It may not surprise you to know that I am a bookworm. That’s it, I’ve said it! I know it’s a shocking revelation but it’s true, I enjoy reading! Okay, now we’ve got over that bombshell, Sheffield is a great place to get into reading or the first time, or to find some new titles for your bookshelves in Endcliffe, Crookes or wherever you find yourself living! We’ve come up with our favourite places around the city to find some great books to help you get stuck in before the semester begins! Come and see our favourite places to get new titles and let us know what you find!
Juno Books, Chapel Walk (City Centre), S1 2PD
Starting with Sheffield’s best place for queer and feminist literature, Juno Books specialises in titles from, and which amplify, marginalised and underrepresented voices in literature and the wider world. As well as being fully accessible, Juno Books offer quiet hours, a range of seating options and counters at several heights to allow all patrons to access the shop in a simple way.
The shop has a lovely, friendly atmosphere with some of the most welcoming staff I have ever met! I love their variety of books, which are always written by predominantly female and queer authors and every time I’ve been in there, I’ve found myself having to stop before I buy more books than I could ever hope to carry! Juno Books have also worked with the LGBTQ+ Representative Committee and their regular book clubs are a fantastic way to connect with the wider queer communities of Sheffield, which often bring in high-profile guests, including Juno Dawson!
Samaritans, Chapel Walk (City Centre), S1 2PD
Less than a minute’s walk from Juno Books, Samaritans is the first of several charity shops to make our list. Hidden away on Chapel Walk, this cozy little place offers two floors of items of all kinds, including clothes, DVDs, trinkets and board games, as well as a wide variety of donated books. From new to old, beaten up to brand new, you will always be able to find a hidden gem in this shop. Their prices are much better than reasonable, and I’ve often been able to snag some of the older titles on my ‘To-Read’ list here!
It’s a very snug location with the entire second floor almost entirely for books and with a range of other items, you might find yourself a new outfit to enjoy as well as a book! And as well as getting new things for you, you’re also giving money to the Samaritans at the same time; it’s a win-win!
Oxfam, Fulwood Road (Broomhill), S10 3BD
One of the first charity shops I explored when I came to Sheffield, Broomhill’s Oxfam has always seen me leave with at least two books every single time I visit. They’ve got a great collection of titles, including some very old books (I still have a book about Oliver Cromwell which I picked up in here from 1890!). Covering every major genre and some I had never thought of before, the variety is almost unmatched, with good prices to go with it.
Located in Broomhill, it’s very close to Ranmoor, Endcliffe and Crookes, and for many is on the way into university. So if you fancy a little bit of a wander on your day off, a treat after your intro lectures or just fancy popping in after getting your weekly shop, Oxfam is a great option to be sure you’ll leave with something worthwhile!
Oxfam, Glossop Road (Broomhall), S10 2HS
Oxfam’s second entry in this list, their store at the beginnings of West Street is an entire location dedicated to books. Though small, it boasts a large number of titles, with a lot of space allocated for autobiographical books. This particular shop is a great place to drop off some old books as you head to the city centre and pick up new ones on your way back again!
I’ve always been met by a different staff member each time I’ve gone in and they’re always lovely and chatty, as well as having their own books they’re getting through. Ever time you buy a book here, the money goes to a great cause and they’re always looking for donations, as well as voluntary help. Whether you are looking to get new titles, drop off old ones or give up some time to keep the shop open, it’s a great place to visit whatever your plans may be.
La Biblioteka, Eyre Lane (City Centre), S1 3GF
Another small, independent bookstore to consider visiting is La Biblioteka in the city centre. Located to the south east of The Moor, this award-winning space covers a range of particularly curated topics, including fiction, politics, art and design, nature and more, highlighting books on the fringes of mainstream culture. They also focus on platforming marginalised authors and creators in their shop, with a range of gallery spaces and events also available for local people and groups.
La Biblioteka is a wonderful place to explore with such a unique and diverse range on offer, with something for everyone among its tomes. Being a short walk from The Moor, it’s nice and easy to get to or to add onto your usual shopping trip, and its friendly nature and approachable staff are the hallmarks of a wonderful shopping experience.
Book Swap Shop, University of Sheffield Students’ Union (Broomhall), S10 2TG
Located on the third floor of our Students’ Union, next to the main Swap Shop, the Book Swap Shop is the newest of locations on our list, having been added this April after the original Swap Shop proved so successful. A single bookcase with a wide variety of titles, the Book Swap Shop is a free-to-use service that allows you to refresh your reading list whilst also dropping off old titles for other users. Simply leave an old title and take a new one in its place! You can also leave multiple titles, allowing the Book Swap Shop to expand.
A sustainable alternative to traditional book shopping, the Book Swap Shop has much less choice and no control over what you find but is a great way to try something that you may never have considered before, and being a completely free scheme, means your hard-earned money can stay safely in your bank account whilst you stretch out in Weston Park with your latest read.
There are hundreds of great bookshops and sellers throughout out city and surrounding areas, and these are but a small snapshot of some of my favourites. Whatever books you’re hunting for, whatever your budget may be, there is always somewhere to find a great new read in Sheffield, and plenty of people to share them with!
