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    Hawkridge Books - Fine and antiquarian books.

    Hawkridge Books

    1.0(1 review)
    10.0 mi

    The worst shop experience ever. The gentleman in the shop (use that term very loosely) was…read moreextremely rude to us. We went into the shop so I could look for a sailing book. My son who loves insects found a book on ants and excitedly pick it up. My partner's dad was there and they asked if they could sit on a chair in the shop so my son could have a look at the book and see if he'd like to buy it. The man replied by asking if we were going to buy the book in a really rude tone and explained that if we opened the book it would be ruined and he would have to discount the book. At this we decided to put the book back and look for another book shop where the staff would be nicer. As we were leaving the man continued to mumble rude comments at us. I didn't catch the first things he said but heard him say something along the lines of "this isn't a bloody library". At this I asked how we would know if we wanted to buy a book of we aren't allowed to look at it? He continued to be rude suggesting we had been picking up all the books (this didn't happen and even if it did, it's a book shop?) He continued to say rude things to me so I wished him a good day and left. Avoid this shop of you are looking for a pleasant experience. Really poor customer experience for what looks like a lovely shop with many vintage and antique books. I can't see him making much money if this is

    From the owner: High quality antiquarian and second-hand books in all subjects, specialising in natural history.read more

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    Hawkridge Books - Fine and antiquarian books.

    Fine and antiquarian books.

    Hawkridge Books - Fine and antiquarian books.

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    Fine and antiquarian books.

    Scarthin Books

    Scarthin Books

    4.7(3 reviews)
    8.5 mi

    Scarthin Books is a fine second-hand book shop in a lovely little village called Cromford, about…read morethirty miles outside of Manchester. The peak district is a great place for a long walk through the hills and little villages, and Cromford may be one of the places you can arrange to visit. Scarthin Books would make a lovely addition to any country visiting experience. Situated in a crowded, thin building with rickety stairs and five floors, Scarthin Books is an amorphous pile of literature which would feel like a building from a Kafka novel, only where there it is misery, here is it joy. The literature ranges from Greek Drama, to railway manuals, to modern day novels, travel books, philosophy, history, geography, psychology and childrens books. They really do have everything. Its organization is a mystery to me, but it all contributes to the quaint feel of this unique bookshop. Scarthin Books is famous amongst the locals as the best place to buy literature in the area. Also, on the third floor (I think, its pretty confusing in there!) is a quaint little tea and coffee shop selling homemade cakes and homemade soups. Staff are, as you would expect, delightful. My only criticism would be that a lot of the books are not second-hand but brand new. This means that they are full price and in many cases, more expensive than Amazon if not Waterstones. Even so, the range here is unbelievable. For any book lover this place is a really excellent book shop, and as an English Literature postgraduate I have a lot of experience of book shops. I really think that this is one of the better bookshops in the UK, and certainly it's the best (or second best, see The Art of Tea on Yelp) that I've seen anywhere near Manchester.

    This place is a real gem. Nestled in the village of Cromford where Arkwright built his mills under…read morethe black rocks. There is a pond in the middle of the village and beside it, just up the street behind the pub, is Scathin Books. There is a sign outside that says "We value old books" which is certainly true. Step inside and you can hardly move for old books, floor to ceiling in every nook and cranny there are books everywhere. Even the cash desk seems to be hidden behind a barricade of books. If you can find it a stairwell leads upstairs to more books and, hidden behind a bookcase door, a lovely vegetarian cafe serving cakes, light snacks and a very nice cup of coffee. There is an abundance of coffee and tea shops around here. It is a very picturesque village. But if you want something a bit different, and you too value old books, this is the place for you.

    Paramount Books - Paramount Books in Manchester

    Paramount Books

    4.3(12 reviews)
    29.9 miCity Centre
    £

    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!

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    Paramount Books - Paramount Books in Manchester

    Paramount Books in Manchester

    Paramount Books - Paramount Books in Manchester

    Paramount Books in Manchester

    Paramount Books - Paramount Books, Manchester

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    Paramount Books, Manchester

    Titles - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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