The Independent Bookshops to Visit on Bookshop Day
We're celebrating Bookshop Day on 11th October with our insider guide to the best independent bookshops across the region
Cogito Books
This popular bookshop is at the heart of Hexham’s reading community and has been a go-to for book lovers since 2001. The shelves are stacked with a carefully-curated collection of titles and staff are always keen to make recommendations. Kids love the dedicated children’s area complete with a comfy sofa for story time, and popular toy box.
5 St Mary’s Chare, Hexham NE46 1NQ
cogitobooks.com
Barter Books
One of the largest second-hand bookstores in Britain, Barter Books (in Alnwick’s grand Victorian station) is a quirky and characterful treasure trove of reads. From history and gardening to medicine and law, and a variety of children’s books, you can spend hours browsing for a new read, with the option to refuel at the Station Buffet and Paradise ice-cream parlour. With many restored station features, three 40-foot murals and open fires to keep you warm in winter, it’s no wonder this bookshop is now world famous.
Alnwick Station NE66 2NP
barterbooks.co.uk
Forum Books, The Bound & The Accidental Bookshop
An award-winning independent bookshop, Forum Books has been a stalwart of Corbridge’s indie offering since the ‘70s and now you can find new outposts at The Bound in Whitley Bay and The Accidental Bookshop in Alnwick (for rare and used books). There’s always a hand-picked range of books on display and they often host special author events.
The Chapel, Market Place, Corbridge NE45 5AW
82a Park View, Whitley Bay NE26 2TH
4 Narrowgate, Alnwick NE66 1JG
forumbooksshop.com
NewBridge Books
NewBridge Books is a creative hub for book lovers with not only hard-to-find books on the shelves, but also an array of magazines, zines and creative publications alongside locally made artworks. Book launches, talks, poetry readings and reading circles also take place here and visitors are encouraged to get involved in the programme of community and open-access workshops.
The Shieldfield Centre, 4–8 Clarence Walk, Newcastle NE2 1AL
thenewbridgeproject.com
BookWyrm
In Durham’s Indoor Market Hall, BookWyrm specialises in LGBTQ+ books as well as books by small authors and indie publishers. There are colourful blankets and a reading chair in this cosy corner of the market hall where you can relax and browse a variety of titles, and they occasionally have visiting authors signing copies of their books.
Unit 12, Durham’s Indoor Market Hall DH1 3NJ
bookwyrm.co.uk
1b Books
One of Newcastle’s newest indie bookshops, 1b Books is tucked around the corner from Heaton Perk, and sells a selection of fiction and non-fiction titles (both new and second-hand), and there’s a great children’s section too. But this is more than just a bookshop – they also host poetry nights, themed events and book clubs throughout the year.
1b Bolingbroke Street, Newcastle NE6 5PH
@1b.books
Collected
Durham’s independent bookshop, tucked away on The Riverwalk, specialises in work written by women. Browse the carefully-curated collection then take a seat and get reading with a coffee and cake. Their book bundles (often based on a theme or genre) make for the perfect gifts. Head downstairs for non-fiction, classics, poetry, fantasy, sci-fi and recipe books.
44 The Riverwalk, Durham DH1 4SL
collectedbooks.co.uk
DRAKE – The Bookshop
For 10 years, DRAKE – The Bookshop has remained a place for bookworms to find stories to inspire and connect them. As well as a carefully-selected range of books on shelves, several book clubs also run both within the shop and digitally, and if you can’t find the book you’re looking for willing staff can order titles in for you for the next working day.
26–27 Silver Street, Stockton TS18 1SX
drakethebookshop.co.uk
Keel Row Books
The longest established antiquarian and second-hand bookshop in the North East, Keel Row Books is packed with books, but also maps, photographs and ephemera, and the team are specialists in first editions. Established in 1981, this bookshop is renowned locally for its rare collections and collectables.
93–97 Park View, Whitley Bay, NE26 3RJ
keelrowbooks.com
Slightly Foxed
Berwick’s independent bookshop, Slightly Foxed, was previously in the town’s Charter Market before relocating to join the vibrant shopfronts on Bridge Street. Lisa and Claire now run the bookshop and sell a range of second-hand fiction and non-fiction books for both adults and children. Don’t skip on browsing the original vintage movie posters and L.S. Lowry prints too.
31 Bridge Street, Berwick TD15 1ES
slightlyfoxedberwick.co.uk
Featherbed Books
Run by a mum-and-daughter duo with a shared love for books, Featherbed Books in Houghton boasts shelves upon shelves of books under a variety of genres, and a fantastic selection of children’s books. It’s always worth a look at their ‘pre-loved’ and ‘slightly damaged’ shelves to give an old book a new life.
104a Newbottle Street, Houghton DH4 4AJ
featherbedbooks.co.uk
Oliver’s Bookshop
Oliver’s Bookshop is an antiquarian and second-hand bookshop in Whitley Bay with books stacked as far as the eye can see. From locomotives to music, they’re all separated into genres and the owners are happy to offer recommendations. There’s a cute selection of postcards to browse too.
48a Whitley Road, Whitley Bay NE26 2NF
@olivers_bookshop_whitley_bay
Book Corner
Book Corner is Saltburn’s independent bookshop and has been supplying locals with new reads for more than a decade (it moved into larger premises in 2017). Here you can browse contemporary fiction for adults and children, new releases, bargain books and non-fiction. The Book Corner Book Group meets on the last Thursday of each month, and if they don’t have the book you’re looking for they’ll order it for you.
24 Milton Street, Saltburn TS12 1DG
bookcornershop.co.uk
The Guisborough Bookshop
New releases arrive every day at The Guisborough Bookshop, from fiction and non-fiction to children’s books and jigsaws. Kids will also love the selection of Palm Pals, Jellycat and Miffy toys. The Guisborough Bookshop runs occasional book signing events and accepts pre-orders for popular books too.
4 Chaloner Street, Guisborough TS14 6QD
guisboroughbookshop.co.uk
