Who doesn’t love getting stuck into a good book every now and again? Although the big-name stores seem to be on every high street these days, we can’t forget about the independent bookshops that are filled with little gems. With National Bookshop Day fast approaching on Saturday 8th October, there is no better time to get down to your local independent retailer and show them some love. Here are just a few of our favourite bookshops that you can find in Birmingham.
The Bookshop on the Green
Seated at the heart of Bournville, the Bookshop in the Green lies within Bournville Community Hub and is surrounded by the quiet beauty of the village. With Cadbury World just down the road, you’ll get to enjoy the smell of chocolate while you browse. The shop has a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, as well as a host of children’s literature. After finding the perfect book for you, why not go next door to Kafenion and grab a coffee while you flip through it, or look for the perfect spot on the grass at the neighbouring Village Green and read under the sun?
Bournville Hub, Birmingham B30 2AA
Ikon Bookshop
The bookshop within the Ikon Gallery specialises in, of course, books about art, photography, and design. With two floors of shelves, this is the place to go to indulge in all your creative curiosities. As a part of the gallery, the shop gets the added benefit of being housed in a beautiful red-brick Victorian building, which itself is adjacent to Oozells Square and its cherry blossom trees. Yorks café shares the building, so (after viewing the gallery) you’ll have the perfect place to enjoy your new book. And the best part is that the profits of the bookshop go to the charitable art and education programmes run by the gallery.
1 Oozells St, Brindley Pl, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS
Court 15 Books at Birmingham Back to Backs
Opened in June 2022, Court 15 Books is a new second-hand bookstore within the freshly-renovated Back to Backs in the city centre. As it is second hand, donations are greatly appreciated, and you know you’ll be giving a well-loved book and new home. The Back to Backs are the last example of this style of housing in Birmingham, and are grade II listed under the care of the National Trust. The funds raised through the bookstore go towards maintaining these historic buildings, so visiting this shop is both a great experience and helps keep a bit of local history alive. You should definitely visit the store after a look around the buildings themselves, as they really feel like stepping into the past.
61-63 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TE
Bear Bookshop
With a sweet and inviting window display, Bear Bookshop stands out on Bearwood high street as a rest stop for children who are tired from the weekly shop. There are books for all levels of children’s reading, from babies to teenagers, including both fiction and non-fiction. But the highlight of this store comes from the community it fosters. There are regular events held in the bookshop and sometimes beyond, including daily book reading sessions for both young and older kids. It is more than just a bookshop, it is a place of socialising and learning for kids and parents alike.
588 Bearwood Rd, Bearwood, Smethwick B66 4BW
Second City Comics / Gettō Geek
Popular among students, everyone knows Digbeth as the creative quarter of the city, and the Red Brick Market is a fantastic example this. Packed full of independent traders, there are a couple of stands that might just catch your eye if you’re a fan of graphic novels. The first is Second City Comics, who, as the name suggests, sell back issue comic books as well as the odd figurine so you can satisfy all your nerd cravings in one. The other is Gettō Geek, who in addition to the usual comic books also specialise in manga. Being so close to the Custard Factory makes visiting the Red Brick Market a fun addition to a full day out, and you’ll be buying from independent stalls to boot.
Red Brick Market, 119 Floodgate St, Birmingham B5 5SU
Tornado Books & Hobbies
A few years ago, the popular transport bookstore Ian Allan closed to the disappointment of many. In response, a worker at this store opened his own bookshop that had the same environment and topic as its predecessor. Thus Tornado Books and Hobbies was born. Located in a hidden-away street in the city centre, it is flanked on both sides by an independent record store and a tattoo parlour, so it feels right at home as a more alternative hobby shop. It is a very specialist store that focuses on transport and military books, in addition to selling models such as Airfix. Even if it’s not your cup of tea, it’s the perfect place to bring your grandad on his birthday!
68 -70 Dalton St, Birmingham B4 7LX
MyBookBasket
Literature and culture all mixed in together under one roof, MyBookBasket is a place filled with books from across the African diaspora. It can often be hard to find books by black authors in most bookstores, so this little gem provides a very welcome speciality. Within the shop are a number of events for all ages. There is a monthly story time session for the little ones under 5, which every now and again have the authors themselves doing the reading. Storytime Extra is held an hour later for those aged 6 to 10, in which kids learn how to play Oware as well as hearing a story. For the adults, they have a free book club to encourage us to keep reading and sharing our experiences with others, as well the odd workshop that help with wellbeing and exploring your identity.
Legacy Centre, 144 Potters lane formerly, 144 Potters Ln, Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU
