Far be it from me to suggest you make a trip to Oxford just to visit one of the most wonderful…read morebookstores ever, but if you happen to be in or near Oxford it'd be a shame to miss out. Despite a plethora of 1-star reviews of Blackwell's online ordering service, the in-store experience is sheer delight. The selection (on multiple stories of the building) is simply stunning. Not wanting to come back home with a suitcase full of books (well, wanting to but loathe to carry them), my purchase here was a single book which I read in its entirety before leaving the UK. Bookstores which began their lives in the 1800's are rare finds. Blackwell's is one and they haven't endured due to mere good luck. Someone is paying attention to the look and feel of the place as well as the vast and deep selection of great reads. Blackwell's is a great place to get lost in.

Blackwell's is a bookstore experience! It reminded me of the bookstore I grew up in with a big…read morekid's section upstairs, places to sit and read, and the good, booky smell that can only be captured by a place constantly shelving and sharing books. Note that there is a one stall bathroom inside the children's section that gets a lot of use and gets smelly.

A book-lovers paradise!…read more We heard about this place when staying at a nearby B&B. Apparently, it's the largest second hand book seller in the UK, and after visiting I can truly believe this. The Book Barn is a massive warehouse on an industrial estate not far from Bath. It doesn't look much from the outside, but enter at you peril and be prepared to be overcome with the musty smell of second hand books - and what better smell is there, if we are honest?! Shelves are stacked floor to ceiling with every genre of book that you could possibly imagine - cookery, health, travel, science, religion - every topic under the sun. The fictional novels take up most of the space and are loosely categorised alphabetically. It can be a little overwhelming but the staff will run a search for you if you are looking for a particular author, and there are a couple of computers available for public use. The best bit about these books? They are all priced at £1!! I challenge you to come out with less than an armful! There is also a children's area and a rare book section, obviously with a slightly higher price tag. There is a cafe here too selling everything from hot drinks, to freshly baked cakes, cooked breakfasts, and light lunches. A great place to make a start on one of your new purchases. This really is book heaven. Bring a large bag and be prepared to lose a few hours in here!

I'm going to Bookbarn tomorrow and have been several times...its heaven!…read more Literally the biggest library of books you've ever seen in a huge converted barn just outside of Bristol...all books are £1!!! They have free parking and a small tea shop with homemade cake and big old sofas. There is a vintage book section as well with rare books at still very cheap prices. The last time i went i bought 16 books i kid you not. Out of those included the complete works of Shakespeare for £1 (mint condition) complete works of oscar wilde (less mint condition) and the best thing ever: the complete sonnets of Shakespeare which had a sweet message written inside from 1962 where a man bought this book and gave it to her on their 20th Anniversary..and here it was going home with me in 2014. Love that so much. You really can spend hours here, books are put into genres and you are given a map when you come in, sofa's and chairs dotted around for you to casually read along with wheel-able shopping baskets. The staff are super friendly and helpful, it's a bit rough around the edges but super cute, exactly the kinda place i feel at home. If you don't see me for 3 days, i've been in bookbarn :)

This bookstore is a real cutie on the Main Street in Stowe. I was in need of a book for our five…read moreday walking trip and was able to find a winner here. Despite being tucked into a small space, they had a wide variety of hard packs, paperbacks, kids books and more to offer. The shopkeeper was both friendly and helpful. I should add that it's also conveniently located a few doors down from the tasty Cotswold Creamery cheese shop (which I also highly recommend). If you're in need of a read or for some literary perusing, this spot is for you!

Must stop here if you're in the area. The books are well displayed with wonderful reviews to help…read moreyou make a selection. However, for me it was the customer service! We were looking for where to travel to next and the two kind ladies working took the time to look up and write down directions since my phone has spotty service.

So, the Oxfam bookstore in Dalston is not the only one and a sensible place to put it as by…read morespecialising they don't clash with other charity stores along the same street. They even had a notice up for one of their 'competitors' when I went in, asking for donations of clothes etc. Isn't that nice? As to the shop as you'd expect here it's very nice. It could almost be a first hand bookshop, with nice shelves, and books mostly in near mint condition. I was very tempted by several wildlife and horsy books. They had plenty of them! In the end I bought a fiction book: mine and most others seemed to be priced at £1.99. So more expensive than Dalston, where they are mostly £1 each. Still a sensible price for a fairly rich town. They also sell music and videos. Another thing they seemed to have plenty of is staff. There must have been five or six of them. Volunteering at Oxfam seems to be the done thing in Marlborough.

A real gem, not what you expect from an oxfam shop, row upon row of great books; literature, art,…read morenon-fiction books.

Tons of books and a friendly knowledgeable staff that has a good sense of humor! Shop here!read more

Bath is hardly short of book shops (being England's publishing mecca) - so what sets Mr B's…read moreEmporium apart from the rest? Outstandingly friendly service, fantastic book signing events and a room dedicated to tranquil reading to name just a few. Voted Best Independent Bookshop, Mr B's Emporium isn't just a shop - it's an experience. My favourite thing to do of a lunch hour, is to pop along to the Bibliotherapy room at the top of the show, pick up a book, sit on the sofa and listen to the relaxing music. They also have a special booth equipped with tea, biscuits and headphones if you're looking for the ultimate in 'me time'. The shop spreads over three floors and covers a number of genres from cookbooks to psychology. These books are always sold at full price, so don't expect to get a bargain here, but you will find a carefully chosen selection of publications which you don't find on the highstreet.

This is a long running and established book shop that sells most of the books you can get…read more The only obvious downside is they are the only one and you have to pay full price for most of the books, however they have the added convenience that you don't need to go in to Newbury to buy a book.

Fantastic shop. Brilliant array of books on the shelf and no trouble at all to order books in…read more Could spend hours looking around. Staff are fantastic, friendly and approachable. Great shop. Can't wait to attend their events either, can't believe I didn't find this place sooner.

Well stocked. Friendly, knowledgable and helpful staff. An excellent local community resource.read more