If you enjoy browsing second-hand books, the Old Aberdeen Bookshop is worth a visit. It sits on Spital, the old road that climbs from the city centre up to the university, at 140 Spital Walk, Old Aberdeen, AB24 3JU. The shop opened in 1997 and is the only non-charity second-hand bookshop in Aberdeen, so it has been buying and selling books there for more than 20 years.
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The stock is wide. The shop focuses on academic literature, classics, modern fiction, and Scottish and local books, and it also has antiquarian, natural history, theology and military titles. The collection covers over 7,000 books in both hardback and paperback. Prices are a fraction of what you would pay on the high street. The shop also offers valuations without obligation, so you can ask what your old books are worth before deciding to sell. A few handmade trinkets are displayed alongside the books.
Inside, the atmosphere is calm and quiet. The aisles are narrow, and the shelves are packed up to the ceiling with books on almost every subject. This suits people who like to wander and see what turns up, but it may feel tight if you are looking for a specific title and want to move around freely. On Google, the shop has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 from 62 reviews.
Getting there is straightforward if you are already in the university area. The shop is close to King's College, near the junction of Orchard Street and Sunnyhill Road. Other landmarks nearby include The Snow Kirk, The Powis Gates, St Machar's Cathedral and Cruickshank Botanic Garden. Grub Old Aberdeen, a coffee and panini shop, is next door at 148 Spital, which makes it easy to combine a browse with something to eat.
The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 11:30 to 17:00, and Saturday from 12:00 to 16:30. The shop is closed on Sundays. If you cannot visit in person, you can buy books online through ABE Books, or contact the shop to order by mail. UK customers can pay by bank transfer or cheque. For questions, you can email oldaberdeenbookshop@gmail.com or call 01224 658355, or 07437 932412 for the mobile line.
Published Date
29 October 2026
