Liverpool Bookshops Guide 2026
Liverpool bookshops are for readers, collectors, traders, and creators.
You could spend a day travelling from one shop to another (as I have many times) in search of treasures. Whether you’re a bookseller searching for stock or locations, keep reading.
Also, remember to support independent bookshops. I always buy a book when I visit a second-hand bookshop.
Below, I will list second-hand Liverpool bookshops and book markets.
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I'd also like to highlight the independent Liverpool bookshops: News from Nowhere, which focuses on radical literature, and Dead Ink Books, which offers alternatives to mainstream publishing.
If you have time, also visit the Liverpool Central Library. It has very aesthetic neo-classical reading rooms as well as a copy of John Audubon’s Birds of America. One of the rarest books and most expensive books in the world.
Let’s begin our journey in the centre of Liverpool.
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Liverpool Bookshops
In the heart of Liverpool, you will find the Bluecoat Chambers. The Bluecoat is a contemporary arts centre in the oldest surviving building in Liverpool (1716). It’s a community hub for artists and book lovers, hosting a monthly book market.
Hidden inside you will find a garden (a peaceful place to hide in sunny weather), a courtyard with a violin repair shop and by the entrance, an antiquarian bookshop.
Aldous Books
There has been a bookshop in the Bluecoat for 40 years. Previously Kernaghan Books, and for the past two years, the new owners, Steve and Gina Aldous. It still kept its cosy atmosphere, and the staff are friendly.
Their stock is a mix of modern and rare, including folios and Penguin Classics. They also have a website shop where you can browse their inventory. Personally, I am a fan of their natural history collection, where I have previously found vibrant still-life prints.
Address: Bluecoat School Lane, L1
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Next, walk north towards William Brown Street, where you will find a row of famous buildings, St George's Hall, World Museum, Walker Art Gallery and Liverpool Central Library (1860), where you could easily spend a day.
There are two Liverpool bookshops on this side of town. First Henry Bohn Books has a large collection of second-hand and academic books. Then, if you head towards the university, you will find a small green bookshop.
Reid Of Liverpool
First, you will spot its traditional Georgian shop front, with extra-large windows and several book carts outside. The building has served as a retail establishment since 1780 and is now owned by Gerry Fitzpatrick, a welcoming and highly knowledgeable bookseller.
Inside, you will find a very clean and organised shop. There is a wide variety of mainly non-fiction books with a section of science fiction in the second room. In addition, there are many antiquarian books, especially on local history.
Address: 105 Mount Pleasant, L3
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Once upon a time, you could find plenty of Liverpool Bookshops, one on every corner. I was told that Renshaw Street once had five second-hand bookshops next to one another.
It’s now very expensive to run an independent bookshop. Even new antiquarian bookshops tend to open on upper floors, as ground-floor shop fronts are simply too expensive. Therefore, any new Liverpool bookshops are likely to open outside the city centre.
Still Out Of Print
Naomi has worked in many bookshops over the past forty years. You can now you can find her in a small shop on Smithdown Road. The shop is overflowing with stock, with many more books in storage.
I also find that the shop has regularly new stock. I’ve found treasures before, such as children’s classic literature. Naomi is very well-read and can help you find even obscure books. Worth the journey for book lovers.
Address: 282 Smithdown Road, L15
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Liverpool Book Markets 2026
Despite the decline in Liverpool bookshops, markets are growing. These markets attract a variety of booksellers, from natural history to esoteric topics. There are also antique markets where you might also find books.
Bluecoat Book Market
Bluecoat Chambers hosts a monthly book market, featuring approximately 10 book sellers, each offering a diverse selection of themes and genres. The collection includes politics, philosophy, literature, antiquarian works, and more.
Address: Bluecoat School Lane, L1
Liverpool Book Festival
The literature festival began last year and is now taking place at BoxPark Liverpool (Cains Brewery Village). This festival brings authors together with fans, featuring workshops and special guest speakers. They also have a market with book and art stalls. I’m unsure what to expect, but I’ve booked a table.
Address: Box Park, Liverpool L8
Port Sunlight Book Fair
Now we go outside of Liverpool to Port Sunlight, a small town between Chester and Liverpool. They are holding a book fair in Hulme Hall. I went to the last one; it was big, with up to 50 traders selling a range of books from cheap pound paperbacks to vintage, and some PBFA sellers too.
Address: Port Sunlight, Hulme Hall
Sunday 26th April 2026
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Above, I list Liverpool bookshops that I think will appeal to people travelling into Liverpool, either to buy stock or for content. I regularly post about Liverpool bookshops and book markets @sixbookshop