Astley Book Farm - Bookshop Review
Here’s everything you need to know about the largest second hand bookshop in the midlands.
I recently found myself on a trip to Birmingham and discovered Astley Book Farm on our route. Located in the county of Warwickshire, Astley has just 200 residents, meaning that it’s a village with more books than people!
The bookshop opened in 2004 and is based out of a collection of farm buildings. I love it when bookshops repurpose old buildings, and Astley has really made itself at home and brought the buildings back to life.
The shop has a very cosy, homey feel, with sprawling rooms that are lined with books. It really makes the most of the space, and it’s hard to portray how enormous this shop is. There’s lots of little quirks - from the children’s section in the Hayloft to the fantasy and science fiction room with a flying superman. There’s also a discounted books section in the Ten Bob Barn, and a cosy snug complete with sofas and a wood burner.
We visited on a weekday morning just after they opened and the shop was full of people, which was really great to see. We spent about 45 minutes pottering about before relaxing in the cafe for a cup of tea and a slice of cake. I loved that they added cream and raspberries - it was delicious. While there’s plenty of space to sit inside, the cafe also has a garden with a large yurt, which I thought was a really cool feature.
I picked up a few books while I was there: one copy of a popular psychology book called Doctoring the Mind by Richard P Bentall and a copy of A Directory of Dealers in Secondhand and Antiquarian Books in the British Isles 1960 - 62 (for the aesthetic).
I honestly can’t believe that this bookshop isn’t more well known. It’s definitely a destination for book lovers and somewhere that you need to visit while in the midlands.
Where to find Astley Book Farm
Located in the village of Astley, you’ll find Astley Book Farm in Warwickshire just north of Coventry. It’s a bit isolated, so the best way to get there is by car. If that isn’t an option though, you could also travel by train to Bedworth station and then take a taxi from there.
The full address for the book farm is: Astley Ln, Nuneaton, Bedworth CV12 0NE
If you can’t visit the shop but would love to support them, you can browse their online catalogue here.
Have you visited Astley Book Farm before? Leave a comment and let me know!
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