Do you need a compilation of the best bookshops in Norfolk? We’ve featured 10 bookshops in the county below. Continue reading to learn about them.
1. City Bookshop
David and Joy Clarke opened the City Bookshop in its current Norwich location in 2010 but were buying and selling second-hand and out-of-print books for at least twenty years prior. Because of this, they have thousands of books to choose from, sourced almost entirely from those living in the East Anglia region. While their shelves cover a range of topics, they specialise in children’s books, classic novels, military, topography, transport, and art. You can browse their online catalogue here.
The following banner is an affiliate one. That means Writing Tips Oasis receive a small % of the sale if you purchase The Novel Factory, but at no extra cost to you:
The City Bookshop also hosts exhibitions of private collections of specialist and antiquarian books, as well as fashion and art. There are children’s book readings and occasional author signings. If you have books you’d like to sell, you can find out what City Bookshop are accepting here. For any other questions, contact them by phone or email.
2. The Book Hive
Known for their eclectic shelving of their books, the Book Hive in the Lanes area of Norwich has been a cultural and publishing icon of Norwich for many years. They even have a sister shop in Aylsham. Both locations contain a collection of the newest and classic fiction and nonfiction, with sections of devoted specifically to children’s books, cookery, and art.
The Book Hive hosts many author events, book clubs, poetry readings, and even a weekly quiet reading hour. They are also known for their rich publishing history through the Propolis imprint, known for publishing the award-winning A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride. To find out more about this award-winning bookshop or to just find out when you can stop by to check it out, visit their contact page.
3. Bookbugs and Dragon Tales
Opened in August 2019, the Bookbugs and Dragon Tales Bookshop in Norwich is more than just a bookshop dedicated to children’s and young adult books. They also offer a range of events that promote literacy and encourage children’s and young adults’ involvement in the arts; examples of past events include music and drama workshops, arts and crafts, author readings and book signings.
For the adult visitors, Bookbugs and Dragon Tales also stocks adult fiction and nonfiction, including local artists and local interest books. Visitors can also buy coffee and sweet treats while browsing the shelves or watching their children take part in the workshops. For any other questions, contact them by phone or email.
4. Tombland Bookshop
Opposite the cathedral in Norwich is Tombland Bookshop, opened in the 1990s by John and Alison Freeman and specialising in second-hand and antiquarian books. Tombland buys and sells books on all topics and categories, from archaeology to British topography. They’ll even ship to you if you can’t make it into the shop.
If you’d like to sell your books to Tombland Bookshop, or have any other questions about what they offer or how to purchase online, contact them using the information found here.
5. DNA Norwich
DNA Norwich is an art and bookshop located near the Norwich University of the Arts on Bank Plain. Their shelves contain contemporary fiction and nonfiction books, graphic novels, American titles, and even so-called ‘coffee table books’ with a more visual and artistic focus. The shop also contains a range of artworks for sale by both local and popular contemporary artists.
DNA Norwich hosts an in-person book club once a month, with an online Discord meeting the following week for those who couldn’t attend in-shop. Other events include author talks and readings; future events can be found on their social media page. Use the contact information at the bottom of their website for more information.
6. The Holt Bookshop
Pam Horrocks and Keith Britten opened the Holt Bookshop in Holt in August of 2020. Visitors can find contemporary and popular fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, local interest, and even books related to popular hobbies and crafts, such as cooking and gardening. Pam and Keith opened the Holt Book Gallery next door for those wishing to find second-hand texts and special or first editions.
The Holt Bookshop hosts book-related events such as author readings, children’s story hours, and book launches. Local artists can also be featured at the Holt Bookshop; guidelines for how to get your book on display can be found here. For any other questions, contact them using their online message form.
7. Kett’s Books
Kett’s Books in Wymondham opened in 2013 when some members of the community came together to fill the void left after the village’s only independent bookshop closed. They stock thousands of new and popular fiction and nonfiction books, including children’s books and local interest topics. They even offer monthly book subscriptions delivered right to your door!
What Kett’s Books really celebrates are book- and author-related events that bring together the community or bring literature to the community. They host four book clubs, a YouTube book talk series called Books at Lunchtime, and author talks throughout the year. Contact them using the online message form for more information.
8. Peter’s Bookshop
In 1984, Peter Cox opened Peter’s Bookshop in Sheringham to provide a permanent brick-and-mortar shop for the thousands of second-hand books he had obtained over the years. Now with more than double the stock he started with, Peter’s Bookshop buys and sells books on nearly every topic, with a special focus on local history.
Peter Cox has also written a number of books about the history of Sheringham and Norfolk, all of which can be found for purchase in his shop. Contact Peter’s Bookshop if you’d like to find out more about what Peter stocks or if you have books to sell.
9. Ceres Bookshop
Ceres Bookshop in Swaffham has been a one-stop shop for books since 2004. While they stock the newest and bestselling fiction and nonfiction of nearly every genre, they also buy and sell second-hand books and collectors’ editions covering arts, local interest, poetry, cookery, and other hobbies and interests. They can also offer a book search service, whether the title you are looking for is still in print or not.
Ceres Bookshop doesn’t host their own events but they do sell tickets to local Swaffham and Norfolk events. For more information, contact them using their online message form.
10. Not Just Books
Opened after the pandemic of 2020, Not Just Books in Thetford offers a community space for those with shared interests to come together. The shelves are stocked with fiction and nonfiction books on practically every topic and genre, children’s books, graphic novels, and even local interest titles. There are even some stationery, gifts, toys, and games for sale.
Events at Not Just Books range from storytelling hours to book clubs to author events and even a Dungeon and Dragons hour. If you have an idea for an event want to special order a book for delivery, contact them by email or their social media pages.