Bookshops

Waterstones

• 69 Saddler Street, DH1 3NP (Regular)

• 55-57 Saddler St, DH1 3EJ (University)

• Twitter: @wstonesdurham @WstoneDurhamUni

• Student discount? - Yes (5% off as well as a student-exclusive loyalty card which has various different rewards)

• Monday-Saturday 9:00-17:30, Sunday 10:00-17:00

There are actually two Waterstones stores in Durham: one is a regular high street branch, with the other being the official Durham University stockist. The advantage of being an Official University stockist is that the shop has most of the recommended reading and textbooks outlined in Durham University’s modules. That being said, Waterstones is one of the more pricey bookshops in Durham. As well as selling books, Waterstones sells Durham University branded merchandise (which you’ll come to know as stash), stationary, and gift items such as mugs. Waterstones also offers to buy books back, which can be useful. However, the buy back price is typically about 10-15% of the original price, so it may be better to donate the books you no longer need or sell them online rather than sell them back to Waterstones. The store is really easy to get to, located on the way down from the Bailey colleges. With friendly and helpful staff and excellent stock tailored towards your module reading, Waterstones is a great stop for students, though it is a bit on the expensive side.

WHSmith’s

• 22 - 23 Durham Post Office, Market Place, DH1 3NJ

• Twitter: @WHSmith

• Student Discount? - Yes, 10% off and 20% off stationary items (NUS card only)

• Monday - Saturday 9:00-17:30, Sunday 11:00-15:00

Much like Waterstones, WH Smith is your standard high street bookshop. Very good range with a lot of course material, and you can request specific books to be ordered to the store. It also has a branch of the Post Office in the basement! Pricing is about on par with Waterstones, but Smith’s often does discounts and sales on stationery. They also sell newspapers, magazines and confectionery. Staff are helpful, the product range is good, and the student discounts are decent, but again the shop is a little pricey.

The People’s Bookshop

• The Attic, Saddlers Yard, 70 Saddler Street, DH1 3NP

• Twitter: @PeoplesBookshop

• Student Discount? No, but often has 20% off flyers and sales

• Tuesday - Saturday 12:00-17:00

The People’s Bookshop is a collective-run, radical bookshop. It is also the definition of hidden gem. Located in the alleyway next to Waterstones and leading to Vennels Cafe, up two flights of stairs and located in an attic, it is a wealth of knowledge, stocking second-hand and new books. Though their stock isn’t relevant to all courses, lots of the books are useful for History and Sociology students, and if you want to know more about working-class history this is the place to be. It’s run by a collective of volunteers, lots of whom are students here at Durham. Prices are generally reasonable, and you can often find some great deals on books as well as on gift items like mugs, badges, t-shirts, and tote bags. The search for this bookshop is well worth the reward! It has really friendly staff, affordable books, and often hosts events, even if it is a little hard to find. Not very accessible, and not useful for every degree subject, the Peoples’ Bookshop is nonetheless a lovely curio of Durham.

Oxfam Books & Music

• 18 Elvet Bridge, DH1 3AA

• Twitter: @oxfambooksDH1

• Student Discount? No

• Monday - Saturday 10:00-17:30, Sunday - 12:00-17:00

Another volunteer-run shop. Definitely the go-to for course books, as many students donate them here at the end of the year. Pricier than most charity shops, Oxfam is still cheaper than major book retailers, and has a huge range of stock, from academic texts to children’s fiction. Freshers will often buy their course books from Waterstones, then see it in Oxfam for half the price, so please check there first. If you do make this mistake, though, you can always buy the book from Oxfam and return the other copy to Waterstones! Home to a decent selection, with a good range of music in CD and vinyl format, this volunteer-run shop rates pretty highly with us. Sometimes it's easy to get distracted by the amount of books, but whether you see this as a problem is up for debate.

The Book Emporium

• Unit 55, Durham Market Hall, Market Place, DH1 3NJ

• Twitter: @DurhamMarkets

• Student Discount? - No

• Monday - Saturday 9:00 - 16:30

Durham’s markets are well worth a look, and this little book stall should be on the list of places to visit when there. Hidden near vegan bakery Green Guerilla, the range may be limited, but there are bargains to be had. Lots of autobiographies, modern classics, and holiday reading, this is more tailored towards reading for leisure than for course material. Although its prices are good, this store’s limited range means it’s not as helpful for students as some of the shops on our list.

Declan Merrington (2018), ed. Frank Simpson (2019)