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10 of the Best Second-Hand Book Shops in Glasgow

10 of the Best Second-Hand Book Shops in Glasgow

If you’re on the hunt for rare or hard-to-find books, then second-hand book shops might have a copy of what you’re looking for. These shops have books galore to satisfy your inner bookworm especially if they are no longer in general circulation.

Glasgow has some amazing second-hand book shops for you to check out if you’re looking for a specific book or if you just want to get lost browsing through collections. If you want to know more, read our list of the best second-hand book shops in the city!

Good Press

Address: 32 St. Andrews St, Glasgow G1 5PD, United Kingdom

Contact Number: +44 (0) 141 237 6130

Operating Hours

  • Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Closed on Sunday

Website

If variety and quantity are things you consider when visiting a bookshop, then the Good Press might be a good fit for you. This book shop offers different media from a mix of publishers ranging from books to magazines, and various papers.

The shelves are also full to the brim and you can browse the shop’s collection as long as you want. The staff are also nice enough to provide a chair in case you want to read some of their books and give you the opportunity before buying the title you want.

Pro tip:
Aside from the store’s welcoming atmosphere, they also host some events from time to time. These usually involve different speakers discussing literature or authors looking to launch their book so check out their schedule regularly.

Category Is Books

Address: 34 Allison St, Glasgow G42 8NN, United Kingdom

Contact Number: +441414634934

Operating Hours

  • Thursday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Closed from Monday to Wednesday

Website

Category Is Books isn’t just about books as it is a lifestyle. This independent book shop is the only one in Glasgow specifically showcasing works pertaining to the LGBT community- perfect if you’re into queer literature.

The place is cosy and welcoming and you can browse through their various brand-new and used book sections. It also features other items on sale promoting safe space and equality and you can buy these patches and badges to show your support for the LGBT.

Pro tip:
The staff at the Category Is Books are very knowledgeable, so go ahead and ask for assistance. If they have it in store, then store personnel will most likely know where to find it and can direct you to the shelf where it is located.

Cooper Hay Rare Books


Address:
185A Bath St, Glasgow G2 4HU, United Kingdom

Contact Number: +441412213922

Operating Hours

  • Tuesday to Thursday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Closed from Friday to Monday

Website

The name speaks for itself– Cooper Hay Rare Books is the place where you can find antiquarian books when in Glasgow. Plus, it’s one of the most photogenic and classiest-looking book shops in the city, making it a must-visit based on this alone!

You can get lost in some of the oldest book collections lodged in this shop. If you’re into local unsung heroes, then Cooper Hay Rare Books has some great biographical selections as well such as that of Kath Duncan, a popular civil rights activist.

Pro tip:
You should carefully plan your visit to this book shop as it is only open three days a week. Time your trip to this shop from Tuesday to Thursday as it’s closed during the weekends.

Calton Books

Address: 159 London Rd, Glasgow G1 5BX, United Kingdom

Contact Number: +447547743303

Operating Hours

  • Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM
  • Closed on Monday and Tuesday

Website

Calton Books offers exciting reads if you’re into radical and left-wing literature. It’s also a fantastic book shop to visit if you want to catch up on some history, philosophy, and a bunch of other topics and genres you might be interested in.

Some of their most sought-after titles include books on feminism, philanthropists, and republicans so if you’re into these topics, this store will be an oasis of learning for you. There’s also a good bit of Scottish and Irish history if you want local cultural immersion. 

Pro tip:
Aside from its leftist books and titles, there are other souvenirs for you to buy here. Calton Books has shirts, badges, and stickers enough to satisfy any left-leaning spirit and your passion for unique souvenirs.

Thistle Books

Please embed: https://www.instagram.com/p/CwKX1aXAf28/ 

Address: 55 Otago St, Glasgow G12 8PQ, United Kingdom

Contact Number: +447305095678

Operating Hours

  • Monday to Saturday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Closed on Sunday

Website

Thistle Books is the ideal place for some rare book hunting. They sell only second-hand books on Scottish literature and history but some of these titles can be rare or hard-to-find ones so get ready to do some serious shelf scanning while you’re here.

The shop itself has a cosy and welcoming atmosphere and is well-organised despite being full to the brim with second-hand book goodness. You can totally immerse yourself in the rare books you’ll find here and lose hours just exploring the shelves!

Pro tip:
Aside from the cheap prices, this book shop only sells books in very good condition. This means you can buy books good enough to give away as a gift to your loved ones and friends (without it looking second-hand).

Young’s Interesting Books

Address: 18 Skirving St, Shawlands, Glasgow G41 3AB, United Kingdom

Contact Number: +441416499599

Operating Hours

  • Monday to Saturday,11:00 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Sunday, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

The name of this book shop– Young’s Interesting Books– will not disappoint as it is home to some very interesting second-hand books for sale. While you can purchase some well-known works here, you can also find a couple of niche titles as well.

It’s worth visiting for some of the laugh-inducing titles as well such as “The Strange Story of False Teeth.” You also can’t find a better science fiction section than the one in this shop as it features out-of-this-world villains and weird alien specimens!

Pro tip:
Be prepared to shell out some cash as the books sold here are usually aged around 50 to 80 years old. As such, keep in mind that the cost for these kinds of books will be a bit on the pricey side. 

Hyndland Books

Address: 143 Hyndland Rd, Glasgow G12 9JA, United Kingdom

Contact Number: +447484024614

Operating Hours

  • Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Sunday, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Website

Hyndland Books is a local book shop selling second-hand books that are mostly modern titles. There are a number of different genres to check out here such as non-fiction, fiction, and children’s books and you’ll surely spend some time perusing these here.

Aside from books, you can also browse their amazing collection of DVDs. Plus, Hyndland Books has a dog on its premises– a black labrador you can cuddle as you go through the collections of the book shop.

Pro tip:
Hyndland Books updates its titles on sale from time to time so it’s best that you check out what’s on display every time you pass by the location. You never know– the book you’ve been searching for might be available at a discount!

Caledonia Books

Address: 483 Great Western Rd, Glasgow G12 8HL, United Kingdom

Contact Number: +44 141 334 9663

Operating Hours

  • Tuesday to Saturday, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  • Closed on Sunday to Monday

Website

Once a book is no longer being published, it can be quite difficult if not impossible to get a hold of. Thankfully, there’s a second-hand bookshop in Glasgow called Caledonia Books that sells out-of-print books and rare titles.

You can ask the owners of this book shop for assistance if you’re looking for a specific book; and if they don’t have it in store, they’ll help you find a copy elsewhere. Don’t forget to visit the basement of this shop where you’ll find tons of stunning folio books.

Pro tip:
You can enjoy surfing the books and collections of this store for hours and then proceed to the nearby cafes and restaurants along the same street. This makes this area perfect for an afternoon stroll!

Aye-Aye

Address: 350 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3JD, United Kingdom

Contact Number: +441412660140

Operating Hours

  • Wednesday to Saturday, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  • Closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday

You might be the type of person with an eye for the visual arts. If so, then you need to check out the collection of Aye Aye Books. The book shop has some amazing titles for you to enjoy ranging from magazines to books on architecture, art, and photography.

The store is also housed inside the Centre of Contemporary Arts, making this an ideal site for you to visit if you want to learn more about the culture and art of Glasgow. Lovers of literature will also have a field day at this shop for its collection of poetry.

Pro tip:
If you’re travelling with little kids, they will surely have a fun time at the basement of Aye Aye Books. Their folio collection features tons of beautifully illustrated children’s books which will keep them entertained for hours on end. 

Voltaire and Rousseau

Address: 12 – 14 Otago Ln, Glasgow G12 8PB, United Kingdom

Contact Number: +441413391811

Operating Hours

  • Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Closed on Sunday 

Website

Voltaire and Rousseau’s collection is impressive and covers books written from different time periods and various locations. Their collection is so varied that you’d better prepare to stay for long periods just to adequately browse through their collection. 

Each and every title is a joy to look at especially those illustrated books (such as “Sevres: Porcelain from the Royal Collection”) that a visit to this location is totally worth it!

Pro tip:
Adding to the charm of this location is the resident cat of the store named BB. You may find him napping on some books, so just gently nudge him awake if you want to gain access to the pile of books he’s sleeping on.

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