A book hoarder’s paradise

Barter Books has to be one of the most Insta-famous bookshops in the UK, if not the most. Housed in an old train station, it offers a huge array of second-hand books, records and more, plus its own cafe. Being up North visiting relatives over our Christmas in the UK, it was impossible to pass up the chance to visit. Located in Alnwick (pronounced Ann-ick), it’s about a 40-minute drive from Newcastle, or you could chance a bus/bus-train combo and get here ins anywhere between 50 minutes and 1 hour 20 (or so Google tells me!). We drove, and I must admit that between sat nav issues (unusually we used the one in the car not our usual Google Maps) and the tiny car park, my first entry into the shop was not in the most peaceful frame of mind.

But even at my grumpiest, it was hard not to be won over by the shop itself. There’s something just so fun about second-hand bookshops. The random selection they offer, each one having been passed on from previous owners, makes it that bit more intriguing than perusing ‘first-hand’ bookshops. I love getting an insight into people’s bizarre hobbies and unusual interests. Barter Books’ selection did not disappoint, with such eclectic offerings as Ultimate Topiary, Spectacular Vernacular, and Birds of the Balearics, to name just a few. I’m always particular drawn to the paranormal and local history sections in second-hand shops – I want ghost stories and the gossip about beautiful old houses! Alas, as at Toppings, my luggage allowance for the flight home prevented me from buying anything, but I was certainly tempted by a few things.

The middle aisles largely contain more run-of-the-mill books, the kind of things you’d expect to find in any charity shop in the UK, just on a grander scale. They also have a surprisingly large selection of hiking/Ordnance Survey maps, and a decent range of records. Towards the ends and on the outer walls they have a more unusual selection, with first editions and vintage books. If you’re a casual book-buyer you’ll have plenty to choose from, and if you’re a more advanced bibliophile you’re still likely to find something to pique your interest.

So the selection of books is certainly a good one. However, I must admit to feeling ever so slightly disappointed by the reality of Barter Books versus the impression I had received of it from Instagram. Even a cursory look on Instagram reveals hundreds of near identical images (which I’m sure I have contributed to!), all with aesthetically pleasing editing and a thoroughly cosy aura. I had built up an image of the shop as cute, small, cosy and filled to the rafters. The reality was certainly still very pleasing, but I was struck by how huge, spacious and busy the shop was It seems unlikely that it ever has a quiet moment, especially given that I was visiting on a dreary January day and it was still rammed. Aspects that are undeniably charming and once would have just added to the atmosphere, like the adorable raised model railway in the first room, lose their lustre a little bit when people are essentially queueing to photograph them.

I don’t want to sound too grouchy about this – it is completely understandable that somewhere as lovely as Barter Books will attract crowds of admirers. I’m hardly going to begrudge others for taking lots of photos when I did exactly that myself. Rather I’d simply suggest that you slightly temper your expectations. Go in winter for maximum cosy vibes – think their fires roaring (they do actually have gorgeous fireplaces with real fires in them!) to replenish you from the cold of the Northumbrian countryside – but expect to be one of many people enjoying the atmosphere. Embrace how spacious it is – you’re not having an in any way ‘exclusive’ experience, but that doesn’t need to detract from it. Though the vibes may be a bit different, it’s nice not to be crammed and feel you have to push past people to reach the books.

Given their rising fame it is very savvy of Barter Books to have included a cafe (and I think an ice cream parlour in warmer months), named Station Buffet in honour of the steam trains that once would have passed through. Unfortunately this is one aspect of the shop I can’t comment on, as we had just come from lunch at Bamburgh Castle and were not yet in need of refreshment.

In conclusion, expect a bigger and in some ways better experience than Instagram suggests, and you’ll have a fabulous time at Barter Books. Keep an eye out amongst its at times weird and always wonderful selection of books, and make the most of its scale and varied amenities. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but I loved it all the same!

---

Have you visited Barter Books? What did you think? There’s such a kind of ‘aesthetic’ culture built up around books and bookshops, egged on by Instagram and TikTok (think Dark Academia), it’s sometimes hard to tell whether you’re genuinely interested in a place or you’re just going along with the trends. I think Barter Books was a good wake up from this – it wasn’t quite as Instagram had led me to believe, but the ‘un-Instagramable’ qualities – finding weird, niche books and expected treasures – put me back in touch with what I, and so many others, genuinely enjoy about bookshops. I’m tempted to challenge myself to not take any photos 0 I don’t need to make ‘content’ about everything (she says literally writing content about it…). But it’s nice to have photos to remember the visit by, especially as I went with family. Next time I’ll just make more effort to follow my own eye, and not fall into the trap of taking the same photos as everyone else!

What is your experience of visiting ‘Instafamous’ places? Do they live up to the hype, or are you left feeling a little deflated? I’d be keen to hear your thoughts, so do share in a comment! Thanks as always for reading.