Book lovers will adore a trip to Barter Books – one of the largest second-hand bookshops in Britain!
This gem of a place is located in Alnwick, just 30 minutes drive from Burradon Farm, and is housed in Alnwick’s former grand Victorian railway station.
The shop is absolutely full of second-hand books of all genres and is the perfect place to while away a few hours. Browse the shelves, sit in one of their cosy reading areas, or relax with a coffee in their Station Buffet.
The building has been perfectly converted using the old station layout:
- Their entrance used to be the Station Parcels Room, which still has the open window through which passengers would buy railway tickets
- The original Station entrance is now full of Children’s books
- The middle room marks the beginning of the outbound platform, with the buffers at one end
- Opposite the Children’s Room is a range of rooms which formed the central island of the station.
- The Old Waiting Room remains a place for the public to sit, have a meal, read newspapers, enjoy the open fire, drink coffee – and just get away from it all.
- The biggest room of the shop is part of the old outgoing platform where the trains stopped
Barter Books has many other features visitors will love:
- Open fires in the winter
- The Station Buffet with great food, coffee and of course cake!
- Paradise Ice Cream parlour
- A model railway chugging around above the shelves
- Murals, numerous restored station features and plenty of seating
- A whole huge room lined with over forty glass cases containing many of the more interesting antiquarian books
- Infamous as the place where the now iconic “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster was rediscovered
Barter Books is open every day except Christmas Day, 9.00 am – 7.00 pm. It is dog friendly too!
So, if you’re a fan of reading, collecting or just like books, get ready to relax and transport yourself to another place in this unique second-hand bookshop in the heart of Northumberland.
