Bookstores in Ipswich
If you judge a town by its bookshops, Ipswich, England gives you 50 to judge by. That's 50 bookshops mapped around Ipswich, 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 Ipswich (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include Waterstones and Second-Hand Bookshop, plus Waterstones. If a bookshop's missing from Ipswich's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet.
The Ipswich bookstore lineup
50 mapped within about 40 km:
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
Second-Hand Bookshop
Bookstore
Second-Hand Bookshop is Bookstore.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on 1 Gosnold Street in Bury St Edmunds. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:30-16:30; it has a website with more detail.
1 Gosnold Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FB
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:30-16:30
Bullock Fair Charity Shop
Bookstore
Bullock Fair Charity Shop — Bookstore, found on Bullock Fair Close in Harleston. Also worth knowing about Bullock Fair Charity Shop: it has a website with more detail.
Bullock Fair Close, Harleston, IP20 9AT
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on 36 Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su,PH 10:30-16:30; it has a website with more detail.
36 Buttermarket, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1DW
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su,PH 10:30-16:30
The Aldeburgh Bookshop
Bookstore
The Aldeburgh Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 42 High Street in Aldeburgh. Also worth knowing about The Aldeburgh Bookshop: it has a website with more detail.
42 High Street, Aldeburgh, IP15 5AB
House of Joy
Bookstore
House of Joy is Bookstore on 37 Crouch Street, Colchester.
37 Crouch Street, Colchester, CO3 3EN
TGJones
Bookstore
TGJones is Bookstore on Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. TGJones also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 08:30-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, IP12 1AQ
Hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Byron the Bard
Bookstore
Byron the Bard — Bookstore, found on Water Street in Sudbury.
Water Street, Sudbury
Second-hand Bookshop
Used bookstore
Second-hand Bookshop is Used bookstore.
Woodbridge Books
Bookstore
Woodbridge Books is Bookstore on 66 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. Woodbridge Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:30-17:00; Sa 09:30-16:30; it has a website with more detail.
66 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, IP12 1AL
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-17:00; Sa 09:30-16:30
Treasure Chest Books
Bookstore
Treasure Chest Books is Bookstore on Cobbold Road, Felixstowe.
Cobbold Road, Felixstowe
Stillwater Books
Bookstore
Stillwater Books — Bookstore, found on 36 Hamilton Road in Felixstowe. Also worth knowing about Stillwater Books: it has a website with more detail.
36 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7AN
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on Hamilton Road in Felixstowe. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Hamilton Road, Felixstowe
TGJones
Bookstore
TGJones is Bookstore on 64 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe. TGJones also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
64 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7DN
Porter's Lodge
Bookstore
Porter's Lodge is Bookstore.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 14 Cornhill in Bury St Edmunds. Also worth knowing about The Works: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
14 Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
At The Crossroads
Bookstore
At The Crossroads — Bookstore, found on 4 High Street in Saxmundham. Also worth knowing about At The Crossroads: it has a website with more detail.
4 High Street, Saxmundham, IP17 1DD
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
Oldspeak bookshop
Bookstore
Oldspeak bookshop — Bookstore, found on Ringers Yard in Long Melford, Suffolk. Also worth knowing about Oldspeak bookshop: the map lists its hours as We-Sa 09:30-16:30; Su 11:00-15:00; it has a website with more detail.
Ringers Yard, Long Melford, Suffolk, CO10 9JG
Hours: We-Sa 09:30-16:30; Su 11:00-15:00
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on Old Market Place in Sudbury. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Old Market Place, Sudbury, CO10 1RA
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on 10 North Street in Sudbury. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
10 North Street, Sudbury, CO10 1RB
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 46-48 Buttermarket in Ipswich. Also worth knowing about The Works: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
46-48 Buttermarket, Ipswich, IP1 1BT
Hours: Mo-Sa09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on 15-19 Buttermarket in Ipswich. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
15-19 Buttermarket, Ipswich, IP1 1BQ
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Reed Books
Used bookstore
Reed Books is Used bookstore on 115 High Street, Aldeburgh.
115 High Street, Aldeburgh, IP15 5AR
The Open Road Books
Bookstore
The Open Road Books is Bookstore.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
The Nook Readers
Bookstore
The Nook Readers is Bookstore.
The Book Cellar
Bookstore
The Book Cellar is Bookstore. The Book Cellar also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Su 10:00-16:00.
Hours: Tu-Su 10:00-16:00
Claude Cox Old & Rare Books
Bookstore
Claude Cox Old & Rare Books is Bookstore on 18 High Street, Saxmundham. Claude Cox Old & Rare Books also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
18 High Street, Saxmundham, IP17 1DD
The Halesworth Bookshop
Bookstore
The Halesworth Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 42 Thoroughfare in Halesworth. Also worth knowing about The Halesworth Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Th 09:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
42 Thoroughfare, Halesworth, IP19 8AR
Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
Second Hand Book Shop
Bookstore
Second Hand Book Shop is Bookstore.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 15 Station Road in Clacton-on-Sea. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
15 Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1TD
The Book Annex
Bookstore
The Book Annex — Bookstore, found on 18 in Harwich.
18, Harwich, CO12 3DS
Bodgeners
Bookstore
Bodgeners is Bookstore.
Harwich, CO12 3DS
The Book Annex
Bookstore
The Book Annex — Bookstore.
Harwich, CO12 3DS
The Nose
Bookstore
The Nose — Bookstore, found on 28 Newgate Street in Walton-on-the-Naze.
28 Newgate Street, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8AL
Caxton Books and Gallery
Bookstore
Caxton Books and Gallery — Bookstore, found on 55 Connaught Avenue in Frinton-on-Sea.
55 Connaught Avenue, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 9PP
Butterfly and Bee
Bookstore
Butterfly and Bee — Bookstore, found on Connaught Avenue in Frinton-on-Sea. Also worth knowing about Butterfly and Bee: it has a website with more detail.
Connaught Avenue, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 9PN
TheWorks.co.uk
Bookstore
TheWorks.co.uk is Bookstore. TheWorks.co.uk also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
Chapel Books
Bookstore
Chapel Books is Bookstore on The Street, Saxmundham. Chapel Books also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
The Street, Saxmundham, IP17 3AA
TGJones
Bookstore
TGJones is Bookstore on 15 Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds. TGJones also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 08:30-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
15 Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1DY
Hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Red Lion Books
Bookstore
Red Lion Books — Bookstore, found on 125 High Street in Colchester.
125 High Street, Colchester, CO1 1SZ
Secondhand Bookshop
Bookstore
Secondhand Bookshop is Bookstore. Secondhand Bookshop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00.
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on High Street in Colchester. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
High Street, Colchester
Second hand bookstore
BookstoreRun by National Trust
Run by National Trust, Second hand bookstore is Bookstore.
The Colchester Bookshop
Bookstore
The Colchester Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 7 Trinity Street in Colchester. Also worth knowing about The Colchester Bookshop: it has a website with more detail.
7 Trinity Street, Colchester, CO1 1JN
Wivenhoe Bookshop
Bookstore
Wivenhoe Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 23 High Street in Wivenhoe. Also worth knowing about Wivenhoe Bookshop: it has a website with more detail.
23 High Street, Wivenhoe, CO7 9BE
Colne Bookshop
Bookstore
Colne Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 51 High Street in Wivenhoe.
51 High Street, Wivenhoe, CO7 9AZ
The Idler
Bookstore
The Idler — Bookstore, found on 37 High Street in Ipswich.
37 High Street, Ipswich, IP7 5AF
What the map tells us about bookstores in Ipswich
12 of the 50 list their opening hours on the map, which is genuinely useful — bookshops keep civilised hours, so the listed ones are usually reliable.
29 have websites listed. Worth a look for events — readings and signings get announced there first.
2 of the shops are tagged as selling used books — the second-hand shelves are where out-of-print gems and first editions turn up for pocket change.
The Ipswich bookstore crawl
The efficient Ipswich bookstore crawl strings these together: Waterstones, Second-Hand Bookshop, Waterstones on 1 Gosnold Street, Bullock Fair Charity Shop on Bullock Fair Close, Waterstones on 36 Buttermarket, The Aldeburgh Bookshop on 42 High Street, House of Joy on 37 Crouch Street, and TGJones on Thoroughfare — 50 stops, one logical order. 42 more are listed below.
Bookstore tips for Ipswich
The regulars' playbook for Ipswich's bookshops:
- Visit during author events at Waterstones. Readings and signings are usually free and turn a bookshop into the best evening out in town.
- Check for a café corner at Second-Hand Bookshop. A bookshop with coffee is a trap in the best way. Plan accordingly; you won't be leaving soon.
- Kids' sections are goldmines. Even without kids. The picture-book art alone is worth the browse, and the middle-grade shelves hold genuine classics.
- Don't skip the small press section. The weird, wonderful stuff lives here. Small presses take the risks the big publishers won't.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around Ipswich — 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 Ipswich can take a while to appear. The 50 above are only as current as the community map. A bookstore that's shut, or a new one nobody's added yet, gets fixed with a single OpenStreetMap edit.
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 50 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 Ipswich: 50 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.