Best Bookshops to Visit in the Peak District
We took the train through the High Peak to find some of the best bookshops in the Peak District!
There’s something special about combining two simple pleasures: travelling by train and getting lost in a good book!
The High Peak and Hope Valley are home to some of Derbyshire’s best independent booksellers, all within easy reach for a relaxing day out by train.
As we celebrate the National Year of Reading, it’s the perfect opportunity to discover somewhere new, support local businesses and find your next favourite read.
Dark Peak Books and Gifts, Glossop
Just 30 minutes from Manchester by train, Glossop is home to Dark Peak Books and Gifts, an independent bookshop packed with fiction, non-fiction and local interest titles.
After browsing the shelves, explore the town’s independent cafes, enjoy a walk around Manor Park or discover the historic streets of Glossop before settling into your seat for the journey home with your latest purchase.
High Street Books & Records, New Mills
New Mills is another easy train journey from Manchester and offers plenty to discover beyond its station.
Browse the shelves at High Street Books & Records with an amazing collection of new and pre-loved books across all genres. Don’t miss out the basement full of vinyl and cds too. Make a day of it by exploring the spectacular Millennium Walkway suspended above the River Goyt, visit Torrs Riverside Park or stop for lunch in one of the town’s independent cafes.
It’s an ideal destination for anyone looking to combine books, beautiful scenery and a leisurely day out.
Books at the Basin, Whaley Bridge
Tucked inside the historic Transhipment Warehouse at Whaley Bridge’s canal basin, Books at the Basin brings books, local heritage, music and community together in a unique setting.
The warehouse itself is an important reminder of Whaley Bridge’s industrial past. Standing beside the Peak Forest Canal, it once played a vital role in transferring goods between canal boats and the Cromford and High Peak Railway. Today, the building has found a new lease of life, and browsing for books among its historic surrounds makes a visit feel particularly special.
Books at the Basin is the sort of place where it’s worth allowing time to browse the shelves of pre-loved books and music.
It’s location also makes it the perfect starting point to explore the canal basin and the town. Head along the canal to the historic Bugsworth Basin or explore the town and local Toddbrook reservoir.
Explore Books-ton for some of the best bookshops in the Peak District
Buxton is a must have for book lovers, with several fantastic bookshops.
A list of the best bookshops in the Peak District would not be complete without Scriveners! Spend time exploring Scrivener’s Books & Bookbinding, one of the country’s largest second-hand bookshops, where thousands of books fill every room of a historic Victorian house. Then head into the town centre to visit Book Folk, a welcoming independent bookshop offering carefully selected new titles for readers of all ages.
While you’re in Buxton, enjoy a stroll through Pavillion Gardens, admire the Georgian and Victorian architecture or relax with coffee and cake before your journey home.
Buxton can be reached directly by train from Manchester. Pick up an ‘Exploring Books-ton’ leaflet from the station or local bookshop for more places to visit.
National Trust Second-Hand Bookshop, Lyme Park
Travel to Disley by train and enjoy the pleasant walk to Lyme Park, one of the National Trust’s finest estates.
Before or after exploring the magnificent house and gardens, don’t miss the Lyme Park Second-Hand Bookshop, where every purchase helps support the conservation of this historic estate. It’s the perfect place to pick up a pre-loved classic or discover a new favourite before heading home by train.
Lyme Park is perhaps best known to literature lovers as the filming location for Pemberley, the home of Mr Darcey, in the BBC’s iconic 1995 adaption of Pride and Prejudice. The estate’s grand facade and beautiful parkland provided the backdrop for some of the series’ most memorable scenes, including the famous moment when Colin Firth’s Mr Darcy emerges from the lake.
Plan Your Peak District Bookshop Adventure
Whether you’re searching for a rare second-hand treasure, the latest bestseller or a beautifully illustrated children’s book, the High Peak and Hope Valley offer a wonderful collection of independent bookshops waiting to be discovered. Hop on the train and have a great day out discovering some of the best bookshops in the Peak District!
This National Year of Reading, why not leave the car behind and make your next literary adventure one by rail? You’ll be supporting local businesses and discovering that sometimes the journey is every bit as enjoyable as the destination.
For more ideas on planning a great day out by rail check out our station guides.
