A certain massive conglomerate known for their excessive cardboard packaging might have next day delivery but they'll never capture that wonder of a shop crammed with books just waiting to be plucked from the shelves and given a good home. If you're after a new novel, a travel guide or a picture book these shops in and around Newcastle will sort you out.

Blackwells
Blackwells is the UK's leading academic bookseller. Their Newcastle branch is located at the University, close to the union, and stocks best sellers as well as academic texts. The shop has over 100,000 titles in stock, specialising in medical, law and business, languages, historical studies and social sciences, as well as fiction, travel and art and design. It is also home to an art shop stocking technical drawing equipment and craft materials. Blackwells offer a free reserve and collect service. So you can order online anytime and collect on route to a tutorial.
Newcastle University, 141 Percy Street, Newcastle, NE1 7RS

Books for Amnesty
Open since 2002 Books for Amnesty stocks second-hand books, with particular strengths in history, politics, art, poetry and philosophy. They also sell vinyl, sheet music and greeting cards, with all profits from the shop's sales going to Amnesty International UK, nice to know your groaning bookshelf is doing the world some good. The shop is run by volunteers and accepts donations of books and vinyl.
Unit 5, Charlotte House, 92 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AF

Forbidden Planet
If you're into science fiction, science fantasy, comics, manga or graphic novels you'll have visited Forbidden Planet. They are the largest UK stockist of the latest comics and graphic novels, covering DC, Marvel and manga as well as smaller publishers. Alongside reading material there's action figures, DVDs, toys and merchandise from films and TV, including Star Wars, Star Trek and superhero franchises. The Newcastle megastore store hosts regular events such as signing from comic writers and artists and gaming nights.
49 Grainger Street, Newcastle, NE1 5JE

Keel Row Books
This rambling old Victorian property in North Shields sells second-hand, rare and antiquarian books, maps, prints and ephemera. They've over 40,000 books in stock and supply books as props for film and TV. Keel Row Books have over 25 years experience and are members of all the cool gangs, including the Antiquarian Bookseller's Association and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. If you're selling they buy single volumes to entire libraries, and as well as letters, diaries, film/theatre scripts, posters, handbills and chapbooks. So if you've recently cleared out the attic this is the place to visit.
11 Fenwick Terrace, Preston Road, North Shields, NE29 0LU

Seven Stories
Seven Stories is the National Centre for Children's Books and as well as a museum they offer one of the biggest children's bookshops in the country. Their colourful shelves are stocked with books for all ages: from babies picture books to young adult fiction, with squishy seats to lounge on while you flick through the pages.
30 Lime Street, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ

Waterstones
This four-storey book shop is the largest in the North East and housed within the rather grand Emerson Chambers. Waterstones stocks fiction, children's books, study guides, poetry, biography, travel, cookery and more special interests, as well as audio books, cards and stationery. They also host regular events, including author signings, book groups and creative writing workshops. If you can't wait to get home to read your book, pull up a seat in Café W on the first floor.
Emerson Chambers, Blackett Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 7JF