Walks from the railway
Rail Ale Trails
Beaches by train
Arts & culture
Book Trail
Vinyl Trail
Times and prices
Parking and public transport
Travelling with kids
Taking bikes
Travelling with dogs
Assisted travel
Devon and Cornwall have a wide range of great bookshops, independent and chain. The most important thing, of course, is to know where they are.
That’s why we have put together this book trail. And remember, many sell online so you can even explore their stock from home.
There are all manner of bookshops here – antiquarian, general secondhand, independent new and the chains Waterstones, WH Smith and The Works.
We’ve included all those we know about in rail served towns and cities in Devon and Cornwall, plus some in places easily reached by bus from stations. If we’ve missed anyone, please let us know at railpart@plymouth.ac.uk
Skip to bookshops in...
Independent bookshop stocking new classic, local and quirky books. Voted best bookshop in Cornwall in 2018.
Independent bookshop stocking new and secondhand books. Specialises in art, landscape and travel books.
As well as normal charity shop items, this shop specialises in books and music.
Bestsellers and a range of titles across all genres including local interest.
Independent bookshop stocking new books, including many signed copies.
Stockist of antiquarian pre 1960s books and American comics dating back to the 1940s.
Small independent bookshop stocking pre-loved and specialist books. Book ordering/hunting undertaken.
Antiquarian and secondhand bookshop specialising in all aspects of Cornish history.
Wide range of books donated by the local public.
Large store situated in the heart of the city with a large children’s section and in-house café.
Large store in the heart of the city where you can expect to find all the latest new releases as well as local interest books.
A treasure trove of secondhand books awaits in this gem of a bookshops.
Part bookshop, part pub, this is a great place to while away a few hours.
Independent shop in the middle of town with a wide range of titles, including local interest.
Specialists in rare and secondhand books. Maritime, railways, motoring and aviation are specialist areas catered for.
Located on busy Market Street, this shop has the latest releases as well as local interest.
Good selection of secondhand books, including some decorative old editions. Good selection of vinyl records too.
New, secondhand, antiquarian and vintage books on sale in this shop.
Located in the heart of Padstow this bookshop stocks a wide range of new books from the latest releases through local interest and history.
Lovely bookshops which not only stocks the newest releases, but they also have a whole room of secondhand gems to discover too.
Stocks new, secondhand and antiquarian books as well as specialising in authors with links to Cornwall, such as Daphne du Maurier.
Situated in a converted Chapel in East Looe, this lovely bookshop specialises in secondhand books.
Selling new and secondhand books, including specialist Cornish section which includes books on mining, railways, walking and Cornish folk tales.
Wide ranging and ever changing stockists of rare and antiquarian books.
The Bookshelf is a great cafe and bookshop in one. Send a message to their Facebook page to place book orders.
Housed in an historic building on The Barbican, this shop has more than 200,000 books in stock, including rare out of print and first editions.
Specialising in books about Plymouth and the surrounding area.
Large store in the busy Drakes Circus that features the latest releases alongside local interest books.
Housed over two floors this large store has all the latest releases.
General book store housed over two floors in the vibrant market town of Tavistock. Children’s books and local history a specialism.
Based in Tavistock’s famous Pannier Market, this book shop has a large collection of secondhand books and vinyl.
The charity specialist bookshop has been trading in Tavistock for many years and stocks a wide range of secondhand books from local interest and history to fiction.
Located near to the Pannier Market this shop stocks all the latest releases and new titles.
This newly opened bookshop has a special focus on the natural world, children's books and local authors. They aim to create a community-minded shop reflecting the interests and passions of Totnes.
Independent book shop that carries many titles, including new releases and best sellers but also has a focus on self-development and health. Click and collect available.
Currently closed for refurbishment. Located on the bustling high street in Totnes, this independent book shop carries a wide range of titles.
Hidden treasure stocking antique, rare and out of print books.
Currently closed for renovations. Located in an historic part of the town, ‘The Narrows’, this charity shop stocks a range of secondhand books.
All the latest releases as well as stationery and cards.
Charity book shop that provides free books for children through donations and sales in the shop.
The shelves are stacked with books for the most serious bibliophile to the casual reader.
This great antique and book centre is housed on the city's picturesque quayside.
Exeter’s city centre branches on the High Street and Roman Gate are well stocked with a full range of new books.
Located in the Guildhall Shopping centre area, this store has the latest releases and new titles alongside local interest books.
Previously known as Crediton Community Bookshop, this is a lovely independent bookshop and social enterprise which supports local community projects as well as stocking a wide range of titles including latest releases and local interest books.
Centrally located independent secondhand book shop which also offers a book finding service.
Just off the high street, this independent bookshop specialises in secondhand and rare books.
Buzzing little bookshop in the heart of the town stocking new titles including local interest.
Located near the historic Pannier Market, this shop has all the latest releases in store.
There is often a specialist secondhand bookstall in the Pannier Market. General Market Days are Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Antiques & Collectables on Wednesdays.
Family run bookshop specialising in new and secondhand books, including an extensive transport section.
Secondhand books donated by the public.
All the latest releases as well as stationery and cards.
Large bookshop housed over three floors in a 17th century building in the town centre. The shop stocks out of print and secondhand books.
A book shop downstairs and café upstairs, this is a fabulous spot to buy a book and a coffee and enjoy.
All the latest releases as well as stationery and cards.
Aladdin’s cave of a bookshop which specialises in rare and secondhand books.
This is a book and antique shop which specialises in rare secondhand and out of print books.
Rare and antiquarian books housed in Abingdon House antiques centre.
Located on the high street, this store has all the latest releases.
Housed in an historic building in the heart of the town, this independent shop has books galore over two floors.
Bookshop specialising in children’s books from toddlers to young adults.
Rare and antiquarian books can be found in this shop as well as a very knowledgeable owner.
Cosy and welcoming shop with rare books through to new titles.
Housed in a listed building in the centre of town you will find secondhand books galore.
Bookshop stocking a wide range of titles, including signed copies.
In depth listings page which also features bookshops in Avon and Somerset and Wiltshire.
Discount bookseller The Works has branches in Exeter, Plymouth and a number of towns across Devon and Cornwall.
As well as those listed above, there are also branches of Waterstones in Newton Abbot and Torquay.
There are more branches of WH Smith in towns in addition to those listed above. Visit their store finder.