This is very unique book store full of unusual books but also has first edition books from medicine…read moreto children's novel. Over 5 floors, which allegedly the building was built in the late 1800s. I personally love the unusual book store, where love thy neighbours vaule/ trust in each other still stands. This is a rarity in itself, which I love so much . They even have diy tea area where you help yourself to tea/coffee for a very small nominal fee.

This is a shop that you need a lot of time to look in because you don't really go in here knowing…read morewhat you want! It sells all the usual books, stationery, gadgets etc at great prices but I have to admit that some of it is a load of rubbish! I've had some good travel guides and kids presents over the last few years from here. Unfortunately your normal discount vouchers for W H Smith on the high street can't be used here and it can get into quite a mess and you have to rummage though to find anything worth buying! At the right time of year, home office stuff can go for a steal in here!

Is there a finer, funkier, funnier, bookstore in all of Yorkshire? Maybe all of the UK? I don't…read morethink so. What topic are you looking for? Proprietor Barry, with his assistant Jerry the cat, will find it for you. Indeed, probably several books on topic. Or just go in with an open mind and you'll find many books of interest. The difficulty will be deciding which to buy. Don't worry, the prices are so reasonable that you can take all you can carry. Beware, there are approximately 14,000 books there, so bring a really big bag.

I love quaint traditional rummagy book shops and this is one of the best. Set up an old cobbled…read morelane with mandatory ats a top some old books outside, the shops itself is small and paked high with books of all genres as well as some old classics and the frienldy old staff

This is a fab original little bookshop fighting against the likes of Waterstones and Blackwells. I…read moremean, it's not actually fighting those giants, but you know what I mean. If you've seen You've Got Mail you know what I mean. This is a proper bookshop. Books are crammed onto rickety-looking shelves and span all kinds of categories. They buy as well as sell books, so you can get yourself a good swop-shop thing going on if you're savvy enough. Obviously, you've got to have some spare time on your hands to browse through everything, but it's well worth it as this is one of the few remaining old fashioned book stores in the city centre, and you can find some real gems. Also worth a look from an academic point of view - being near the university campuses means you can get some bargains as far as uni reading goes.

It's good because it sells a lot of books cheaply but my enthusiasm for little quaint second hand…read morebookshops has worn a little thin mainly because the owners al seem to be sociopaths or misanthropes. Too harsh? Maybe, it could just be the case that put end to end and the hours sat alone with only books for company probably add up to years, either that or books give off some sort of toxic fumes that effect the central nervous system. Still there are lots of books here so if books are what you're after then why not take a few minutes to see if there's anything amongst the second hand stock - and therefore tick your little green eco box for the day to boot - and you may just come across some thing you'd never thought of picking up .

I have to give a major shout out to Paramount Books - a fantastic independent bookstore nestled in…read morethe sometimes overlooked and forgotten Shudehill area of town. Ok so there may be a million KFC ripoff takeaways and a few random shops that have seen better days around it but Paramount stands out as a well looked after 2nd hand book store with loads of character! I was pulled in on a wet and windy Monday by their comic book sale - in fact there's a whole area in the back dedicated to rare comics and graphic novels (fantastic selection) - inside there's a fantastic selection covering everything from music and film to politics, history and philosophy - really good to browse and possible pick up a tome to take home (wow that rhymes...) The best part of this place is the owner who basically is exactly what you'd be looking for if casting this place in a Hollywood movie. With glasses dangling from his neck and a scholarly look as he sorts the shelves - the classical music in the background makes you really feel what a unique place this is in the world of chain stores and amazon. Make sure you check out Paramount soon and enjoy a slip back into yesteryear!

Thank the lord for Paramount Book Exchange…read more One of the few independent bookshops left in Manchester, it's a strictly DIY affair run by a genuine book lover. The sign outside suggests it's only open Fridays and Saturdays but it's usually open Monday to Saturday unless the owner has popped out for something. The lively window displays give a great indicator of what's in store with stacks of new, vintage and secondhand books everywhere. Fans of cult fiction, sci-fi, horror, crime noir, queer fiction, biographies and pop culture will find much to treasure here as the stock leans more towards William Burroughs, Poppy Z Brite and Neil Gaiman than Harry Potter. There's also a small selection of 60s-90s vinyl for crate diggers. All they need is a coffee machine and I'd happily move in!

Linghams Heswall is the original of the two Wirral based independent bookshops, and indeed the…read morebest! There is a great intellectual atmosphere within this bookshop, one unrivalled by larger chain stores such as Borders and Waterstones. It's as though all the staff have been vetted for their intelligence and knowledge before being allowed on the shop floor, rather than just handed a job because they're prepared to work for minimum wage. Linghams has been in Heswall over 20 years and continues to thrive as the local community support the store! They have a great little cafe serving homemade delicacies towards the back of the store, and they can order any book with an ISBN number. The only problem is, you'll probably find any book that they sell much cheaper on the internet. I guess that's why even the bigger bookshops are in decline. Long live Linghams! They have all the sections you'd expect to see in a huge book store!

I love this little book shop company. I've been in the one in West Kirby as well. The staff seem…read morevery attentive and friendly. It reminds me of the movie You've Got Mail. This particular Linghams has a very nice café in the back. I was really impressed by the layout and style of the café. It looks very homey, yet posh with dark wood round tables and a long bar, behind which are arranged all sorts of yummy looking teas, coffees, and even some potted jams for sale if I remember correctly. There is a great children's area which includes some small toys and plushies for sale as well as books, and I really like the local books section, as well as the poetry section as you will find some local authors in both including poetry chapbooks. Great shop.

Lovely little bookshop that is a lot bigger than you expect. Staff are really helpful. Very wide…read morerange of books on sale and will get you a book if its not there. Love this place

Amazing place that accepts you for being you. *Warning* @ Social Refuge where they treat you…read moredifferently if your not like them. I visited this coffee shop recently and left feeling pretty uncomfortable with how I was treated. From the moment I ordered, the staff came across as dismissive and noticeably colder toward me compared to other customers around me. There were a few interactions that felt unnecessarily sharp, and it gave the impression that I wasn't particularly welcome there. I want to be fair, but as a straight customer, the difference in tone and attitude didn't go unnoticed. Whether intentional or not, it made the experience feel exclusionary rather than inclusive. It's a shame because the space itself has a lot of personality, but the service made it hard to enjoy. I'd hope they work on creating a more welcoming environment for everyone.

I get the irony by starting with the quote "don't judge a book by its cover" but tbh this is…read moreexactly what I've been doing every time I've walked past this place in the past few months... Whether it was because the area of town is a bit random, the building a bit unattractive and me thinking it was more of a bookshop - something just seemed to be putting me off. But today in my meeting with Matt F we decided to give it a go and what a great decision it was! First off this place is huge and a labyrinth once inside - one half hipster bookshop, the other half cool cafe with a real nod to health (check out the menu on my pics). A really lovely environment with working fountain and a variety of places to sit. The food was excellent too - my breakfast pancakes were probably the best I've had in Manchester so far which is saying something. Quick note that they don't do sides - at one stage I thought I was going to turn into Jack Nicholson in '5 Easy Pieces' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wtfNE4z6a8 but thankfully the guy sorted us out with a side of toast after I asked nicely...repeatedly... Very friendly staff, great venue. I'll be back soon to work/eat/drink coffee/read a book - or all at the same time!