Bookstores in Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells, Kent has 92 bookstores on the map. That's 92 bookshops mapped around Tunbridge Wells, each with its own shelves and specialties. The used sections are where the real bargains hide. Give yourself an hour minimum — bookshops are the one errand that always takes longer than planned.
This guide covers every bookstore we could verify in and around Tunbridge Wells (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include Croydon Bookshop and The Works, plus TG Jones. If a bookshop's missing from Tunbridge Wells's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet.
The Tunbridge Wells bookstore lineup
92 mapped within about 40 km — showing 60:
Croydon Bookshop
Bookstore
Croydon Bookshop is Bookstore.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore.
TG Jones
BookstoreRun by TG Jones
Run by TG Jones, TG Jones is Bookstore, found on 172 High Street in Beckenham. Also worth knowing about TG Jones: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
172 High Street, Beckenham, BR3 1EW
Phone: +44 208 650 0538
Beckenham Bookshop
Bookstore
Beckenham Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 42 High Street in Beckenham.
42 High Street, Beckenham, BR3 1AY
Boulevard Bookshop and Thai Cafe
Bookstore
Boulevard Bookshop and Thai Cafe is Bookstore on 32 George Street, Hastings. Boulevard Bookshop and Thai Cafe also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as We-Su 18:30-23:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
32 George Street, Hastings, TN34 3EA
Hours: We-Su 18:30-23:00
Phone: +44 1424 436521
The Secondhand Bookshop
Bookstore
The Secondhand Bookshop — Bookstore.
Halls Bookshop
Bookstore
Halls Bookshop — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Halls Bookshop: it has a website with more detail.
TN1 1YQ
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on West Village in Greenhithe. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
West Village, Greenhithe, DA9 9SE
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1322 624831
TGJones
Bookstore
TGJones is Bookstore on Thames Walk, Greenhithe. TGJones also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:00-21:00; Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Thames Walk, Greenhithe, DA9 9SL
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-21:00; Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1322 386843
Kirkdale Bookshop
Bookstore
Kirkdale Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 272 Kirkdale in London. Also worth knowing about Kirkdale Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:30-17:00; Su 12:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
272 Kirkdale, London, SE26 4RS
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-17:00; Su 12:00-16:00
Phone: +44 20 8778 4701
The Rye Bookshop
Bookstore
The Rye Bookshop is Bookstore on 25 High Street. The Rye Bookshop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:30-17:30; Su 10:00-16:30.
25 High Street, TN31 7JF
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-17:30; Su 10:00-16:30
Rye Old Books
Bookstore
Rye Old Books — Bookstore, found on 7 Lion Street in Rye.
7 Lion Street, Rye, TN31 7LB
Bags of Books
Bookstore
Bags of Books is Bookstore. Bags of Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su off.
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su off
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on 16 Church Walk, Caterham.
16 Church Walk, Caterham, CR3 6RT
Knole Bookshop
Bookstore
Knole Bookshop — Bookstore.
The Mint House
Bookstore
The Mint House is Bookstore on 94 High Street, Hurstpierpoint. The Mint House also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
94 High Street, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9PX
Phone: +44 1273 834 443
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 39 London Road in East Grinstead. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
39 London Road, East Grinstead, RH19 1AW
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on 37 London Road in East Grinstead. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
37 London Road, East Grinstead, RH19 1AW
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Phone: +44 1342 322978
The Bookshop by WHSmith
Bookstore
The Bookshop by WHSmith — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Bookshop by WHSmith: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 05:00-19:00.
Hours: Mo-Su 05:00-19:00
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on 8-10 Bell Street in Reigate. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
8-10 Bell Street, Reigate
Phone: +44 1737 333123
Chaldon Books
Bookstore
Chaldon Books is Bookstore on 1 High Street, Caterham. Chaldon Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Th-Sa 10:00-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
1 High Street, Caterham, CR3 5UE
Hours: Th-Sa 10:00-17:00
The Oasis
Bookstore
The Oasis is Bookstore.
MIWK
Bookstore
MIWK — Bookstore, found on 45a Bell Street in Reigate.
45a Bell Street, Reigate, RH2 7AQ
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore.
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on West Thurrock Way in Grays. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:30-20:00; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
West Thurrock Way, Grays, RM20 2ZG
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-20:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1708 869858
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on West Thurrock Way in Grays. Also worth knowing about The Works: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
West Thurrock Way, Grays, RM20 2ZP
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1708 867097
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on 189-193 High Street, Orpington. WHSmith also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
189-193 High Street, Orpington, BR6 0PF
Pilgrims
Bookstore
Pilgrims is Bookstore on 90 High Street, Reigate.
90 High Street, Reigate, RH2 9AP
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore on Unit 13b. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Unit 13b
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on Hempstead Valley Drive in Gillingham. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Hempstead Valley Drive, Gillingham, ME7 3PD
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Skylark, The Needlemakers
BookstoreRun by Skylark
Skylark, The Needlemakers is Bookstore run by Skylark on West Street, Lewes. Skylark, The Needlemakers also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00.
West Street, Lewes, BN7 2NZ
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00
The Bookshop
Bookstore
The Bookshop is Bookstore on 22 High Street, East Grinstead. The Bookshop also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
22 High Street, East Grinstead, RH19 3AS
Phone: +44 1342 322669
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
Dominion Bookshop
Bookstore
Dominion Bookshop is Bookstore.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on West Thurrock Way, Grays. WHSmith also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Th 09:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
West Thurrock Way, Grays, RM20 2ZG
Hours: Mo-Th 09:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1708 869175
Boon Books
Bookstore
Boon Books is Bookstore on 18 High Street. Boon Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
18 High Street, BN7 2LN
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
Phone: +441273483907
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. 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.
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Leadbetter & Good
Bookstore
Leadbetter & Good is Bookstore. Leadbetter & Good also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Phone: +44 1273477047
Lewes Book Centre
Bookstore
Lewes Book Centre is Bookstore.
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Oxfam Bookshop
Bookstore
Oxfam Bookshop — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Oxfam Bookshop: it has a website with more detail.
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on High Street, Tonbridge. WHSmith also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
High Street, Tonbridge
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore. WHSmith also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
Bromley, BR1 1DJ
Bexhill Evangelical Book Centre
BookstoreRun by St. Paul's Free Chuch
Run by St. Paul's Free Chuch, Bexhill Evangelical Book Centre is Bookstore, found on Western Road in Bexhill-on-Sea. Also worth knowing about Bexhill Evangelical Book Centre: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-14:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Western Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 1DX
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-14:00
Phone: +44 1424 722083
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on Rose Gallery in Greenhithe. Also worth knowing about The Works: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Rose Gallery, Greenhithe, DA9 9ST
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1322 370566
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on High Street in Tonbridge.
High Street, Tonbridge
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on High Street, Tonbridge.
High Street, Tonbridge
Sunburst Books
Bookstore
Sunburst Books — Bookstore.
What the map tells us about bookstores in Tunbridge Wells
20 of the 92 list their opening hours on the map, which is genuinely useful — bookshops keep civilised hours, so the listed ones are usually reliable.
50 have websites listed. Worth a look for events — readings and signings get announced there first.
There's a cluster: 5 of them sit on High Street, so you can string those into one walk and drive between the rest.
The Tunbridge Wells bookstore crawl
Making a day of it in Tunbridge Wells? Work this order: Croydon Bookshop, The Works, TG Jones on 172 High Street, Beckenham Bookshop on 42 High Street, Boulevard Bookshop and Thai Cafe on 32 George Street, The Secondhand Bookshop, Halls Bookshop, and Waterstones on West Village. That's the bookstore crawl in one sensible loop, no backtracking. 84 more are listed below.
Bookstore tips for Tunbridge Wells
Browsing in Tunbridge Wells? A little strategy helps:
- Gift buying? Ask for wrapping at Croydon Bookshop. Many independents wrap beautifully and free. It beats a gift bag every time.
- Check the events board at The Works. Book clubs, writing groups, story times — bookshops are community centres that happen to sell books.
- Magazines and journals matter. The little-magazine rack is where new writers appear first. Cheap, weird, and full of discoveries.
- Poetry lives in bookshops. Poetry barely exists online as a browsing experience. The poetry shelf in a real shop is a different world.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around Tunbridge Wells — 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 Tunbridge Wells can take a while to appear. If you spot one of the 92 that's closed, or a great bookstore we missed, the fix is to update the map itself — that's where this guide reads from.
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 92 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 Tunbridge Wells: 92 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.