In my opinion, one of the hardest things about about liking books is the unfortunate price tag that comes with a new purchase. Although libraries are a great option, sometimes you just want your own copy. And that’s where buying second hand comes in.
Tynemouth market, located in Tynemouth metro station, has an abundance of stalls, selling pretty much anything you can think of from food, crafts, clothing, posters, jewellery, and books! There’s a ton of variety between the different book stalls, with lots of them having their own little niche. My friend I and found one full of old books about engineering and sport, whilst others have more modern contemporary novels.
Adjacent to the market is Jimmys, a coffee and book shop that lives in the station. Its incredibly cosy inside, with overflowing shelves and piles of books, and amazing prices! I bought a copy of ‘The Seven Husband of Evelyn Hugo’ as I’ve been meaning to read it for a while. It only cost me £2, compared to the £7.49 fee on amazon. My friend bought a copy of ‘War and Peace’, only £3, which would have cost him £10.99 on amazon. I also bought a coffee for £3, and as a self-proclaimed caffeine addict I can confirm it was delicious.
If your bookshelf is full, there’s also a few stalls with book themed decoration, like posters, coasters and bookmarks. Perfect for yourself, or as a gift for a friend. I think everything was really well priced as well, with lots of the stalls having special deals or offers.
On of the best things about the market is the fact that once you are done its only a 5 minute walk to the beach, so you can take your new books and yummy drink and enjoy a chapter with a lovely scenic view.
I would recommend the metro as the best way to get there, as the market happens directly in the station, so it takes you right into the centre without having to worry about parking. This also means that if it’s rainy you don’t have to worry about getting wet. It only takes about 20 minutes to get there from the city centre, and the metros run pretty much every 15 minutes.
Tynemouth market is open every Saturday and Sunday from 9am – 3.30pm. You can find more information on their website.