Best bookstores in Birmingham: find options near you

Me and my family came here the other day and it was great. When we walked in it was tidy and neat and the staff were a pleasure. They have 5 floors and a great cafe. They have toilets and all you need to do is ask the staff for the code and a massive variety of books.

Omg, this bookstore was like heaven! Living in the Czech Republic, I don’t often get such a huge variety of English books, so for me it was incredible. I could easily have spent the whole day there just browsing. I even bought a game in English and a few books, and loved reading a few pages of everything that caught my eye. The selection is fantastic, with so many different genres and titles. If I’d had more time, I would have happily sat in their café and enjoyed the entire day surrounded by books. I’m super happy I found this place!

Waterstones is a fantastic bookstore with a wide range of books for all ages and interests. The shelves are well organized, making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for, and there are always interesting new releases and recommendations to explore.

The staff are knowledgeable, friendly, and happy to help with any questions or suggestions. The store has a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that makes browsing a real pleasure. Whether you’re looking for the latest bestseller, a classic, or a gift, Waterstones is a brilliant place to visit.

Overall, an excellent bookstore with great service and a wonderful selection — definitely 5 stars!

Books are great. The cafe needs a good clean. The walls have bumps and scratches. The light fixtures have a heavy cover of dust.

As a librarian, I love books of any kind! For me, it’s museums and archives for old books, and Waterstones for new ones, and Waterstones never fails to impress and amaze me with its vast range of literature and nonfiction resources.

-Great store
-Friendly staff
-Good selection of postcards

I had a wonderful experience at Waterstones thanks to Jon Hill. He was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, always smiling, and went out of his way to assist everyone in the store. His positive attitude and excellent service truly made my visit special. Staff like Jon make all the difference — highly recommended!

I went here with my non Muslim family members and we all felt very welcomed and respected. I got some books and one of the brothers working there asked if I wanted some leaflets and he gave me 4 of each (so I could give some out to my family members). Overall it was a great experience and I’d love to come back In sha Allah. I Recommend it for anyone and everyone looking for authentic books about Islam. Very big selection with Arabic and English too!
Also a large selection of foods and they even had some miswak for 50p. Reasonable prices and great staff Allahumma Barik
May Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala bless and reward the people working here and grant them success and happiness Ameen.

أَلْسَّلَآمُ عَلَيكُم وَرَحمَةُ الله وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
الحمد لله
everything I ordered online came in pristine condition – and I loved the cute pouch the pen came in! Perfect for a gift!
جزاكم الله خير
Also thankful for the 10% off code given with the cute delivery card
Hopefully will order again soon
إن شاء الله

Big range of books. Upon the Quran and sunnah, Alhamdulilah

Books arrived in a timely manner and packaged safely may Our Creator bless those who took their time posting out my items.

Clean modern bookstore with authentic halal certified organic books. The main books you will need to introduce and implement the Islamic religion

متجر لبيع الكتب الإسلامية في اللغة العربية والإنجليزية متجر رائع وجيد أتمنى له التوفيق

Excellent range of books according to Quran and sunnah, organic products and very nice range of Islamic clothing اللهم بارك

I had such a great experience with this bookseller (I believe she said her name was Alex). She went above and beyond to help me find exactly what I was looking for, even tracking down a few hard-to-find titles I’ve been searching for forever. She was so polite, patient, and genuinely seemed to care about making sure I left happy. It’s rare to find someone so attentive and knowledgeable. I’ll definitely be coming back!

I had an excellent customer service experience with Jenny. She made sure that I was well taken care of and was focused on my needs as a customer. Please recognize her for a job well done.

Thank you Jenny!
William

So glad this bookstore seems to be doing well! Love stopping by whether by myself or with my daughter. They have an impressive Harry Potter display along with various merchandise. The Children’s books area is lovely and very inviting. The coffee shop/cafe has lots of seating and serves Starbucks coffee. I love the substantial amount of guided journals they carry. I bought one, but all the others seem very interesting as well. There is also a large manga section and I’m impressed they don’t shy away from displaying the more risqué titles out on tables.

Had such a great experience with the Manager yesterday and his fellow woman coworker. He got the books I was looking for and even suggested a book for my teenager to start reading! Thank you for great customer service!

Staff are friendly and helpful. The store is always clean and organized- and smells like coffee and pages like a bookstore should! Plenty of parking.

Barnes & Noble is such a terrific bookstore, & gift shop, well-stocked, neat & clean. The Cafe is cute & has some great light meals, snacks, & drinks.

Favorite book store. Very calm atmosphere. Advise you to have a Barnes & Noble membership. Starbucks affiliated with the store.

Great bookstore on the 1st floor of Grand Central.

A huge variety of books of all genres inc books that I haven’t seen before in Waterstones or online

Great children’s section with lots of books and toys

Large section of really good travel books

There were also a very large selection of board games and other book related items on sale throughout the store

Very well lit and good layout with lots of space and the staff were friendly

I wish more train stations had a bookshop! This is just above Birmingham New Street station

Staff are nice

It’s wheelchair accessible

Love Foyles, always a fantastic variety abdand my TBR (To Be Read) list grows ever-longer! This branch seemed to have really nice staff and good eyecatching displays. It was easy to find books too which is always good. Nice card selection in here as well

Bel reparto per bambini.. gentilissimi i due commessi che anche se stavano chiudendo ci hanno lasciato 5 minuti per acquistare un libro al volo

Great store for browsing, especially when you have half an hour to spare waiting for your train;-) Very well laid out, so not so much a chore as some other bookstores, that I wont mention.

Very nice bookshop, could browse a wide selection of books, even managed to find pin badges and bookmarks, I am sure I will be back, very tidy and friendly staff!

A great selection of books. I always enjoy Foyles, but I’m nostalgic for the old Charing cross road (London) store where you could get lost for the day. There seems to be more room in a Foyles store to move around in!

This was a beautiful shop, any book lovers dream. There was a surprising amount of old and new books and their engineering section was a lot bigger than I thought there would be. My only frustration was it was pretty expensive to buy any new or popular book, the price would probably be around the same as going to Barnes & Noble and getting it, but all of the older books were priced beautifully and you’re able to find a really large selection of any type of genre.

Stepping into Jim Reed Books feels like entering a magical time capsule for book lovers and nostalgia seekers alike. This treasure trove is overflowing with well-loved books, many of them rare and antique, each with its own story to tell. The owner, Jim Reed, is incredibly friendly, helpful, and a true expert in his field—ready to guide you through the maze of literary treasures. Whether you’re hunting for a rare find or simply browsing, this charming bookstore is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates the magic of a good book and the charm of yesteryear.

Amazing book store brimming with books and curiosities! Owner is a character and wonderful to speak with! Make sure to stop by and admire what’s inside.

AMAZING little bookstore! It was my first time visiting Birmingham and my friend and I decided to stop in. The moment we walked, it was so peaceful. Heaven for book-lovers!! I wanted to stay forever and just browse all the nooks and crannies. The owner is super friendly and helped us find what we were looking for.
The prices are great for what they have and they also have old vhs’s, postcards, & prints. Such a lovely place!! Definitely a must-go if you’re a book-lover in Birmingham!

On a two week trip and finished the book I brought so had to find my next read. Found Jim Reed Books and picked up Henry Miller and another piece of fiction because I liked the cover. Engaging conversation with Jim. He even offered a discount on my purchase without me asking for it. Overheard his interactions with every person walking thru his door. That level of attention is rare these days and much appreciated. One could certainly spend a long time exploring here.

In heaven here as a bibliophile..was stoked to see a legit literary independent bookstore akin to what I’d find in a big city even. Best to not go there with a plan and instead see what speaks to you, though the proprietor is every bit as friendly and helpful as you could want. Prices fair. Metered parking on street.

Don’t miss a trip! Definitely worth a visit in Birmingham. Loads of character and history. Spend a fair chunk of time going through and seeing what you find. Theres loads more than books here! Had a great time with my husband today 🙂

I cannot believe I haven’t written a review for them before, but Thank You Books is my favorite stop in Birmingham, and one of my favorite indies of all time! They practically saved my sanity during the pandemic with their clever pick-up order system, and their curation has both broadened my mind and made me feel seen. I absolutely love them!

This is my new favorite book store! The staff was extremely nice, and the atmosphere was great! I loved all of the book reviews written by staff members, it definitely helped me choose a book!

Thank You Books is truly my favorite place in Birmingham. The shop itself is darling- a charming, snug hideaway from the Alabama heat. Welcoming and inclusive of people of all backgrounds (and a whole side room for kids), the owners and staff go out of their way to create true community. I’ve had illuminating conversations and made dear friends through their events and variety of book clubs. When they don’t have a book I’m in need of, they order promptly and keep me in the loop when it’s on the way and when it’s arrived. I find myself ordering books on their website so I’ll HAVE to go pick up in store and HAVE to browse the rest of the store. I’ve received impeccable recommendations when I don’t know what I’m looking for, and the sellers are incredible at reading the room and helping you/ pleasantly conversing with you vs. leaving you to your own mischief perusing the shelves (though I always choose to chat ). I love this place and these people. It is and always will be my book home.

My family’s favorite store and home away from home. The staff are so kind, courteous, helpful, and funny. We truly don’t know what we would do without Thank You Books in our city!

Beautiful store with lots of options!! Sad to write this review… I had a terrible experience with Nellie B. from the store. Rude and questionable. Do not recommend her or her services. I was left hanging without explanation.

Exceptionally thoughtful curation — treasure trove of gems. There was something for every reader on my list. Hilarious shelf talker recommendations AND staff willing to make suggestions/point you in the right direction. Alabama is so, so lucky to have Thank You Books. Roll tide to this bookstore and its brilliant, capable girlboss owners.

This place was heaven! So many books all categorized & labeled well so that you can find the genre of books you are looking for easily. Super pretty place.

I completed a day of work experience at The Heath Bookshop which was very kind of them! Both Claire and Catherine were so lovely and kind, I felt so supported and comfortable in the shop. There’s such a lovely variety of books for any person in this store – plus they make great coffee! The community here is so lovely and there is a real sense of support for the local creative arts in Birmingham which is wonderful to see. I really enjoyed my experience here which was so helpful and I learned a lot! It is really worth a visit to chat, browse and sit with a coffee to work or read.

Absolutely stunning indie bookshop in the heart of Kings Heath. Tons of amazing books to choose from and great coffee to sip (plus no charge for oat milk!) whilst you consider. Very kind staff and it has a lovely atmosphere to read or even just chat!

The Heath Bookshop truly is a special place run by the most caring and passionate people you will ever meet. Whether it’s to find your next read or to relax with a cup of tea/coffee, I highly recommend giving them a visit as they make you feel not just welcome, but like you’re at home and apart of the family.

If I could give more than five stars, I would.

A very cute independent book shop in the heart of King’s Heath. A selection of fiction and non fiction books as well as new releases. Comfy chairs and outdoor seating available.

Books ranging from classics, LGBTQ+, to hobbies and young adult. There’s something for everyone.

Very friendly atmosphere with gentle music. Some lovely rare finds too! I will be visiting the Heath Bookshop again.

Incredible place, hard to imagine how a bookshop could be more charming and welcoming. Delicious coffee, comfy seats, great book selection, extremely friendly and helpful staff and the monthly bookclub is brilliant. So happy to have this wonderful independent in Kings Heath

It’s such a lovely little bookshop with a cafe, as well as a large selection of books to read. It has a very cozy feeling about it, and I love the fact that you can just snuggle up in one corner of the shop and lose yourself in a book for hours. That’s something you definitely can’t do in a huge bookstore. Also my mum really enjoyed the coffee.

One of out favourite places in Birmingham. The book shop is fantastic, always rotates its display tables and cambinate if you’re looking for some inspiration for your next book, and they can order literally anything in in just a few day.
There coffee is fantastic too, really good value, and its become my fav place to stop for a coffee.
The staff are just wonderful, super friendly, helpful and knowledgable. They run a monthly book club that is the top of my list of things to do.
A fantastic example of a local business that really adds to the community and high street.

Great quality and the colour accurately matched the website description. The washing instructions were also very handy and useful. Also thank you for the free salai! 5 stars from me

Been coming to DTF for a while, when it comes to paghs, books, Sikh artefacts and wedding accessories they’re the best in the game! The colour selection of paghs is the largest I’ve seen and the quality of the material is unbeatable. It’s a family run business and everyone is super kind and helpful. I recommend anyone needing any paghs, Sikh artefacts or wedding accessories to come here!!

Last minute order for 70 turbans and DTF manger to get the colour I wanted and had them delivered to me in Scotland within a week. Very happy customer

Walked into DTF on a busy Saturday afternoon. Uncle ji saw I looked apprehensive as it was my first time buy pagh material. He took time to talk to me about what I wanted and what would be best. Gave recommendations and even gifted me some freebies to help me. Very grateful to him. I will be returning in the future. Best shop in the UK for all pagh material, Sikh literature and other Sikhi items.

Amazing fabric for my parne and pagg ive been going here to buy cloth for my parne and the material they use is super high quality and their customer service is excellent will definitely shop again.

We can buy any religious book, from your favourite author ✍️ also there are so many thing for punjabi wedding events.♥️♥️

This exceptional shop, operated by remarkably courteous individuals, consistently provides attentive customer service and offers a diverse selection of books, dastaar materials, and shastar.

Over in the States and given up on finding a Crecy book. Great service and extra effort to despatch the book to me. Will do business in the future. Thanks Dave!

Nice shop. Good stock of kits, paint and books. Nicely laid out. On the edge of the city centre so easy to find too.

This is a modelers Oasis tucked in the center of town with a carpark opposite it–there are double yellow lines outside the shop but I have parked for a very short time with a disability badge. The shop stocks models diecast and plastic of cars buses trains aircraft etc -books–magazines modellers paints etc–well worthy of a visit so don’t feel bored with nothing to do check the opening times and pay a visit the proprietor is very knowledgeable friendly –and will order items for you if he does not stock the item

For the discerning transport enthusiast of the West Midlands and those further afield.
A great book and model shop located behind the top end of Corporation Street near the law courts.
A friendly owner who stocks a variety of spotting and reference material on aspects of transport and militaryana. A large selection of models and modelling materials and components.

Great shop for aviation books. I’ve visited twice abd found some really unique books. Also massive collections of scale models! Worth the detour from the busy city centre.

Mike the ex Ian Allen Assistant manager has opened his own shop just by the Birmingham Law Courts. Starting off with a good selection of railway books and model kits along with some Woodland.
Pop along and support Mikes new railway shop

This is a little treasure of a shop tucked down Dalton Street had a good selection of plastic models and paints and scenery for model railways. The was a generous section of books to do with modelling.trains.buses and general era of Birmingham

Haven’t been in for ages but fondly remembered shopping in the bigger version. Pleasantly surprised, good book selection ( 3 for £20), games and lots of offers too.

All your stationary needs in one place! If you’re not fussy about money and silly things like that then this is the place you can get almost everything! Although I hardly shop here because money is a factor. I’ve recently bought an item elsewhere which was about a third of the price they have here. Similar to that I’ve seen many things that have silly prices that you can find cheaper if you just shop around a little. I use WHsmith alot to compare prices, quality, availability. I get ideas for projects when I see what is available to buy although I don’t buy it from here.
Thanks and Good Luck!

Went to WH smith this morning. I went to the cashier, I said good morning and the old man at the counter never replied. “How Rude” I’m a tourist from Canada. All our cashier always say Good Morning

Amazing support and help provided by worker James Nuttall regarding a DHL parcel issue. He genuinely did everything he could to sort out my case, a life saver!

Excellent store. Friendly staff.

Loads of magazines. Loved the fact they stock Record Collector. Just like the glory days of the late 80’s and High Street.

Too many self serve tills but that’;s the modern way sadly.

despite being extremely overpriced they generally have a good range of products, there are things they don’t restock quickly or at all despite being popular & which you’d require multiple of and i wouldn’t buy them unless they have deals like 3 for 2 etc due to the price
items on sale are never in the correct place, they’re mixed with similar or the same products from different companies (why are WH Smith original products more expensive than alternatives in the same store)
used to go in after using the inpost 24/7 locker outside the store however it’s been moved inside. defeats the purpose of being 24/7 access if the store closes at 5-6, especially for people like myself stopping on the way after a day of work or school and are physically unable to get there any earlier, or if you just happen to be in the area and it’s too early/late for them to be open
only giving two stars because they have a wide variety of products and is still located pretty close to the bullring so it’s not too much of a walk from the bus stops near moor street station

Great place go loads thing special offers should be kept separate from same thing almost but great prices