Buying books locally: a guide to the bookshops at the doorstep of the University of Warwick

As a student it can be very daunting being in a new place whilst trying to navigate your surroundings and the services that your new local community provides. This can be particularly difficult for book lovers who have to balance finding a new bookshop that meets all their needs whilst remaining in the student budget.

Luckily for University of Warwick students, there are a plethora of bookshops that are practically on the university’s doorstep, being either a small walk (if you live off-campus) or at most a short bus ride away.

Of course, there are Waterstones in both Coventry city centre and Leamington Spa, however as this chain is nationwide, it is important to recognise all the great bookshops that are unique to our local area, places which are independent businesses and also affordable.

A location that is particularly underrated for its bookshops is Kenilworth. Situated on the number 11 bus route between campus to Leamington Spa, Kenilworth has some of the most notable bookshops.

The first bookshop that deserves an honourable mention is Kenilworth Books. This independent bookshop is tucked away from the main high-street and vibrantly stands in Talisman Square.

Kenilworth Books offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere providing the ease and accessibility vitally needed to immerse into the local community

Kenilworth Books offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere providing the ease and accessibility vitally needed to immerse into the local community. The staff are incredibly approachable (and are available to order any books that you may require to the store), along with this they have a monthly Instagram Book Club. They offer a 15% discount on the chosen book, as well as the opportunity to discuss the book with members of their community online. Not only does Kenilworth Books exude character and charm, but it takes pride in both honouring and connecting with the local community. They host and promote a number of events (many of which have taken place in Warwick Arts Centre), to highlight local authors and to inspire the local community to read and shop independently. If you are planning a bookshop crawl during your time at Warwick, Kenilworth Books should always be on the list.

Another standout bookshop is also in Kenilworth. Tree House Books is an independent, second-hand bookshop whose profits go to charity. A distinctive quality about this bookshop is its comprehensive range of books and its affordable prices.

Due to its inundation of different books, the bookshop maintains a tranquil atmosphere, as visitors could easily spend hours here scoping out all of their great books

Due to its inundation of different books, the bookshop maintains a tranquil atmosphere, as visitors could easily spend hours here scoping out all of their great books. This bookshop immediately becomes a student-friendly place as it offers a combination of both mainstream and academic books. This is essential to buy some of the books you may need for your course without breaking the bank, as well as that one book your friend will not stop talking about! Tree House Books also provide opportunities to interact with the local community beyond providing a book service, as they host live music events along with ‘Tree House Sessions’, every second Saturday of the month, which is an open mic and spoken word evening used to showcase local talent. As a bookshop with the motto ‘Read. Recycle. Rediscover.’, it is evident Tree House Books provide an environmentally friendly and affordable quality to modern reading.

Going along the route of doing our bit for charity whilst book shopping, Oxfam Bookshops in both Leamington Spa and Coventry city centre provide accessible and affordable qualities to reading. Although the collection of books here can be extensive (having a selection between mainstream and academic books), it can often be hit or miss in regard to being lucky enough to locate specific books. These bookshops are ideal if you have time to browse their collection and if you consider yourself to be particularly open-minded and adventurous when it comes to selecting your next read. As Oxfam Bookshops rely on book donations and donations to their charity, this is a perfect justification to donate your old and used books for another reader to enjoy along with finding a previously loved book to add to your ‘to-read’ pile.

What is ideal about these bookshop recommendations is that it promotes sustainable buying and reading habits to students, who will hopefully become empowered to be more conscious towards where the money they spend is going. Interactions with local bookshops provides a unique experience for students, who not only witness a service of accessible and affordable books but can also access pillars of the local community and connect with its members. These local bookshops certainly have the potential to create a home away from home for any University of Warwick student or booklover.