Has to be one of the most exceptional second hand books shops in Europe. It's enormous! Provides catering and toilet facilities. Bring your old books to be exchanged for credits against further book purchases. There is parking but it is limited and can be a little tricky access wise. It's an experience simply to visit.

My favourite memory of the city was visiting Barter Books. A smile spreads across your face from the moment you enter — so many books waiting to be read! A truly delightful time, topped off with a scone and a wonderful cup of tea. Bravo!

Beautiful work. Amazing selection of books and variety of genres. Good amount of places to have a seat and just read. The staff were amazing paying attention and helping elderly. It was great experience. I’m glad I went.

It's been years since I visited Barter Books - last time was before they had a cafe and just had help yourself drinks on a table! It has changed these days and looks amazing. That familiar comforting scent of books is still there and still lovely. We went on a Tuesday afternoon and managed to get parked in the small carpark. It was still reasonably busy with quiet a few visitors. Maybe at weekends or in holidays, youd have to park elsewhere. Lots and lots of great books, organised really well and some rare books to pique your interest. The one book I liked though, was £29. However, a quick look on Ebay I saw i could pick it up in excellent condition from several vendors for £10-£13 delivered. Cafe, was a ten minute wait for a table and ten minutes wait for the food which is cool. We loved the little rooms, and the train carriage feel. Prices were a bit steep though. £28 for 2 lattes, slice of carrot cake and a sausage butty. The choice was quite good though and I was able to have oat milk rather than dairy. Overall, a lovely afternoon and we will be back next time we're up near Alnwick.

Visited Barter Books while in Alnwick and it’s one of those places that’s worth visiting even if you don’t plan on buying anything. Set inside a beautifully converted old railway station, it has loads of character and a really cosy atmosphere, especially around the café area with the open fire. There are plenty of places to sit and relax, toilets on site, and even a little model train running above the bookshelves which adds to the charm. The selection of second-hand books is massive, covering everything from novels and history to comics and niche finds, and you could easily spend a couple of hours browsing. It’s also dog friendly, pram friendly, and has plenty of parking spaces on site which makes visiting easy for families. A genuinely lovely place to spend time…part bookshop, part attraction, part cosy escape from the weather.