Bookcase in Carlisle

Great bookshop with a very large second hand section. Well organised by category and author. Helpful staff and the feeling of anticipation of finding that hidden treasure among all the previously loved books makes a visit very much worth your while.

Great new and second-hand stock over many floors with superb café

A book lovers paradise. Recommend you set aside a few hours to really explore. Will definitely be returning in the next few months.

If you are a boom worm, this is the place for you

It was very nice and the librarians are absolutely lovely humans

It is an excellent bookshop with a huge range of books to choose from.

Fantastic cafe and Bookshop Best tea I've has in ages lovely teacake Beautifully cooked and great jam Cannot recommend this highly enough

My favourite place in Carlisle. A treasure trove of history and hidden gems

Shelves of old books go on and on. Two upstairs levels. Amazing for a browse if you like old books. New books on the ground floor including a children's section. I will be back for another visit even though I'm a hundred miles away. Lovely coffee shop at the back and downstairs, is also accessible off the lane to the left. Accessible toilet.

So many books to choose could spend a few hours in there

Amazing! Spent hours in there between looking at the books and enjoying the cafe. Brilliant gem

A wonderful book shop for new and used books. On several floors and has a cafe, so leave plenty of time to browse.

Amazing shop. Well worth a visit

In a shrinking world of secondhand bookshops this is a trove of treasure. Huge selection with a cellar of music sheets and gothic looking novellas. Dive in

Amazing, eclectic bookshop, visit everytime I'm in Carlisle. Love the collection of State Management artefacts.

I really like the cake here, friendly staff too.

Not sure why this is on as a restaurant - it does have a small and very nice cafe downstairs but the main attraction is the books - and what books! This is the best bookshop I have ever visited. There is a new books part and a used books part (confusingly on Trip advisor separately as Bookends). There are lots of rooms up and downstairs and books on every conceivable subject as well as a massive fiction range. This shop alone is well worth making a trip to Carlisle for

Are you looking for old, rare or nearly new books? You love the typical smell of old bookshops and this quiet atmosphere? Than that's your place to be! Walk in and you are immediately a part of a special world. 😊

I have never seen such a well supplied second hand bookstore. The inventory is just unbelievable. However, this bookstore is pricey, and possibly that is the reason why they have so much stock. It is sad seeing so many good books condemned to be forever in a bookstore because they have been overpriced.

A labyrinth of books any bibliophile should visit. Did I mention it has a "hidden" café

This has several floors stairs and a basement. It's got more books than I've ever seen and is more of a labyrinth experience than a shop. Honest, this place is a bookworm paradise. It also has a cafe. If you like barter books, you'll be amazed by this.

Do you love books? Do you love dogs? Do you love cake and good coffee? Well then you are in the right place! Such a lively, friendly atmosphere! I called to check if they were dig friendly but it went through to voucemail, I was pleasantly surprised to get a call straight back, and when I asked if they were dog friendly, the response was "of course" - I'm not a local unfortunately - this would be a frequent stop if I were.

My son walked In or alteast tried to was told to leave immediately..no kids allowed..if you don't want kids in your shop I suggest removing comics from your window display!!! He seen the comic and was interested to buy..age discrimination?? We'll take our business else where! Good luck in a struggle climate for shops, you maybe don't need luck if you can afford to turn customers away.

The staff didn’t want to help, very unfriendly. In the second-hand shop a shop assistant was busy for 20 minutes with talking to a man who was not the customer of the bookshop.

Perfect shop for any book lovers

Really enjoyed my visit, nice coffee in a relaxed setting,and I found two great booksI look forward to a return visit..

Lovely caffee with a magical garden. Doggie friendly. Very nice staff. Can be accessed through books shop or alleyway next to the shop.

Amazing place. We came back for a second visit in three days and stayed until it closed. A vast array of second hand books over three floors like I've never seen before. Plus a coffee shop! Brilliant

Just love this shop always a 'Must visit' shop when in Carlisle Its a warren of wonders ,newbooks old books second hand books to route through much more (even got classic dvds) atmosphere here than the other dig book store I could mention came away this time with 4 books for grand children and these two classic dvd I will enjoy when I get home

Love this place, I could have stayed there all day. Sadly time was limited so I will have to come back at some point in the future. It’s not often I’m overwhelmed by book, but a was a bit here. So much it’s frankly crazy.

Excellent cafe with a wide range of hot and cold teas nice scones and traybakes get in early to avoid disappointment 😔. Then straight to the bookshop for some bargains Highly recommended

Good place to get lost in the various sections on the multiple floors

Easy to spend all day in both bookshops.

The Bookcase is absolutely amazing. It would be so easy to spend a whole day there , a book lovers paradise. There is also a great cafe serving healthy food options . A must place to visit

Really is a book lovers' delight. So many, many books to choose from. I could spend hours in here but my partner wouldn't be pleased !

What a goldmine!! This is by far one of the best bookshops I've been in, definitely something for everyone, the history section was brilliant, I came away with 4 books!

Great bookshop. Literally books everywhere over three floors. Most are second-hand, but there's also a section with new books. I bought a Wainwright book, but I'm sure I could have bought loads more had I had more time to look around the store. If I'm ever back in Carlisle I'll definitely return here for a proper look. If you like books then go here for a browse.

This has to be one of my favourite places on earth. Thirty-odd rooms of new and used books housed in a labyrinthine Georgian building opposite Carlisle Cathedral with a first-rate café, Cakes 'n' Ale, on the ground floor, giving onto a perfect English country garden. Book lovers could spend a year here and still be reluctant to leave. People must have been locked in overnight at some point, such is the complexity of the corridors, staircases and rooms which have apparently never ceased to grow since its inception around fifty years ago. An ideal way to spend time waiting for your return journey on the Settle - Carlisle railway…

A bookshop with a floor plan. It's a house of books. Literally.... never seen anything like it.

Wonderful place, like a maze inside. I can get lost in there for hours looking at books. Well categorized and the staff is always helpful if you need to find something in this branch of other branches too.

A wide variety of new and secondhand books upstairs and downstairs and a wonderful cafe called Cakes and Ale

The vegan cake was lovely I'll start with that. The service is on the slow side and they could be more welcoming. The coffee is lovely. They did get a vegan order wrong so a coffee was wasted. Sitting inside can be a bit noisy. We sat in the end. Nice but be prepared to wait.

Every type of book you can think of and more resides in this shop it's a slightly over whelming maze. Browsing will occupy a full day so it's lucky they have a nice cafe

Food for all 5 of us was fabulous. Definitely recommend.

Largest selection of books Old & New outside of the Library.

Really cool labyrinth of books and media

Been a few times here, it is a really nice cafe it is called cakes and ale. Service is always brilliant. Coffee is good what more do you want.

It's a cafe in a fabulous bookshop! What more could you want?! Great menu selection, quirky seats, and surrounded by literature. It's like going to the library and having tea and cake whilst reading a good book!

I love this magical place and have done since the first time I set foot in it. An amazing array of many books old and new. The staff are wonderful and I really wished I could sit in for storytelling. The book clubs are well run and there are lots of interesting people who share a love of books. The cafe is cosy and quiet and the garden feels like stepping back in time. All the staff are happy and welcoming. Dogs are more than welcome too.

Attended the end of month quiz Good atmosphere cakes fab ....

Lots of good books and helpful staff

Lovely relaxed cafe with great menu and a bookshop, bliss.

This place is a book lovers paradise. Staff are very friendly and helpful

The most amazing, spectacular, treasure trove of secondhand books, graphic novels, vinyl, and sheet music you could ever wish to explore. Every room and space is packed with shelves and stacks of books from the cellar to the 3rd floor. There are plenty of chairs dotted around to sit and check out whatever you're interested in. Loyalty card available for the avid reader. Even if you don't really do books, do pop in for a look as you are likely to be surprised with what you find. The building itself and the staircase are worth a gander. The staff are truly amazing. They know where everything is, so if you've not got the time to hunt out what you're looking for, just ask. You can also find a good range of new locally published books by local authors on sale. There's disc zone parking nearby and a pay and display car park to the rear. It's also only a short walk from both train and bus stations. For new books, you pop to the bottom right of the building to Bookends, and if your searching has made you hungry or thirsty through the back of Bookends, you'll find the Cakes & Ale Café where indoor and outdoor seating is available.

I found this shop so disorientating. It felt like an absolute maze of books. Books piled high, I imagined my death and left with haste. Has that nice old book smell though. But it's not for me. Definitely a niche market.

Amazing amount of books. Glad we used the helpful map available at the entrance. We only looked at 2 of the 4 floors as we were on a schedule. You could spend weeks rummaging here.

A great cafe with excellent service and it's licensed too . I don't go to Carlisle without visiting it. Plenty of used books available which is great recycling. Can't fault it.

HUGE selection of books (hundreds of thousands), good prices, very friendly staff. Great loyalty card too.

I am a big fan of this beautiful bookshop and the café attached to it is absolutely lovely! Nice environment, lovely service, delicious snacks. Always a pleasure to be there!

Attractive cafe but not very well organised considering it was almost empty. I wasn't offered a menu. Crockery wasn't entirely clean and cake was slightly stale.

Came for a celebratory lunch after graduation. Vegan food was delicious, especially the cake and bought a book on the way out. Perfect.

Quirky little place. Portions huge.

A charming bohemian bolt hole, surrounded by fine literature, in an historical part of Carlisle. Delicious, reasonably priced food and splendiferous coffees too!

Absolutely one of the cutest places! I highly recommend coming to the cafe for drinks and treats. The atmosphere and the service are lovely. I would consider moving to Carlisle just for the cafe and bookstore alone. The outside garden is such an oasis. The perfect place on a sunny or rainy day to get snuggly with a pot of tea and a book!

Lovely space to meet friends for a light snack, lunch, chats. We both had the bacon & drink deal, which is a good price if you're saving the pennies but there are some nice affordable options on the menu too. The cakes looked divine, definitely coming back for a try next time! And the staff were friendly and helpful.. worth a visit for a quiet, cozy visit with friends or on your own with a book

Great collection of old and new books

Great atmosphere, good service, delicious food and welcoming staff. Wonderful place to have a cup of good coffee and nice chat with a friend.

A nice little nook hidden amongst a lot of used books (it's inside a used book shop). The coffee is excellent and even though the food offerings are limited to a few sandwiches and desserts, they are fresh, and tasty. Totally recommend.

Love this place, been many times, but only today realised how slow it is. Do not expect to be able to consume your order if you are parked in a disc zone! 20 minutes to get our order taken, a further 20 for it to arrive, and the coffee was 3/4 foam. Hate to say I was disappointed but it won't put me off, it's a lovely place.

I love it here. Hands down favourite cafe in Carlisle.

Great Service from the Ladies. Didnt have the Book in stock but they got it nxt day. Managed to wrap a present for Xmas, thank you very much..

Love visiting here. Really good toasted ciabattas and an amazing selection of cakes.

Relax tranquil time stands still

Good selection of books, could spend hours browsing

Honestly don't wanna review this because then more people will know about one of my favourite places to go! Like jeez where do I even start the food, drinks, cleanliness, staff etc all just perfect. Love this place!!!

Largest stock of books and records I have ever seen under one roof! A must see if you ever visit Carlisle.

Wonderful wonderful cafe. It was filled with books of many many genres and sorts. It was a maze of wonderful words to explore. You could read with a book you found and enjoy food from the cafe. The atmosphere was cozy and awesome.

Undoubtedly in the high running for the best secondhand bookshop in the UK. Its Gormenghast like in its complexity, a guide is advised and actually available if you're lucky.

Very nice location, friendly people, good food (and beer!)

Nice little cafe tucked away down a lane. Good food and nice atmosphere.

Very nice cafe and great bookshop. Really enjoyed the food but service was very slow, one person seemed to be doing everything.

A lovely bookstore that sell a wide variety of things. Loved exploring and staff were friendly.

Truly an unbelievable bookshop. You could get lost it's so big. Also has a lovely café and seats in the garden to rest up in between perusing the million shelves.

Extremely slow service, waited longer than later customers despite ordering very little

A brilliant place. I spent the best part of the day here and had lunch in the cafe.

Like Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory to be honest. Just too much choice. Fantastic collection of books that did try the patience of my partner whilst I searched / browsed !

Beautiful courtyard garden and lovely food. Great atmosphere too.

Lovely people, a clean toilet, good atmosphere and cheap but strong coffee 😋

Easily one of the best bookshops in England and certainly the best in Carlisle. You could spend a whole day here discovering wonderful unexpected rarities!

On my travels, I always have with me a Books Wish List. THis is the place where on previous visits and on this one, I have been able to satisfy some of those book wishes. The shop is stuffed full of thousands of secondhand books over several floors and rooms. However, the organisation is so good and the labelling so clear that you can easily find the authors or subjects that you require. It is like having the stocks of many different shops under one roof and clearly arranged alphabetically, so you do not neeed to trail from shop to shop. In addition the owner has a clear knowledge of what he may have in his stocks and is an engaging person to speak to. Once had my fill of browsing and having completed my purchases, I retired to the Cafe at the back to meet up with my family for excellent lunches and cakes. What is not to like?

Great home cooking with eclectic surroundings to enjoy, even a garden to sit out in!

Enjoyed this place staff was very welcoming and friendly service i will enjoy returning

Very helpful for finding new and old books

Eating at Cake and Ale, food lovely but service very slow. Sitting outside in the courtyard is lovely.

Absolutely magical. PROPER book shop to relish and explore.

If you're a book lover, this is the place for you. Floor after floor of used books in organised chaos. There are sections for genres etc so somewhat easy to find something you're looking for but would recommend quite a bit of time to really look through everything properly. The cafe at the back was lovely, great little garden outside for when the weather is nice. Service was quick considering how busy it was for only 3 staff. Books, coffee and cake - what more could you want?!

Beautiful, rambling, endless rooms and more books than I can count. I can spend an hour just exploring the place, delighted by the atmosphere, before even beginning to start browsing the amazing selection of books! Well organised, friendly staff... There's now a lovely cafe attached "Cake and Ale", which is also great.

Really interesting place. Books galore! New ones, second hand ones, antiquarian books. Spread out over 4 floors. There is music and film available too. There is a cafe attached which we need to try some time. Incredibly fascinating and will be back. Tullie House Museum is in the same street and that is worth a visit. Carlisle Castle is just over the road and the centre of Carlisle too.

Loved browsing and found many gems. The cafe is lovely

Great open mic here once a month well organised by Steve and lovely cakes and coffee /tea and beers etc plenty room not enough chairs tho!!