Book Stores in Birmingham, West Midlands

“Omg, this bookstore was like heaven! Living in the Czech Republic, I don’t often get such a huge variety of English books, so for me it was incredible. I could easily have spent the whole day there just browsing. I even bought a game in English and a few books, and loved reading a few pages of everything that caught my eye. The selection is fantastic, with so many different genres and titles. If I’d had more time, I would have happily sat in their café and enjoyed the entire day surrounded by books. I’m super happy I found this place!”

“The first thing you notice about this branch when you walk in is how clean and bright it all looks inside. Sometimes the basement levels of these places can be a bit dingy, but not so here. It was a genuinely inviting and pleasant environment to browse around. The layout was clear and well organized, found everything I was looking for (last issue of Transformers 23 on the shelf, where did they all go?)
Everything you would normally expect from a branch of Forbidden Planet and I would definitely pay a return visit if I was ever in the area again.”

“Just wanted to say thank you to the lady who kindly wrote on my partners birthday balloon after I struggled to get it personalised. I brought some markers from the Works and she kindly wrote on the balloon which made mine and my daughters day complete. Thank you so much ?”

“Great range of hobbies and crafts kits, as well as paints and brushes with canvases. They have toys books, kids school stationery just to name a few things. The store is decked out with all kinds of novelties. Great place to get the kits for school maybe even small toy gifts as well for children.”

“The store was well stocked, I found everything I needed quickly. At the till I was served by Daniel who was very friendly and polite, engaged in a convosation too. Great customer service.”

“On behalf of Saint john Wall Catholic School, thank you to the Staff at Perry Bar One Stop for such fantastic contributions to our Prize box to reward reading in our School. Jon and the rest of the staff were extremely helpful and compassionate to our cause.Many thanks!”

“I needed helium balloons for my wife’s birthday. Thank goodness The Works was open last Sunday, (unlike Card Factory that stated online it was open but wasn’t) the staff were very friendly and professional. Thank you for your help ‘The Works’”

“I worked at Oxfam for 3 months [July - Sep '19] as a cashier and voluntary assistant as part of the volunteering section of my Gold DofE and it helped me develop my cashier skills.NB//The list of benefits I experienced working there include the following:1. I was able to pray upstairs in the attic, with the permission of the store manager Jo (who was very kind to me throughout my experience at the store).2. I was able to get a refund for my bud ticket of £3 for my bus fair (which I used to buy snacks and food from a nearby Greggs).3. There was free biscuits and tea from the assistant manager.In addition, Jo taught me how to properly use the cashier machine and customer service skills e.g. introducing myself to others, working at the till, scanning other people's products and items.I very much enjoyed my experience working at Oxfam and would like to personally thank Jo, the store manager for being very patient and helpful.I would gladly work there again in the future ? ? ?”

“Brought a Harry potter book and 3d model book a couple of weeks ago from Sellyoak branch. Went to make the model the weekend and there wasn't anything to make. Only the instructions were in the book.Took it back this morning and the lovely lady behind the desk exchanged it to one that had got the model in. Never got the ladies name but thanks my collection will be completed now. Thank you lady.”

“Lots of great quality items in this charity shop! It's on the smaller side but well laid out so it's easy to find everything, including clothes, books, DVDs/CDs, toys and games, and bric-a-brac. Always pop in for a quick browse whenever I'm in Northfield.”

“One of the best charity shops I have ever come across. Items are priced reasonable and mostly brilliant designer bargains to get hold of. Trainers and hats good too, unworn condition a few. Selection of items are one of the best I have seen. Little wear and tear. Staff are polite helpful and professional. Could not fault at all - 10 out of 10.”

“Haven't been in for ages but fondly remembered shopping in the bigger version. Pleasantly surprised, good book selection ( 3 for £20), games and lots of offers too.”

“Come in and meet the team … amazing new lines and sales offers for all your crafting needs and help the kids find the perfect treat from our kids section when they have pocket money to spend”

“I go there to buy books at a cheap price. Why don't I go the library? My reading speed isn't what it used to be, so I buy a book from Oxfam, you bet your arse it will still be unread a month from now. Also, it helps a charity; you really can't go wrong there.”

“While some of their rare collectible books are overpriced, Oxfam Books & Music in Harborne is the best charity shop I have used for secondhand books. I have found some fabulous well-priced books in there.The staff are lovely. Always polite, friendly and helpful.”

“Run by a wonderful manager who is always incredibly helpful. Amazing rotation of staff who are always kind and welcoming to customers, new and old. Amazing stock, usually a gem to be found, regardless of your preference.”

“I always find whsmith useful for children's older, chidren gifts for birthdays. Interesting games puzzles and always good qualityFor pens felts crayons all safe worth paying that little extra, Christmas always something different...”

“Yet another successful visit to this. Wonderful shop. Beautifully set out downstairs and a delightful cafe upstairs along with books and jigsaws. Met with a group of friends for coffee , we received excellent service from the staff here and the cafe was a hive activity and chatter by mid morning. Coffeee and cakes excellent and bagged a bargain on the way out. Booked our next excursion for next week.”

“Great place to shop for everything you need with stationary or anything else on that matter. Good Post Office directly at the rear of the shop but inside. Hardly ever a que. Staff are polite too. Excellent place to shop”

“When you arrive at the Q.E. Hospital in Birmingham (Main Entrance) and enter the building the reception desk is in front of you. On the right hand side is a coffee ☕ shop and the big convenience store has been replaced and is now a M&S store.”

“Really easy to use website, image and pictures show clearly the item being sold. The click and collect feature is a bonus as well as I live in Birmingham and could collect from the store easily.”

“I came here on Monday 15/01/2024 as I wanted to buy a pen. I was a little underwhelmed with the range of pens that were on offer. I ended up buying three pens, even though I had only required one pen. This cost me over £3.The pen works fine and is of sound quality.The service instore was adequate. I asked the lady whether the pens that I was looking at were the only pens that the shop sold and she answered me in the affirmative.I thought that £3 something was a little bit much to spend when I only wanted one pen but I managed to get what I came in for and it works absolutely fine so I don’t have too much to complain about.The shop is in a really handy location, on the concourse of Birmingham New Street, so that is another plus point.As well as pens, I noticed that the store also sold magazines and small items of confectionery.”

“Came in Sunday late afternoon and was served by a lovely girl. I wish I'd got her name but she was working Sunday just gone and had blonde hair. Very friendly and great service! Thanks for the pen!”

“I visited WHSmith at resorts world yesterday with a friend who happens to be blind. He needed an Apple cable.We were served by Gareth and what an amazing guy he is. Very professional and informative. But also very warm and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble.What a great ambassador. Gareth is for WHSmith!”

“WHSmith is a place where I'd recommend you to buy everything from pencil cases, stationery, thousands of exotic books and more. Some have upstairs and they lable clearly where the children books are and where the adults books are.”

“A family member we were visiting booked for us and was weary about staying on services but it was comfy, clean and surprisingly quite. Free and ample parking. Staff were friendly and so helpful with lots of info for us and making sure all was OK and we were happy. A special mention to Kerry, Steve and Julie who made us feel very welcome from check in to check out. Would definitely recommend and stay again. Thankyou”

“when I have time , I like to visit a place like this. I don't look for something special but I buy little things just to feel that I help the foundation......”

“Didn't appreciate a long lecture on women having tattoo's by one volunteer, and another volunteer shouting about how she finds all the best stuff for herself when sorting donations. Only blights on a nice shop.”

“Many people have bemoaned the fact that Kings Heath High Street has seen an influx of charity shops over the past few years, claiming it has lowered the tone of a once bustling shopping area. I would say that those people have not taken the time to peruse the wares at wonderful establishments such as the British Heart Foundation. Firstly, buying from a charity shop is a good deed, it helps to fund work which will aid the ill and assist in research to prevent further illness. Secondly the British Heart Foundation has some real gems to be found in store. I have often found classic books and DVD's in store which I had long given up hope of locating. Add to this the fact that the volunteers are amongst the friendliest staff you are ever likely to meet and you have a shopping experience which no chain store can even hope to rival.”