an amazing discovery! This huge multi-room emporium is crammed full of interesting and reasonably priced stock and is right in the centre of a lively and attractive town. I could only spare 45 minutes there but my bag was well loaded when I left. More stock was arriving even as I browsed. Wessexman 12.01.22
If I hadn’t been told that this was a bookshop I probably would have walked past it. The name gives little away.
The shop was supposedly closed on the day I visited (nothing publicised on-line about this ). I was just about to leave when the owner turned up with a delivery and let us browse for half an hour before leaving for his family wedding. I’m glad he did, because I came away with a bag full of books at very reasonable prices… Archive61 02.07.22
Still as superb as ever. In the section of newly arrived titles by the road entrance I picked up a book so rare my heart started thumping. I eventually spent four hours in the heat going through every room and was very impressed with the massive stock. The only downside was my wife purchasing a pile higher than mine and glibly putting the payment on to my credit card. Chris 24.06.23
Endorse everything above. Seems to go on forever and even when you get to the back there are more side rooms. And no shortage of good quality stock. Enjoyed browsing the hardback fiction and politics. Just as well we had a car! Herne 20.10.23
Another visit and another couple of bagfuls to take away. The parking spaces around the back of the shop are now reduced to two thanks to an impressive collection of bins. Note that the free parking time at the car park a short walk away is now generously reduced to one hour from two. Stive 22.11.23
Huge store with some really interesting stuff covering a wide range of subjects. Prices were average to me. Not easy to find: through a narrow passage off Newbury Street but very close to the town centre. PLF 01.03.24
This visit was somewhat of a disappointment for me. The fiction section seems to have grown while Art is reduced to half a shelf. Biographies/Autobiographies are in a room with very poor lighting and it was difficult to read the titles. My lack of a purchase summed it up. Chris 12.03.24
Back again on the day after our son's wedding. As before came back heavily laden. Art section seems to have revived a lot since Chris' recent visit and a goodly selection of illustrated books. Something good to be found in each of the many rooms. Herne 08.04.24
This place remains one of my favourite shops in the southern counties. Amazing stock and never disappoints. Once again, I spent more than I should! Wessexman 18.06.24
This place seems to have expanded into areas formerly occupied by the furniture on my last visit.
Organisation is generally good but very popular authors / series seem to have their own spot which is good as it makes it easy to ignore them.
There are plenty of mass market paperbacks as well as the better quality hardbacks but I could not get a phone signal to check library thing so I left empty handed.
Parking close by is not easy especially on Market day but there is a 'Long Stay' car park a short walk away free for the first hour - you still need a ticket - an enlightened policy to bring people into towns in Oxfordshire. Firedrake 22.02.25
Nowadays, as I know the shop so well, I grab a chair and sit by the shelves which contain books of my interests. I go through every one and on this visit picked up a couple of treasures as well as some general titles. I have no trouble finding parking spaces. Chris 12.03.25
A while since we were last down this way so plenty to look at. Spent nearly 3 hours here and emerged with 4 bagfuls of books. Luckily the car park is not far away. As previously stated the furniture has retreated in favour of more book space. Always worth visiting this shop. David 12.04.25
Open at advertised times
Phone before travelling
Appointment necessary
Status unknown, update requested
