Bookstores in Cambridge
If you judge a town by its bookshops, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire gives you 40 to judge by. That's 40 bookshops mapped around Cambridge, each with its own shelves and specialties. The used sections are where the real bargains hide. Staff picks shelves are the fastest way to read a shop's personality.
This guide covers every bookstore we could verify in and around Cambridge (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include Soham Books and G. David, plus Waterstones. If a bookshop's missing from Cambridge's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet.
The Cambridge bookstore lineup
40 mapped within about 40 km:
Soham Books
Bookstore
Soham Books — Bookstore.
G. David
Bookstore
G. David — Bookstore, found on 16 St Edward's Passage in Cambridge.
16 St Edward's Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on 22 Sidney Street in Cambridge. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 11:00-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
22 Sidney Street, Cambridge, CB2 3HG
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Second Hand Book Shop
Used bookstore
Second Hand Book Shop is Used bookstore.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on South Street in Bishop's Stortford. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; PH 10:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
South Street, Bishop's Stortford
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; PH 10:00-16:00
TGJones
Bookstore
TGJones is Bookstore on 36 High Street, Royston. TGJones also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
36 High Street, Royston, SG8 9AG
Cambridge University Press Bookshop
BookstoreRun by University of Cambridge
Run by University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Bookshop is Bookstore, found on 1 Trinity Street in Cambridge. Also worth knowing about Cambridge University Press Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-17:30; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
1 Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1SZ
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:30; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1223 333333
Christian Science Reading Room
Bookstore
Christian Science Reading Room is Bookstore on 96 Regent Street, Cambridge. Christian Science Reading Room also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo 12:30-15:00.
96 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1DP
Hours: Mo 12:30-15:00
Toppings and Company
Bookstore
Toppings and Company is Bookstore on 9 High Street, Ely. Toppings and Company also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 08:30-18:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
9 High Street, Ely, CB7 4LJ
Hours: Mo-Su 08:30-18:30
Phone: +44 1353 645005
Heffers
BookstoreRun by Blackwell's
Run by Blackwell's, Heffers is Bookstore, found on 20 Trinity Street in Cambridge. Also worth knowing about Heffers: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
20 Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1TY
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1223 463200
Oxfam Bookshop
Bookstore
Oxfam Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 28 Sidney Street in Cambridge. Also worth knowing about Oxfam Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 11:15-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
28 Sidney Street, Cambridge, CB2 3HW
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 11:15-16:00
Hereward Books
Bookstore
Hereward Books — Bookstore, found on 17 High Street in Haddenham. Also worth knowing about Hereward Books: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
17 High Street, Haddenham, CB6 3XA
Phone: +44 1353 740821
Bodies in the Bookshop
Bookstore
Bodies in the Bookshop is Bookstore on 1a Botolph Lane, Cambridge. Bodies in the Bookshop also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
1a Botolph Lane, Cambridge, CB2 3RD
Second Hand Bookshop
Bookstore
Second Hand Bookshop is Bookstore. Second Hand Bookshop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 09:30-17:00.
Hours: Mo-Su 09:30-17:00
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 31-33 Fitzroy Street in Cambridge. Also worth knowing about The Works: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 11:00-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
31-33 Fitzroy Street, Cambridge, CB1 1ER
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 11:00-17:00
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Harts Books
Bookstore
Harts Books — Bookstore on 26 King Street.
26 King Street, CB10 1ES
Porter's Lodge
Bookstore
Porter's Lodge is Bookstore.
Harris & Harris Books
Bookstore
Harris & Harris Books — Bookstore, found on 3a High Street in Sudbury. Also worth knowing about Harris & Harris Books: it has a website with more detail.
3a High Street, Sudbury, CO10 8NY
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on Coreys Mill Lane. WHSmith also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 08:00-20:00.
Coreys Mill Lane
Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-20:00
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on High Street in Ely. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
High Street, Ely, CB7 4LQ
Between The Lines
Bookstore
Between The Lines — Bookstore, found on High Street in Great Bardfield.
High Street, Great Bardfield
RSPCA Bookshop
BookstoreRun by RSPCA
Run by RSPCA, RSPCA Bookshop is Bookstore, found on 188 Mill Road in Cambridge. Also worth knowing about RSPCA Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 11:00-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
188 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3LP
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on 1-3 New Street in St Neots. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
1-3 New Street, St Neots, PE19 1AE
TGJones
Bookstore
TGJones is Bookstore on High Street, Haverhill.
High Street, Haverhill
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on Potter Street in Bishop's Stortford. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Potter Street, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3UH
Mondo Comico
Bookstore
Mondo Comico — Bookstore, found on South Street in Bishop's Stortford.
South Street, Bishop's Stortford
Plurabelle Books
Bookstore
Plurabelle Books — Bookstore, found on Coldhams Road in Cambridge. Also worth knowing about Plurabelle Books: it has a website with more detail.
Coldhams Road, Cambridge, CB1 3EW
Second Hand Bookshop
BookstoreRun by English Heritage
Second Hand Bookshop is Bookstore run by English Heritage.
Second Hand Book Shop
Bookstore
Second Hand Book Shop is Bookstore.
The Haunted Book Shop
Bookstore
The Haunted Book Shop is Bookstore on 9 St Edward's Passage, Cambridge. The Haunted Book Shop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Th 11:00-17:00; Fr,Sa 10:00-17:00; Su off.
9 St Edward's Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ
Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-17:00; Fr,Sa 10:00-17:00; Su off
Amnesty Bookshop
Bookstore
Amnesty Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 4 Mill Road in Cambridge. Also worth knowing about Amnesty Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 11:00-17:00; Su 12:00-16:00.
4 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AD
Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-17:00; Su 12:00-16:00
Bow Books
Bookstore
Bow Books is Bookstore on 6 Angel Pavement, Royston. Bow Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
6 Angel Pavement, Royston, SG8 9AS
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
Phone: +441763 793279
Bow Books - Kids
Bookstore
Bow Books - Kids is Bookstore on 10A Angel Pavement, Royston. Bow Books - Kids also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
10A Angel Pavement, Royston, SG8 9AS
David's Bookshop
Bookstore
David's Bookshop is Bookstore on 14 Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City. David's Bookshop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su, PH 10:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
14 Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3DE
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su, PH 10:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1462 684631
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on 22 Crown Street, St Ives. WHSmith also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
22 Crown Street, St Ives, PE27 5AB
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 7-9 Central Approach in Letchworth Garden City. Also worth knowing about The Works: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
7-9 Central Approach, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3DL
Phone: +44 1462 484739
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on Bassingbourn Road, Stansted. WHSmith also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as 24/7; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Bassingbourn Road, Stansted, CM24 1RW
Hours: 24/7
Phone: +44 1279 661732
What the map tells us about bookstores in Cambridge
16 of the 40 list their opening hours on the map, which is genuinely useful — bookshops keep civilised hours, so the listed ones are usually reliable.
23 have websites listed. Worth a look for events — readings and signings get announced there first.
There's a cluster: 3 of them sit on High Street, so you can string those into one walk and drive between the rest.
The Cambridge bookstore crawl
The efficient Cambridge bookstore crawl strings these together: Soham Books, G. David on 16 St Edward's Passage, Waterstones on 22 Sidney Street, Second Hand Book Shop, Waterstones on South Street, TGJones on 36 High Street, Cambridge University Press Bookshop on 1 Trinity Street, and Christian Science Reading Room on 96 Regent Street — 40 stops, one logical order. 32 more are listed below.
Bookstore tips for Cambridge
The regulars' playbook for Cambridge's bookshops:
- Don't overlook the classics wall at Soham Books. Every shop has one. Cheap editions of the books everyone claims to have read — your chance to actually read them.
- Don't judge by the window display at G. David. The front table is marketing. The back shelves are the shop's real taste. Walk the whole floor.
- Ask the booksellers. A good bookseller lives for the question 'what should I read next?' Give them three books you loved and watch them work.
- Check the events board. Book clubs, writing groups, story times — bookshops are community centres that happen to sell books.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around Cambridge — that covers the town itself plus the surrounding communities you'd reasonably drive to. Listings come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by local volunteers, so a brand-new bookstore in Cambridge can take a while to appear. Spotted a closure among the 40, or a bookstore we missed entirely? The map is the source of truth here — one OpenStreetMap edit corrects it for everyone.
We don't list prices — they change constantly and vary by edition. What we list is the where: real shops, verified by real mappers, in alphabetical order with no favourites.
If you run one of the 40 listed here and something's wrong — a closure, a move, new hours — the fix is the same: update the shop on OpenStreetMap and the correction flows through to this page on the next daily refresh.
Bookstore listings for Cambridge: 40 mapped from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos from Wikimedia Commons contributors; individual photo credits appear in captions. Listing data was last refreshed automatically — verify hours before visiting.