Explore Manchester’s top bookstores with this curated guide to 6 must-visit spots, whether the largest Waterstones branch or a multicultural indie shop.
Positioned in the northwest of England, Manchester is home to many a bookstore and library, and even a literature festival to keep bibliophiles hooked.
Waterstones (Deansgate)
Waterstones Deansgate is the largest Waterstones branch in northern England, occupying a historic three-story building in central Manchester. The building itself is beautiful, featuring Victorian architecture with elegant black detailing underlaid with white.
As with every Waterstones, it carries a massive collection: over 80,000 titles that include fiction, children’s books, bestsellers, hobbies, history, and more. Fans of genre fiction will be especially pleased by its large selection of science fiction and fantasy.
In addition to books, you can find stationery and various gift items (think board games and so on). The third floor also plays host to a café where you can order coffee or tea, pastries, and even some vegan options. It has a pleasant seating area with a chill vibe, though nothing super fancy.
This branch also hosts a variety of literary events, such as book signings, which make it well worth any book lover’s while to stop by.
Address: 91 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BW, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 8PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM
Blackwell’s Bookshop
Blackwell’s is quite possibly the best-known academic bookshop chain in the UK, and it has a notable branch is sitting right on Oxford Road, serving the Manchester community. This shop is especially strong for textbooks, philosophy, and history, but you can also find a decent selection of other nonfiction, fiction, children’s books, and stationery.
One of the nicest perks this shop offers is the special orders and academic requests, both of which are supremely helpful for students coming out of the nearby university. Its on-site café is also a huge bonus, as it gives visitors the chance to relax and kick up their feet before heading back to their busy day.
The floor-to-ceiling windows on the ground floor allow sunlight to pour in, making the already spacious interior feel even brighter. That’s only emphasized by a massive avant-garde illustration of notable figures and big, block words posted above the bookshelves.
Address: University Green, 146 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9GP, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 8:30AM – 6:30PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 5PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM
Paramount Books
Not to be confused with Paramount Pictures, this family-run bookshop has been around since the 60’s and is absolutely packed with a varied array of comics, children’s books, old newspapers, postcards, and an eclectic selection of both fiction and nonfiction.
.jpg)
The inside is a sort of organized chaos, with no uniform shelving but a proliferation of hand-written notes informing visitors of what array of books, exactly, they’re looking at. The decor is just as eclectic as the curation itself, with curved mirrors strung above displays and postcards pasted to walls.
In other words, it’s the perfect layout for discovery. It sets a scene where you, a hapless adventurer, are lost in a forest of books and stumble upon just the one that you need to read.
If there’s something specific you’re in search of, you can ask the owner or staff. They’re very friendly and know the stock like the back of their hand.
Address: 25-27 Shudehill, Manchester M4 2AF, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Saturday: 10AM – 5PM
– Sunday to Friday: Closed
House of Books & Friends
Also mentioned in our book lover’s guide to Manchester, House of Books & Friends opened in 2022 to bring people together. More than a simple bookshop and café, its mission is to combat loneliness, an especially difficult problem that arose during the pandemic and still hasn’t fully gone away.
Being that the main focus is community-building, it’s no surprise that it hosts a slew of programs and activities to break the ice and make it easy for people to connect with one another. It hosts book clubs, readings, book signings, and more general community meetups.
In terms of books, it tends to highlight local authors or topics related to Manchester. After all, you can’t build a community if you don’t know anything about it! House of Books & Friends seeks to cure that, with warm staff ready and willing to make it happen.
Address: Ground Floor, 81 King St, Manchester M2 4AH, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 6PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM
Chorlton Bookshop
Chorlton Bookshop is a long-running independent neighborhood bookshop in South Manchester. It’s family-owned and has been serving the area since 1983. As you might expect from such a setup, it has a friendly, comforting atmosphere and a strong children’s section. Plus, a shelf of adorable plushies (Jellycat toys, to be specific). Who doesn’t love that?
In addition to children’s books, the shop stocks a broad mix of fiction, nonfiction, and classics, plus stationery (cards, notebooks, diaries), gift wrap, and small gifts. Basically, it’s a one-stop for thoughtful, last-minute gifts. It also has a fast ordering service, with many books arriving the next day if they’re not already on the shelf.
This local shop also offers a lot of extra services: local bike deliveries, reading group discounts, free delivery for school orders, and special offers on certain items year-round.
Address: 506 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9AW, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9:30AM – 5:30PM
– Sunday: Closed
Alexandria Library
Though it calls itself a “library,” this is actually an independent charity bookshop named after that ancient vault of knowledge, the Library of Alexandria. Like its namesake, it stretches across cultural boundaries by stocking books in Arabic and other Asian languages, plus some African materials as well. Basically, it is a bridge to bridge the gap some might feel when coming to a foreign country, a place to go in Manchester if you want to learn more about the Middle East and other cultures.
It doesn’t just sell foreign-language books, though. It also hosts English conversation classes of various levels (beginner to advanced) and Bible study in Arabic, English, and Farsi.
This bookshop has a calm vibe, with a distinct connection to both immigrant and religious communities. It helps bridge the gap some might feel when coming to a foreign country, so that they can feel welcome in a new place.
Address: 247 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester M14 5LW, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 12PM – 8PM
– Sunday: Closed
Join our community of 1.5M readers
Like this story? You'll love our free weekly magazine.
K Lou
K. Lou is a writer born in the U.S. who found her way to Japan through a spiritual calling—or, more precisely, better access to tea. She writes about travel, culture, and the occasional creative piece, inspired by her enduring love of books. This love began in high school when K. Lou carried books around to avoid seeming odd while lost in thought. Once she started reading, she never stopped. With zero regrets, she continues to explore the written word and invites others to join her in celebrating its varied forms.
