For its size the Blucoat Books and Arts store crams a hell of a lot into its small store which is…read morebasically a space under the stairs leading to the rest of the stores in the Gostins Building. Their selection of books is really very good especially in the arts, films and music sections. Taking an interest in the cinema section I was pleased to see many titles that you would struggle to find even in the new Waterstones - which for all its size isn't as extensive as you would expect, maybe they should concentrate on the books instead of the coffee to go with them. Added to this they only have an arts and crafts space that would give Rennie's a run for their money. It is not a one stop kind of place for all your artistic needs - that would be a bit too much to ask considering the lack of floor space - but with an extensive range of paints, cards and paper the enthusiast will find enough to keep them busy.

When I think of the bookshops in Liverpool, this one never seems to spring to mind first, but it…read morereally should. Tucked away in a little cluster of shops off Hanover Street, Bluecoat Books is a good little store for the budding artist, crammed with Art and Design books on specific artists and architecture as well as the usual A-Z of fiction. They have an art materials workshop with a rainbow of paints, brushes and canvases on sale and also a surprising amount of childrens books which took me back to the days when I was much happier reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar than Austen! I also noticed there was a whole section on travel guide to...'s and they had some out-of-date ones out at 50p each! Also it was £5 for 3 of the second-hand hardback books so I'm stock up for a while now! I won't be forgetting this place in a hurry!

Really good selection and great service in the children's section. You can get stuff cheaper on…read moreAmazon, but if you want to support the brick and mortar economy this is a good option.

The kids books section is awesome! It has not only books and toys, bit also a yellow submarine that…read moretoddlers can play in. It has a cafe upstairs, as well a pretty good inventory. Recommended.

Staying on the subject of love, peace and understanding, News From Nowhere is Liverpool's longest…read morerunning community bookshop. A not-for-profit organisation run by a workers co-operative, it's a welcoming environment with friendly staff committed to social change. As you'd expect from their window displays, the emphasis is firmly on books that inspire and empower people to make positive change to the world. There's a decent section of fiction along one wall of the shop but really, News From Nowhere is the place to go if you're looking for books on politics, activism, the environment, human rights, animal rights, peace, global equality, feminism, sexuality, gay, lesbian and queer culture, spirituality, Jewish diaspora, health and well being or world fiction. They also stock roots and world music CDs and have a notice-board advertising community events, meetings and demonstrations. In a world that's becoming more corporate and generic by the minute, News From Nowhere offers genuine and life-affirming food for thought.

News From Nowhere is a radical bookshop situated at the top end of the trendy Bold Street. It has a…read morewide variety of books, in many genres including fiction, gay and lesbian, feminism and women, masculinity and men, politics, philosophy, spirituality, sexuality, Liverpool, media and culture, arts and photography and so many more! The staff really helpful and knowledgeable about what they stock - which makes a change, as so many of the big chain bookshops don't have a clue. I recommend checking out the website as you can also order from there, but then you miss out on the dusty smell of the shop. It appeals a lot more to the average consumer now with a wider range of popular goods. There's all sorts of little pieces such as some funky postcards.

Dames with guns Doctors with time-machines…read more& Super-heroes with special powers You guessed it, we're talking about the weird and wonderful world of comics and graphic novels. If you're a collector or a fan, chances are you already know the staff at Forbidden Planet by name. If you don't, go and check the shop out. We're talking aisles of comics and graphic novels from manga and anime to The Iron Man and Cat Woman. They also have oodles of awesome toys, collectibles, tee-shirts, posters and gadgets including Dr Who figurines and Sonic screwdrivers.

Forbidden Planet is a geeks paradise. It stocks lots of cult items such as comics, graphic novels,…read moreposters, t-shirts, models, figurines, books, memorabilia and much more. The shop is small but well organised into clear sections. It is kept clean and tidy and is bright and airy. The staff, although a little patronising like many true geeks are, are helpful and knowledgeable about their stock. If you want something they don't stock they will order it in specially for you at no extra cost. The items here are a bit expensive compared to some other similar shops, but they are of a good quality.

My first visit to Kernaghan Books was only fairly recently. I hadn't visited the Wayfarer's arcade…read morefor a long time, probably not since I was dragged around Broadbents' department store as a screaming child.This time I promise I did not scream. Tucked away on the second floor, Kernaghan's is easily ignored, however doing so would be a very big mistake on your part. For any bibliophile or avid reader this is a truly excellent haven of books. You really cannot beat £1 for Bret Easton Ellis' 'American Psycho', which ended up being my purchase. I would recommend Kernaghan's to anyone who enjoys a particular and maybe obscure reading matter. Divided into many different sections, as well as having a rare books room, it is perfect for someone rooting out a particularly uncommon book. The staff are friendly and extremely helpful and eager to counsel on other books you might enjoy based on your selection. On a side-note, my friend discovered and eventually bought a Spam recipe book for her father as a joke present. It was very well received.

I visited here in June 2017. I thought it was going to be only antiquarian books, but there is a…read moregood selection of fiction and non-fiction books at low prices. I met the owner and he was very friendly.

If you are anywhere near the Empire Theatre with some time to spare, this small rare and second…read morehand book shop is a treat to visit. Just look out for the big clock. There a books packed on shelves from floor to the high ceiling for the depth of the shop. Outside there is a 10p bookcase with some interesting titles. The sign above the door reads "Books purchased from Single Items to the Largest Library. All Subjects, All periods, 16th Century to Modern Paperbacks." They also purchase classical and jazz LPs and CDs but the first floor department is not open yet. There are all manor of books to browse from specialist subjects to old annuals. They have recently been refurbished but the bookshop has an real old fashioned feeling.

Henry Bohn is a mini second hand book shop that has surprisingly and most recently attracted my…read moreattention. It is a mystery that I bothered to walk in after so many years I've passed this shop. Outside the entrance currently has a collection of books on sale for as cheap as 10p each. I don't know anywhere else where you can buy books for 10p! Most of these books are in adequate condition and of course readable. Inside is a different story. There are stacks full of books that feature many genres such as classics like Shakespeare and plenty of other literature including poetry. Plus, if that's not enough to tempt you, then they have a variety of music CD's. For example, jazz, classical, blues and LP's too. All of these items are affordable and if you have any unwanted items, you can trade in for cash depending on the type of book and condition. This is what's great about the shop as both sides can benefit. In terms of the layout, it is rather narrow and the lighting is a bit dull. Other than that, you can't really argue much about the items they sell. There is something for everyone here and it could be your lucky day if you come across a valuable read.

This is a fab original little bookshop fighting against the likes of Waterstones and Blackwells. I…read moremean, it's not actually fighting those giants, but you know what I mean. If you've seen You've Got Mail you know what I mean. This is a proper bookshop. Books are crammed onto rickety-looking shelves and span all kinds of categories. They buy as well as sell books, so you can get yourself a good swop-shop thing going on if you're savvy enough. Obviously, you've got to have some spare time on your hands to browse through everything, but it's well worth it as this is one of the few remaining old fashioned book stores in the city centre, and you can find some real gems. Also worth a look from an academic point of view - being near the university campuses means you can get some bargains as far as uni reading goes.

It's good because it sells a lot of books cheaply but my enthusiasm for little quaint second hand…read morebookshops has worn a little thin mainly because the owners al seem to be sociopaths or misanthropes. Too harsh? Maybe, it could just be the case that put end to end and the hours sat alone with only books for company probably add up to years, either that or books give off some sort of toxic fumes that effect the central nervous system. Still there are lots of books here so if books are what you're after then why not take a few minutes to see if there's anything amongst the second hand stock - and therefore tick your little green eco box for the day to boot - and you may just come across some thing you'd never thought of picking up .

What a gem. On a high street of hit-or-miss stores and a lot of charity shops, it was wonderful to…read morefind Browsers. Their recent nomination in the Welsh Independent Retail Awards is well deserved and I hope they win. Be sure to stop in for a book or a map (great selection of regional maps) when you're in Porthmadog.

Top place. I love Browsers! They have a great range of books and are always willing to help you…read morefind what you are looking for. Even if you want a book about. and don't have a title or author they will search the computers for something suitable, order it in for you and phone to let you know it has arrived. The art department at th back is similarly helpful, with a huge range of paints, paper, card making, face painting and other art supplies. They have a loyalty card, where you get a stamp every time you spend £10, and once you ahve 6 stamps you get £5 (or possibly £10 I don't remember) off your next purchase.

Is there a finer, funkier, funnier, bookstore in all of Yorkshire? Maybe all of the UK? I don't…read morethink so. What topic are you looking for? Proprietor Barry, with his assistant Jerry the cat, will find it for you. Indeed, probably several books on topic. Or just go in with an open mind and you'll find many books of interest. The difficulty will be deciding which to buy. Don't worry, the prices are so reasonable that you can take all you can carry. Beware, there are approximately 14,000 books there, so bring a really big bag.

I love quaint traditional rummagy book shops and this is one of the best. Set up an old cobbled…read morelane with mandatory ats a top some old books outside, the shops itself is small and paked high with books of all genres as well as some old classics and the frienldy old staff

One of the best shops I have been to. A great selection of comics plus a continual supply of…read morespecial offers.

When I lived on Oldham Street many moons ago, I used to pop into Forbidden Planet on a weekly basis…read moreto pick up new copies of The Sandman, The Invisibles and other cool comics. These days, I only venture in now and again for something specific, like Reinhard Kleist's awesome graphic novel based on the life of Johnny Cash - I See A Darkness. For me, the layout and interior of Forbidden Planet lacks the ambience and wow factor of somewhere like Dave's Comics in Brighton but their range of comics, manga and graphic novels is faultless. For true fantatics and collectors, they also stock a massive range of cartoon, comic and pop culture memorabilia including tee-shirts, games, videos and toys. Personally, I have my eye on one of Frank Kozak's toy smoking rabbits complete with eye patch.