John Adams Books
10 Angel Walk
TONBRIDGE  Kent  TN9 1TJ
tel: 01732 353519
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30 and occasional Sundays.
General stock of new and secondhand books.
    As the embarrassed manageress said when confronted: "We're not really a second-hand bookshop. It's that we just have some used titles in with the new books." Exactly. Don't waste your time visiting. - Chris Harte 29.06.09.

The Albion Bookshop
44-46, Albion Street
BROADSTAIRS  Kent  CT10 1LX
tel: 01843 862877  map
Open: Wednesday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.30, Sunday 10.30 - 4.30.
Medium size general secondhand stock with a large section of literature and literary criticism.
    The "secondhand department" of a shop selling new books . Vast and rather sprawling - can be difficult to get into some rooms for the piles of books. But helpful staff and pretty good on literature and travel. - Herne.
    Certainly worth a visit, but the piles of new/unshelved stock seem to increase every time I visit, to the detriment of the overall experience - perhaps a sort-out to concentrate on quality over quantity might help? - Henry Middleton 05.02.08
    I would agree that it is really time for this shop to have a sort out. Many of the prices are optimistic and much of the stock needs to be skipped. There are some bargains to be had but most people would soon get fed up trying to find them. Bookshops such as this are going to the wall every week and a complete rethink is needed here. - Nicholas Pendower 17.11.08.
    Very muddled shop but overflowing with all types of books. Most titles from the 1970-2005 era and very little pre-war material. Owner was helpful but his pricing was all over the place. Worth a visit for his political autobiographies which are there in a large number. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.

The Aviation Bookshop
31-33 Vale Road
TUNBRIDGE WELLS  Kent  TN1 1BS
tel: 01892 539284  fax: 01892 539597  e-mail   website  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30
For over 50 years we have stocked literature on the subject of aviation in all its aspects. Parking is available in the multi-story car park opposite the shop. The shop is situated in the centre of town about 200 yards from the main line station: Tunbridge Wells on the Charing Cross Line.

City Books (was Backroom Bookshop)
41 High Street
ROCHESTER  Kent  ME1 1LN  map
tel: 07531-397407
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 6.00 Sunday 10.00 - 5.00
We stock a variety of specilist and popular books.
    A small bookshop which suffers from the curse of narrow aisles - best visited on a quiet day only by persons of slim build. - Henry Middleton 05.02.08
    Has a reasonable varied stock with emphasis on Kent. Owner is knowledgable about both availability and pricing, which I found to be very fair. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.
    City Books is actually in the (much larger) shop unit next door to the original Backroom Books, and offers greatly improved access - there is even room for small antiques as well as the books. - Henry Middleton 26.10.09.

Baggins Book Bazaar
19, High Street
ROCHESTER  Kent  ME1 1PY
tel: 01634 811651  fax: 01634 840591  e-mail   website  map
Open: every day 10.00 - 5.50
Secondhand books in profusion, all subjects. We run a secondhand booksearch service.
    Whether it really is the largest second hand bookshop in the country may be open to debate, but the front part of the shop, which holds the better quality stock is alone always worth visiting in its own right. Behind this the shop goes on and on, over two floors, with a wide selection and volume of stock. I rarely leave empty-handed, but customers would be advised to wrap up well if visiting in winter! - Henry Middleton 05.02.08
    Vast stock but is actually fifteen different dealers under one roof. When I asked for a price on wishing to buy in bulk I was refused on the grounds it was the individual dealers' decisions. Having said this the manager (who reminded me of Arthur Daley in his pomp) then went and priced a three-figure rare title. Hmm! - Chris Harte 27.06.09.

Mike Banwell
Unit 17 The Corn Exchange  The Pantiles
TUNBRIDGE WELLS  Kent  TN2 5QJ
tel: 01892 750944  map
Open: Tuesday and Thursday - Saturday 10 - 4.30*
    A small shop with a small - but interesting and attractive - stock and a few antiques, located in the Corn Exchange just below the Pantiles. Within 5 minutes walk of Pantiles Books, The Secondhand Bookshop, Hall's and Oxfam. - Richard.
    *Only appears to be open on Friday and Saturday. A small antique shop with a few books on shelves. - Chris Harte 29.06.09.

Barely Read Books
18 The Green
WESTERHAM  Kent  TN16 1AX
tel: 01959 565854  map
Very large secondhand stock covering most subjects and particularly Biggles, Blyton and Churchill.
    Open as advertised but it was another of my pet hates: narrow aisles made worse by piles of books on the floor, up to 3 feet high and obscuring half the shelves behind them. I accidentally knocked a book down, carefully replaced it then had the whole pile fall over. When I eventually located my subject it was behind two of the mammoth heaps so I didn't dare move anything and left empty-handed. - Old Erithian.
    Not only are the aisles narrow (no more than two feet wide in places) but many of the shelves are double banked and some rows of large books are shelved spine down, which, together with the massive piles concealing the lower shelves, means that little more than half the stock can be visible! It's almost impossible to move without knocking a book off one of the piles. Although there are good books in there somewhere, a visit is generally a dispiriting and negative experience - what is the point? - Henry Middleton. 01.04.09.
    I agree with other comments about the cramped space. It was difficult to browse. Pricing was very high so it was no surprise that I was able to negotiate with ease a 55% discount on titles I wished to purchase. - Chris Harte 29.06.09.

The Bookmark
15c Rainham Shopping Centre
RAINHAM  Kent  ME8 7HW
tel: 01634 365987  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30. Sunday 10.00 - 4.00
Over 40,000 reasonably priced books at your fingertips. Wide range of both fiction and non-fiction. Very Good History, Travel, Biography, Childrens & study sections. Book searches undertaken. Range of large print & audio books. Great jazz while you browse.
    On entry started muttering to myself about wasting 50p in car park charging. Within a few minutes realised that there was good stock so long as you had your eyes looking upwards on to the top shelves. Eventually came away with two carrier bags full but be aware; the manager's spoken English is not very good. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.

Books
168 High Street
DEAL  Kent  CT14 6BQ
tel: 01304 368662  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Secondhand and antiquarian books including the arts and architecture.
    What a contrast to the other (alleged) bookshop in the town. Here they were pleasant, charming, knew their subject and could not have been more helpful. Had some really good late-nineteenth century Colonial material all of which were priced fairly. Purchased some reasonable aged books and will certainly return. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.

Booksharp
22b King Street
GRAVESEND  Kent  DA12 2DU
tel: 01474 561101  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
Mainly secondhand paperbacks for readers.

The Book Palace
32 Palace Street
CANTERBURY  Kent  CT1 2DZ
tel: 01227 470120
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Charity bookshop run entirely by volunteers for benifit of The Scrine Foundation.

The Broadstairs Bookshop
7 Albion Street
BROADSTAIRS  Kent CT10 1LU
tel: 01843 860824  map
Open: ?
    Smaller and more low key shop in the same street (as Albion Books) which had a presentable stock - in much the same areas. - Herne.
    A most knowledgable owner who was candid enough to state that his good material went virtually as soon as it arrived. He had some interesting bits from between the wars but little else from pre-1960. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.

The Canterbury Book Shop
37 Northgate
CANTERBURY  Kent  CT1 1BL
tel: 01227 464773  map
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
General secondhand and Antiquarian stock, children's, illustrated and typography.
    An excellent, good-quality bookshop. It's a bit of a distance from the city centre, at the far end of Northgate, but well worth the walk. - Henry Middleton 05.02.08

C & M Framing
3 Corner House Buildings  Red Lion Square
HYTHE  Kent  CT21 5BD
tel: 01303 260933  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00, closed Wednesday pm.
A picture framing business with a small stock of secondhand books.

C P Books
9 High Street
EDENBRIDGE  Kent  TN8 5AB
tel: 01732 300814  e-mail  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00, closed Wednesday.
General secondhand stock of about 4,000 items with emphasis on the arts disciplines: Art history, English literature, history, philosophy, religion. Also sells online. Chair provided for visitors and toys available for children to use while parents browse.

Chaucer Book Shop
6-7, Beer Cart Lane
CANTERBURY  Kent  CT1 2NY
tel: 01227 453912  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Large general stock of quality secondhand and antiquarian books.
    An excellent quality shop on two floors. Aside from any other attractions Canterbury may have to offer, this and the Canterbury Bookshop make the city a very worthwhile stopping point for any passing bibliophile. - Henry Middleton 05.02.08

Falconwood Transport & Military Bookshop
5 Falconwood Parade  The Green
WELLING  Kent  DA16 2PL
tel: 020 8303 8291  map
Open: Thursday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30.
Specialist transport & military stock.

Stanley Fish & Co
215A Upper Grosvenor Road
TUNBRIDGE WELLS  Kent  TN1 2EG
tel: 01892 546431  e-mail  website  map
Open: Monday - Friday 9.30 - 4.00.
Some 5,000 books on the railways of Britain, North America and the World. Please ring before travelling for directions. We are hard to find, and it gives us a chance to put the kettle on for you.

Halls Bookshop
20-22 Chapel Place
TUNBRIDGE WELLS  Kent  TN1 1YQ
tel: 01892 527842  e-mail  website  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00.
General secondhand stock and history, children's and antiquarian.
    The most famous secondhand bookshop in Tunbridge Wells, Halls "established 1898". Two floors of antiquarian and secondhand stock, a browser's paradise and knowledgeable staff. - Kim Andrews.
    The Yellow Pages advertisement may be 20 years old but people still walk into the bookshop that featured in it for a brief second and ask for a copy of Fly Fishing, by J. R. Hartley...more  
    Lots of helpful staff large quantity of books on all subjects at reasonable prices. - John F Bacon
    Excellent stock which took me three hours to assess. Spent quite a bit on very reasonably priced items and made a promise to myself to visit more regularly. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.

The Hospice Bookshop
Dymchurch Road
DYMCHURCH  Kent
tel: ?
Open: 7 days.
    On main through village near Amusement Park. Notice on door shows it as open 7 days a week. Not large but looked interesting. Unfortunately I was passing through after it had closed for the day. Clive Cheeseman 10.09.07.

Hythe Bookshop
86 High Street
HYTHE  Kent  CT21 5AJ
tel: 01303 265666  e-mail  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00
General, mostly hardback, including history local history, topography, natural history, military, transport and travel, outdoor pursuits. Hythe Bookshop has been selling new books for 30 years and in May 2009 opened a second-hand department.

The Kentish Bookshop
1 Bank Buildings  Ash Road
HARTLEY  Kent  DA3 8EH
tel: 01474 702170  map
Open: see below
Secondhand and antiquarian stock, particularly books on Kent and Nelson.
    Notice in the window gives opening hours as Monday and Tuesday 9.30 - 2.30. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday by appiontment only, Sunday closed. Saturday is missing from the list of days, so presumably it is closed. Needless to say I went on a "wrong" day. Don't you just love these half-hearted bookshop owners? - Old Erithian.

Marrin's Bookshop
149 Sandgate Road
FOLKESTONE  Kent  CT20 2DA
Tel: 01303 253016  e-mail  website  map
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30.
Antiquarian and general second hand books, Kent topography, maps & prints. We are members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, and the PBFA.
    Saturday curse. "The owner isn't here today." Stock is piled on floors and I had to crawl along to view books hidden behind portfolios. Asked about my speciality. Told they had none. Spotted a row of them as I was about to walk out of the front door. Checked them: saw the prices so went down the road for a large coffee ice-cream instead. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.
    I visit Marrin's on a regular basis and have always found the proprietors knowledgeable and helpful. There is an excellent, large and realistically priced stock in this shop and there is always plenty that is worth buying. Perhaps Mr. Harte should stick to his ice-cream rather than visit bookshops - he is clearly not the type that proper booksellers take seriously! - Nicholas Pendower 18.08.09.
    I cannot agree with Chris Harte's view of Marrin's bookshop. The firm is a very reputable one which has been in business for over half a century now and must be something of a Folkestone institution, akin to Hall's in Tunbridge Wells. I have been visiting the shop now and again for several years and have always found the staff very knowledgeable and helpful (they even volunteered a discount once). Their prices have always struck me as very fair - running an antiquarian/second hand bookshop can hardly be a licence to print money and the dealer has to make a profit somewhere or us buyers will have nowhere to go. - Henry Middleton 26.10.09.

McConnell Fine Books
The Golden Hind  85 Beach Street
DEAL  Kent  CT14 6JB
tel: 01304 375086  map
Open: Friday and Saturday.
Secondhand and antiquarian books including literature, history and books about Kent.
    It is a long time since I have been so angry after visting a bookshop. I found the owner's attitude towards myself and other customers to be beyond the pale. His main aim is to sell "fine bindings" and little else. Stock small and unexamined as in my two minutes in the shop I was looked upon as scum and totally unwanted. Visit only if you want to be insulted. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.
    I am all for constructive opinion and have used your guide in the past. However, this review completely blurs the distinction between 'fair comment' and malicious comment. It is not at all constructive or informative and appears to be nothing more than a personal attack on the shop's proprietor. "I was looked upon as scum" "Visit only if you want to be insulted" ? And all of this formulated in a "two minute" visit. I am suprised that a publication that sets out to actively encourage book buyers to visit 'real' as opposed to 'virtual' bookshops has allowed such a comment to be posted. - Steve Baxter. 11.08.09.
    What utter nonsense your initial reviewer has written! I regularly visit the Golden Hind and have always found Nick McConnell enthusiastic, knowledgeable and utterly charming. Mr. Harte must be an idiot not to spot that this is quite obviously a shop that specialises in fine bindings and in some very good local history, and, if he had bothered to find out, would have discovered that it contains one of the finest selections of this type of book in the world, let alone in East Kent. That a reviewer can so utterly misunderstand a business and be allowed to do so much potential damage to a seller that has an international clientele and reputation is disgraceful, and he should ensure that he gets his facts right before going into print. - Nicholas Pendower 18.08.09.
    I was sorry to see the first review. It's true that the Golden Hind is not the charming little local bookshop it was in Michael Hoskins' day but Nick McConnell has at least kept it open. Important to remember that he is an antiquarian dealer not a second hand bookseller then you wont be disappointed. Stock is high quality and Nick is a very pleasant fellow who has never been rude to a customer while I was in the shop! I always visit when in the area and recommend it, depending on your interest. - Anthony Davis 13.10.09.

Michael's Bookshop
72 King Street
RAMSGATE  Kent  CT11 8NY
tel: 01843 589500  e-mail  website  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30
A fairly large general bookshop, about 30,000 books arranged on over 100 bookcases. About half of our stock is secondhand ranging from ordinary paperbacks to collectors items.
    Helpful owner and well organised stock with a good selection of Kent local history, aviation and military - Roger Leverdier 29.04.8.
    As has been stated very good on Kent and Military titles. Also quite a good lot of aviation, sci-fi and occult.However, little for an antiquarian collector. Owner pleasant and helpful. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.

Monkton Nature Reserve Bookshop
The Field Study Centre  Monkton Nature Reserve  Monkton RAMSGATE  Kent  CT12 4LH
tel: 01843 822666  e-mail  website  map
Open: Tuesday - Thursday & Sunday 11.00 - 4.00.
Based in the reserve Field Centre, several rooms, containing 1000s of second hand books available at very competitive prices, including many collectable items. All proceeds go toward maintaining the reserve and the work of the Thanet Countryside Trust.
    Standard donated charity stock but very cheap. - Richard 30.04.09.
    This charity bookshop set in a beautiful nature reserve expands by the week. Deliveries of books arrive and are on the shelves and priced by the knowledgable staff while you are still browsing the thousands of books. Reasonably priced and for a worthwhile charity. Additional extras are the free parking and if you are lucky a cup of coffee. - F Love. 07.09.09.

MR. Books
2 Bank Street
TONBRIDGE  Kent  TN9 1BL
tel: 01732 363000  e-mail  website  map
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 6.00, 8pm Thursday.
Large general stock. Tonbridge, Kent, Sussex. Very large children's and TV annual collection. Sport, modern fiction. Also top of the range Anglepoise lamps. Find me right near the castle in Tonbridge. Also organiser of the Tonbridge Book Fair, on Sunday April 1st and October 28th, 9.30 - 4.00.
    Interesting little “warren” situated in a side street near the castle. Owner very helpful but advises a phone call if travelling a distance as sometimes has to take an hour out. - Clive Cheeseman 15.08.07.
    Nice shop; most co-operative owner; stock slightly muddled but a wonderful selection of Kentish publications from over the past century. Also good military stock. - Chris Harte 29.06.09.

Oxfam Bookshop
51 St Peter's Street
CANTERBURY  Kent  CT1 2BE
tel: 01227 454091  map
    Surprisingly good - Bernard Dixon 22.04.08.
    Some very good quality books can be found here at reasonable prices. - Chris Harte 14.04.09.

Oxfam Bookshop
34 Gabriels Hill
MAIDSTONE  Kent  ME15 6JJ
tel: 01622 753585  map
    On two floors, well laid out, and does have a high turnover of stock. - Clive Cheeseman.

Oxfam Bookshop
25-29 High Street
ROCHESTER  Kent  ME1 1LN
tel: 01634 814790  map
    Quite a large shop with a good selection of books too, though not quite as many as Baggins. Most were in rather better condition though, and at least the Observer books were cheaper! - Steve Newman 05.08.09.
    A fairly good selection of general books with a special section on Dickens and three shelves of pre-1914 titles. However, the shop specialises in pianos and harmoniums (!) with some bargains to be had here. - Chris Harte 14.12.09.

Oxfam Bookshop
6 Chapel Place
TUNBRIDGE WELLS  Kent  TN1 1YQ
tel: 01892 616269  map

Oxford Street Books.com
20a Oxford Street
WHITSTABLE  Kent  CT5 1DD
tel: 01227 281727  e-mail  website  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00, Sunday 11.00 - 4.00.
General mix of approximately 20,000 secondhand and antiquarian books across all categories. Sensible prices and friendly service.
    Nice varied stock. Most helpful owner. Will go back on a regular basis. - Chris Harte 14.04.09.

Pantiles Bookshop
12/14/16 The Pantiles
TUNBRIDGE WELLS  Kent  TN2 5TE
tel: 01892 618191  e-mail  map
Open: Seven days 10.30 - 5.00.
Good general stock. We specialise in a big way on books on or about the County of Kent its villages, towns and people. 10 shelves of railway, lots of cricket, cinema, military, esoteric and topography also ephemera. Wanted to buy: early foreign travel particularly Africa and old cricket and football.
   Very organised, business-like premises with plenty of general interest. - Kim Andrews.
    Excellent range of books at very reasonable prices, well worth a visit. - H Macfarlane 04.05.09.
    Don't be put off by first impressions as this is actually a very good place in which to while away a couple of hours. If you need assistance then the owner's wife is your source. It took quite some searching but I found a few items. Very strong on railway material. Reasonable and sensible pricing. - Chris Harte 29.06.09.

Past Sentence
119 West Street
FAVERSHAM  Kent  ME13 7JB
tel: 01795 590000  map
Open: Monday 10.00 - 2.00 & Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Good quality secondhand books bought and sold.
    Parked in the nearby Co-op. Walked up the pedestrianised West Street opposite and found, in the bookshop, two treasures marked at such a low price that I ran back to the car with them and drove out of town before anyone could stop me. General stock is run of the mill but the stuff on the shelf behind where the owner sits is superb. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.

Periwinkle Press
Bagham Barn Antiques Centre  Canterbury Road  Chilham CANTERBURY  Kent  CT4 8DU
tel: 01227 732522  e-mail  website  map
Open: Wednesday - Sunday 10.00 - 5.00.
Antiquarian book sellers, trade and retail picture framers. We specialise in antique prints, maps and books. Established in 1968.
    Situated in a small quality country retail centre. Stock small but of a very high standard. Owner, who was very knowledgable, said he had many thousands more book in store as he also works off the internet. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.

Regal Books
16a, Stone Street
GRAVESEND  Kent  DA11 0NH
tel: 01474 326656  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 8.30 - 5.00.
About 2,500 secondhand and some collectable and antiquarian books.

The Secondhand Bookshop
13 Nevill Street
TUNBRIDGE WELLS  Kent  TN2 5RU
tel. 01892 547005  map
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.30, closed Wednesday.
Books that would not sell in my Oxted shop reduced to half price or £2 each. Most secondhand books do not sell quickly so the stock here is good but not my best. Books bought all the time. Please telephone me on 01883 723131 or at the shop on Fridays.
    Friendly and a good range of quality stock. - Kim Andrews.
    Good range especially on topography and very realistic prices. Halls recommended it ! Halls themselves are good for fiction and poetry and elderly owner( ?) was helpful in finding things. - Herne.
    Very friendly owner who has a wide understanding of the book trade. Wide range of books on all subjects with some prices extremely low. - John F Bacon.
    Everything is priced at £2. That says all you need to know. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.

Wadard Books
6 High Sreet
FARNINGHAM  Kent  DA4 0DG
tel: 01322 863151  map
Open: Tuesday & Thursday - Saturday 10.00 - 6.00.
Secondhand and antiquarian books including cookery, military and local history and topography.
    I was amazed at the high quality of books in this shop which also has a very knowlegdable owner who is always willing to help. The scarce titles scattered around are very tempting. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.
    What a super bookshop. It is in a pretty village near the M25 and M20 between London and the bookshops of East Sussex. Pleasant and airy with a mixture of antiquarian and secondhand stock, much of interest with a special focus on military history. The owner is very charming and helpful. This is what a bookshop should be. Am most grateful to your website to cause me to stop off there. - Anthony Davis 13.10.09.