Here’s our guide to the best bookshops in Liverpool. This list contains the best independent bookshops with reference to chain bookshops at the bottom. We always recommend and encourage you to support your local, independent bookshop!
News From Nowhere
Liverpool’s radical and community bookshop, News From Nowhere is a strong favourite among locals. Established in 1974 and run collectively by a women workers’ co-operative, they stock a great range of all kinds of books. You’ll find lots of social, political, LGBTQ+, and black history books as well as popular fiction and much more. They can also order books into the store for you so if you don’t find the book you want they can get it for you.
News From Nowhere
Address: 96 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4H
Phone Number: 0151 708 7270
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10 am – 5.45 pm and Sunday: 11 am to 5 pm.
Kernaghan Books
Located in the courtyard of the Bluecoat, Kernaghan Books stocks a selected range of books spanning 400 years of publishing in their spacious and quirky shop.
Kernaghan Books
Address: The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX
Phone Number: 0151 703 9077
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 11 am – 4 pm and Saturday: 11 am – 5 pm. Closed Sunday & Monday.
Reid of Liverpool
Reid of Liverpool stocks a huge selection of second-hand books, it’s a treasure trove for book lovers. Interestingly, the shop is the only surviving Georgian, purpose-built retail premises incorporating living accommodation in Liverpool, which was erected circa 1785. So, it’s great for history buffs too!
Reid of Liverpool
Address: 105 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TB
Phone Number: 0151 709 2312
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10:30 am – 5:15 pm. Closed on Sundays.
Henry Bohn Books
Henry Bohn Books offers a wide range of well-priced books (and music) over its two floors. With aisles of rare and unusual books available, you’ll be sure to find something amazing.
Henry Bohn Books
Address: 12 London Road, Liverpool L3 5NF
Phone Number: 0151 709 4501 / 0151 639 2401
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11 am – 6 pm. Closed on Sundays.
Dead Ink Books
Dead Ink Books began life in 2011 as one of the first digital-only independent presses. In 2014 they released their first print titles and went onto sell books too. Now they have their own small, community-minded bookshop on Smithdown Road. Their focus is on stocking books by independent publishers just like themselves with fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children’s books.
Dead Ink Books
Address: 375 Smithdown Road, Liverpool L15 3JJ
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm. Closed Monday & Tuesday.
The Reader
The Reader bookshop is located behind Mansion House in Calderstones Park. They stock their most-loved literary works, children’s toys, prints, homeware, gifts and plants. Everything here is sold for a good cause – with profits gifted to Shared Reading projects across the UK.
The Reader
Address: Calderstones Mansion House, Calderstones Park, Calderstones Road, Liverpool L18 3JB
Phone Number: 0151 729 2200
Opening Hours: Open daily: 10 am – 4 pm.
Pritchard’s Bookshop
Pritchard’s Bookshop has been serving the Crosby community since opening back in 1975. They are dedicated to creating a shop that works with local schools, authors, and the community beyond to inspire reading in all ages. They have a large selection of books in their shop and they can order most books into the store free of charge too.
Pritchard’s Bookshop
Address: 13 Moor Lane, Crosby, Liverpool L23 2SE
Phone Number: 0151 931 1642
Opening Hours: Open daily: 9 am – 5 pm.
Baltic Bookstore
In this small but mighty shop, located in the Red Brick Market at Cains Brewery Village you’ll find some an eclectic collection of reads. The Baltic Bookstore stocks used books, magazines and comics from all sorts of genres.
Baltic Bookstore
Address: Stanhope Street Cains Brewery Village, Liverpool L8 5RE
Opening Hours: Open daily: 10 am – 6 pm
West Kirby Bookshop
Independent book publicist Jordan Taylor-Jones launched this independent bookshop in West Kirby, Wirral. The West Kirby Bookshop wishes to build a cultural hub for the community and it stocks a wide range of books, including fiction, non-fiction and children’s books.
West Kirby Bookshop
Address:Â 6 Grange Rd, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 4HA
Opening Hours:Â Wednesday to Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday: 11 am to 4 pm. Closed Monday & Tuesday.
Liverpool Bookshop Honourable Mentions
Oxfam Bold Street
Stocks a sizeable collection of books including fiction, non-fiction and children’s books.
Oxfam Bold Street
Address: 35/37 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4DN
Phone Number: 0151 709 6739
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 5:30 pm and Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm.
Waterstones
Large chain bookshop stocking a wide range of books and more.
Waterstones
Address: 12 College Lane, Liverpool L1 3DL
Phone Number: 0151 709 9820
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 9:30 am – 8 pm, Friday & Saturday: 9:30 am – 7 pm and Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm.
Blackwell’s Bookshop
Trading since 1879, Blackwell of Oxford is the largest academic and specialist bookseller in the UK. They also sell a full range of titles including fiction, non-fiction, academic, graphic novels and Manga.
Blackwell’s Bookshop
Address: Unit 2-3, Crown Place, Peach St, Liverpool L3 5UH
Phone Number: 0151 709 8146
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm. Closed Saturday & Sunday.
Forbidden Planet Liverpool
Known for comics, graphic novels and sci-fi shop, Forbidden Planet also stocks a selection of books. You can find sci-fi, fantasy, music, tv & film, gaming, crime, thriller and action books.
Forbidden Planet
Address: 92 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4HY
Phone Number: 0151 707 1491
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm and Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm.
Have we missed any Liverpool or Merseyside bookshops off our list? Let us know in the comments below.
