Blackwell's Bookshop

I’ve been to 20 plus countries. Maybe hundreds of bookshops. There is no better new bookshop in the world. If you love books and are within driving distance of Oxford, spend a ridiculous amount of time diving into their wealth of great books. Highly recommend.

Blackwell's Bookshop is far more than a retailer; it is a historic literary institution and the intellectual soul of Oxford's Broad Street. While modern commerce has transformed many bookshops, Blackwell's remains a labyrinthine temple to the printed word, a place where the sheer depth and curated intelligence of its stock honour the city's scholarly vocation. The experience is defined by the legendary Norrington Room—a vast, three-level subterranean cavern containing over three miles of shelving, an awe-inspiring sight for any reader. But the magic extends throughout its many floors, from the meticulously organised academic sections to the inviting fiction and travel rooms. My essential advice is to explore vertically. Descend into the Norrington Room's breathtaking expanse, then ascend to the art and music floors. Engage with the staff; their expertise is a priceless resource. Even if you don't purchase, take a moment in the rare books department or simply absorb the quiet, studious atmosphere. It's a working monument to the love of learning, and a vital counterpoint to the digital age. No visit to Oxford is complete without paying homage here.

It looks unremarkable from outside, but inside it is a real maze of books and the atmosphere of the academy and Oxford. Also, a great place to buy a souvenir and immerse yourself in the history of the city more.

If you're a book-lover, you definitely have to visit Blackwell's Bookshop. There's a huge selection of books and many wonderful knick knacks for you to peruse. I definitely felt like I could've spent the whole day there. Seats are also available for reading too.

Blackwell’s is an absolute slice of heaven. If I was not limited by suitcase space I would have spent hours and a lot more money here. It’s by far one of the most extraordinary bookstores I’ve ever visited (and that’s saying something). It’s clear that this place is an institution in a literary town. I would come back to Oxford just to spend more time here. The organization, curation of books, helpful and friendly staff…everything is above and beyond. Absolute perfection.

This is such an amazing feeling to walk through this bookshop! Selection is absolutely incredible and to seat her and read, well I suggest you come here and experience it for yourself!

This place is such a hidden gem! From the outside it looks small, but inside it opens up into a wonderful space. I really enjoyed browsing and even came across books I don’t usually find in other stores. A fantastic spot for book lovers to spend some time.

I’ve been told that a part of the Blackwell’s bookshop called “Norrington room” was once an indoor swimming pool. Well…they did a great job turning it to a pool of knowledge. Love it

Blackwell's is a bookstore experience! It reminded me of the bookstore I grew up in with a big kid's section upstairs, places to sit and read, and the good, booky smell that can only be captured by a place constantly shelving and sharing books. Note that there is a one stall bathroom inside the children's section that gets a lot of use and gets smelly.

Far be it from me to suggest you make a trip to Oxford just to visit one of the most wonderful bookstores ever, but if you happen to be in or near Oxford it'd be a shame to miss out. Despite a plethora of 1-star reviews of Blackwell's online ordering service, the in-store experience is sheer delight. The selection (on multiple stories of the building) is simply stunning. Not wanting to come back home with a suitcase full of books (well, wanting to but loathe to carry them), my purchase here was a single book which I read in its entirety before leaving the UK. Bookstores which began their lives in the 1800's are rare finds. Blackwell's is one and they haven't endured due to mere good luck. Someone is paying attention to the look and feel of the place as well as the vast and deep selection of great reads. Blackwell's is a great place to get lost in.

It is very unassuming from the street but once you go inside you realize quickly that you are in book heaven. I found it a little overwhelming because I didn''t know what I was getting myself into. I had to restrain myself from going into certain sections because I knew I would be tempted to buy more books. They have a great section near the register with popular/recommended books. It's definitely a different mix of books than you would see in the states. They also have a 3 books for the price of 2 promo for some books. The also have a nice cafe on one of the floors so you can take a break if you need to regroup. They also have a lot of chairs positioned around the store so you can sit down and make tough decision of figuring out which books you are going to get. Bottom line... save some room in your suitcase if you plan on visiting this store.

Abominable online service! Never order a book from this bookseller. They are entirely untrustworthy. I received a shipping confirmation from Blackwell's but was provided with a fake tracking number. My follow up emails were ignored entirely or I was told to wait a week after waiting 6 weeks!

An absolutely dreamy/deadly place for book lovers, fully equipped with a cafe - albeit a Caffe Nero - but still great. Take your time and enjoy it.

Blackwell's Book Shop in Oxford is everything the Strand Book Store in NYC aspires to be but can't quite pull off due to the claustrophobic limitations of Manhattan real estate and the necessity of building high bookshelves that require a wobbly ladder to reach your favorite title. It is also the experience Barnes and Noble and the now defunct Borders have attempted to corporatize in America for decades. Benjamin Henry Blackwell, a religiously fervent temperance leader, constructed the flagship store in 1879 in the already bookish city of Oxford, England just a few short steps from several of the surrounding colleges in town. Ironically, Blackwell's has now become it's own behemoth brand in the UK with over 45 book stores now open in England and Scotland. Yet despite the expansion of the brand, the Oxford location with its homage to local writers, secret reading nooks, and generous rare book room, maintains much of the experience of solitude us socially inept literary folk demand from a book store. It's still huge, of course, sporting four floors of over 125,000 titles, but if I deftly take the basement passage to the education and philosophy section, I can still steal a chair and read in relative peace and quiet. I suppose it depends on what kind of reading experience one wants when it comes to their favorite book store. Some may prefer the little alcove shop in town that barely stays in business and features a few hundred well-curated titles, a cat, and an oddly sexually attractive shop keeper. For me, I prefer a bookstore to look like a big-ass library like Belle's from The Beauty and the Beast - a place where I can avoid returning the lovely titles I read, buy them cheaply, and proudly display my devoured trophies on six foot shelves like dead animals I killed on safari. For that experience, there is no better book store on earth than Blackwell's in Oxford, England. Luckily, my wife has had the great fortune of securing a summer teaching job at the University of Oxford for over four years, and I can therefore return to Blackwell's each summer and lose several days of my vacation on its account. Blackwell's is often the reason Kaitlyn and I leave so much of our home behind when we return from England. We've both donated shoes, sweatshirts, and even souvenirs back to our flat in Lady Margaret Hall to make room for the dozens of books we purchase at Blackwell's each year.Blackwell's sports a plethora of book discounts and two for three sales, but make no mistake, if you're at all a book lover, you'll spend a hotel room's fortune on the place and won't regret a thing. It's rare to enjoy a place as outwardly popular and touristy as the biggest bookstore in town, but Oxford the city helps maintain the hushed respect and intellectualism needed to keep the history alive. In the main entrance you might find some loud children reaching for a Harry Potter title, but sixteen feet into the place, and tourists mostly place their hands in their pockets and drop into whatever last sparked their love a great book. Last I visited, I heard two teenage jocks from Hampshire talking about their secret love of John Steinbeck, and I nearly cried. The place just does that to people, from all walks of life and cultures, and I hope it will continue for a few more centuries to come.

Very dishonest company which provides the impression they can ship overseas and that the delivery fee is included in the price. The reality is they ship through DHL who then want to charge an outrageous amount for "customs" fees. BLACKWELLS obviously knows this and doesn't provide this except in the fine print (they can easily charge tax like other companies but doesn't). If you are outside the UK avoid this scam of a company at all costs!!!

Unless you're familiar with Blackwell's, this is a true gem and unexpected find. From the outside, the bookshop looks fairly small, with a tiny door leading inside. Once you enter you realize that it's certainly bigger and stretches far into the back, where a very large children's section is located. The staff is always friendly and attentive and is quick to answer questions. The top floor houses a caffee, though we did not have a chance to see it, due to the even bigger surprise, when we entered the lower level: There you will find a very large library that seems in complete oppositions to the quaint ground floor interior. Before we knew, we had spent close to 2 hours in the book-shop and could easily have spent many more hours here. I highly recommend visiting, and would dare anyone trying to exit without finding at least a few books you absolutely cannot leave without. As an added bonus, there's a direct connection to a music and instrument shop next door, from the lower floor.

AVOID THEM UNLESS YOU WANT ATROCIOUS SERVICE AND NOT RECEIVE YOUR ORDER! They accepted my online order and acknowledge it. As I heard nothing else I emailed them only to be told they had run out of stock - how can they double sell. How come they can't be pro-active in their customer service. Atrocious service!

My order never arrived. Customer services replied once, falling to understand the problem if they had read the message I sent previously they would have understood. I tried to support an independent bookshop, and this is the thanks I get. I guess I will go back to Amazon at least they have got customer services how actually be can be bothered to their jobs.

I wish I had seen these reviews before I ordered for them. They are scam artists. They sent me the wrong book and they're refusing to exchange it for the correct one, or issue a refund. Their customer service is appalling.

No better than a scam. The online service from Blackwell's is absolutely appalling. Their customer service isn't just terrible, but completely absent. I have emailed three seperate times from two different emails with zero replies, except for an automated response redirecting me to their FAQ section. My order was placed over a month ago and upon reading other reviews I doubt it will ever arrive. Probably the worst experience I've ever had ordering online and I've bought items from Wish for god's sake. Hoping by posting a review here that I might actually get to speak to someone.

If you come to Oxford, this is one of the spots to check out. It seems small when you walk in but once you take the stairs one level down, their space just seems to triple in size. Massive collection of books. I have a love/hate relationship with bookstores because it inspires me to read more, however, it would seriously damage my checking account if I wanted to buy more books. And especially at Blackwell's I would be converting the currency from pounds to dollars, thinking of how much I am really spending. Oh lord, my bank account would have a coronary embolism....

Blackwells is probably the most impressive bookshop I've ever been to in my entire life. Not architecturally impressive, but for the sheer range of books available. They. have. EVERYTHING. The gargantuan Norrington Room at the back of library is probably the most recognizable spot in the library (or most frequently photographed), with massive floor-to-ceiling shelves around the entire room. One could easily spend all day long here (dodging around the tourists). They've also got a sizable Cafe Nero on one of the upper floors if you need a cuppa and a sit down. I'm looking forward to going back to Blackwells when I have 2 things: More time to browse, & more money.

Seriously don't know how these guys are still operating. They don't actually send the book for overseas deliveries and if you write to them to request an update or refund, they just close the case. Do yourself a favour and don't take the risk.

What a brilliant book shop! I blindly, I now know, didn't realise what this particular Blackwell's was. From the outside it just looks like any other! But this is where it all started and it's huge!! (well now it is!) I just like books and kinda just wandered in to take a nosey, which in hindsight is probably a good way to approach it. Is it the Norrington Room that's super huge? It's amazing. I also really loved the second hand bookshop on the top floor - I love the smell of old books and just perusing the shelves was lovely. Obviously Blackwell's is expensive but the book lover and tourist in me loved this place!

Oh man, bookstores. Just... give me a moment. Ok thanks. I've been to Blackwell's a few times over the years but somehow never realised how incredibly HUGE it is! On a recent visit to the UK, mum and I took Boyfriend here to experience the magic. We immediately lost each other, happily perusing the shelves. After an hour or five (I honestly have no idea how long, bookshops have a weird effect on me) mum and I were done and decided to pop upstairs to the handily placed coffee shop. I went to see if I could hunt down Boyfriend and found him happily ensconced downstairs (there's a downstairs?!) which is, by the way, freaking GIANT! He needed some more time so I went to join mum upstairs and we enjoyed some tea while we waited for him. A really great selection of books that I'm stoked I had the chance to absorb. I'm not sure if they do it all year or if it was a Christmas thing, but they had a selection of brown paper wrapped books that were a mystery buy! I LOVE this idea, and really hope they do it all year. Go - you won't regret it!

You can get lost for hours in this not so little bookstore. Three miles of shelving on the lower level and basically every book you could possibly want in print (they will order it for you if they don't have it). Textbooks, fiction, paperbacks, etc, they have everything and you can browse for hours without ever getting bored. The only qualm I have is that I disliked their used books section on the top floor, but who really cares. I can't say bad things about Blackwells. I'm always enamored by bookstores, but one that can hold my attention (in one section even) for hours at a time is rather amazing.

This is by far my favorite spot when I stayed at Wadham this past summer. My friends and I all got the most out of Blackwell's. We'd meet after class for a quick breakfast and a coffee- perfect for us because we weren't able to use our phones. Nero coffee has a little cafe on the 2nd floor of Blackwell's. The coffee and treats were always delectable. They make great espressos and Americanos and thankfully the baristas easily dealt with the Americans (like us) that didn't know how to order a coffee in the UK. The selection and variety in the selection of books was overwhelming. So many great books- organized perfectly and easy to find. I just wanted to buy all of them and ship them back to the states! The best part was that no one minded if you snagged a book and read through it with a cup of coffee before you purchased it. Blackwell's bookstore had a local feel and that's just what my friends and I needed to feel right at home while we were so far away. We'd see the same locals chatting over a cup of coffee in the morning. I personally witness families and tourists alike having a splendid time at Blackwells! Definitely go here if you're swinging through Oxford or if you're staying for an extended period of time- you won't regret it!

This is one amazing bookshop and in terms of size, it's a proper colossasaurus too: you could spend days in here and whenever I'm in Oxford I make a point of visiting. The range of books is comprehensive and extremely varied and you end up browsing from one department to the other and discovering the unexpected. Occasionally the huge Norrington Room is used for events such as lectures, performances and productions. I had the privilege of watching Doctor Faustus from the balcony nestled in the psychology section in a theatre made completely out of books. It was one of the strangest and most fitting stages I've ever been to: the play's theme of knowledge and its misuse tied in so well with the setting, in a veritable temple of knowledge and learning. The performance itself was very clever, with a limited cast in a limited space, everything was very inventively put together, with the makeshift stage revealing trapdoors and hidden entrances. The location added a whole new dimension to the play. I really hope one day to watch another such production here!

I had a very limited amount of time in Oxford - it was a sin, really - and there were many things I did not get to see. However, I DID get to spend time at Blackwell's, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to experience this lovely bookstore and music shop. There's pretty much anything here that you could ever want in terms of books or music. I didn't get to explore the offerings as much as I would have liked, and the girl at the counter looked at me like I was on drugs when I purchased a CD of music sung by one of the Oxford choirs - sorry, no Ramones purchases that day - but it was nevertheless a pleasant shopping experience. They appeared to have a very wide selection, including sheet music, and their window displays were tasteful and eye-catching. You feel very cozy and cultured as you shop here, nestled amongst the books and music offerings, with the bustling streets and the towers of the esteemed Oxford University just outside the door. This bookstore is a treasure. I would definitely, definitely visit again.

There are few bookstores that truly stand out. Blackwell's is one of them. The collections are well curated in this treasure trove. Plan to go when you have adequate time; kick back, drink a coffee and enjoy. I love that there are reference desks in many of the store's departments. Staff is friendly and well-informed. Yes, the used section is weak, but who cares? Order your used books online from Powell's.

So I had to cancel my order of this book my mom already bought me. They may have been a bit slow with responding to me, but they were so courteous and super sweet about getting my order canceled. Give them time! There is always time to get things changed. Anyway, I just wanted to give them kudo because they are really amazing with customer service

This has a reasonable range of classical CDs, although as usual with these shops there is a bewildering array of 'the ultimate selection' or 'the greatest' for the most popular composers. Generally you can't go too far wrong, so go for the cheapest, but make sure there's not a catch, such as an orchestral piece being played on windpipes (it's been known to happen, trust me!). Their sheet music collection is the best I've found in Oxford so far, although it's not particularly comprehensive. It's divided by instrument and by genre, including some rather unusual ones of both. It's not overly expensive for sheet music and there are some things by modern bands. It's also got choral music in very traditional styles. Excellent customer service. Very friendly and polite staff. If they haven't got what you're after, or you're not sure what you're looking for, it's well worth asking as they may be able to point out something that's hidden at the back of a shelf or order something in for you.

Another favourite bookshop of minethere is nothing quite like Blackwells. It has a brilliant old world atmosphere, and is definately somewhere you can get lost for days browsing through the endless supply of books on every concievable subject! Its strangely huge, as it looks small from the outside, but seems to go on and on forever.A must for me when in Oxford, or even a whole day out..!

A fine, fine book shop. When Blackwell's was first opened (by Mr. Blackwell of course), the shop was only 12/13 square ft. Remarkable! It's now a national phenomenon, still owned in part by the Blackwell family. The Oxford store is particularly nice. It looks deceptively small from the outside but once you venture in you will be surprised how many rooms and levels there are. This is Oxford's largest bookshop. The blackwells.co.uk website is also exceptional and I buy the majority of my university textbooks on the site (that is if i can't find them second hand first!). For the tourists in Oxford, the famous walking tours actually set off from outside Blackwell's. Well worth doing. You are surrounded by history on Broad street in Oxford and there is not better place to start your journey than in Blackwell's book shop.

Ever since childhood I have relished books. I was the first person to be able to read in my school and to this day try to read about one book every fortnight. One of my favorite authors is James Patterson and I will read anything that comes from his pen (although he could write with a pencil if he wanted to hah). If I could think of one word for James Patterson it would be "prolific". He writes a new book all the time. His new one is called Witch and Wizard: The Gift. In this book, sibling teenagers Whit and Wisty Allgood use their newly discovered magical powers to infiltrate the enemy territory of the New Order to gain control of the inter-dimensional Shadowland. I haven't started it yet. That's just what it says on the back cover. Oxford is famous for it's literary diversity. From Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers to Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe to Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Oxford has it all. But even though Oxford has so many books, I thought they might all be kept in a library somewhere and even then, not everyone loves James Patterson as much as I do. hahah Jennifer just saw me write that and said probably NO ONE loves James Patterson as much as I do! I was talking to a friend of mine about the new James Patterson book and how I might have to order a copy online. He told me about Blackwell's, a book store on Broad Street. He said it was ENORMOUS, and that they have a copy of everything, even American authors, and knowing how much I love to go TO places, browse, walk around and soak up the culture I decided that I wouldn't buy it online or the kindl version. I decided I would attempt to locate it in Blackwell's. That's what I'm doing tomorrow. Sorry to any Patterson enthusiasts if I snag the last one!

The most amazing bookshop I have ever been to. The Norrington Room is vast, and so unexpected from looking at the shopfront. This is one of my favorite places to bring people in Oxford. The choice of books is also fantastic, I have never not found the book I need, and the staff are super helpful. My only grumble is that I always get side-tracked by the amazing selection, and end up spending twice as long as I wanted to in the shop, and I buy three times as much as I had planned, but that's more my fault than theirs!

Such a treasure trove! I spent many hours and many pounds at this shop during my study abroad term at Oxford, and visited again recently. Happily, little had changed. Staggering selection...the rooms keep going and going, and the books do the same. Honestly, if you can't find a book about a given subject here, it's probably a field of interest that only exists in your mind. Perhaps you should write a book about it. Blackwell will probably sell it.

Without a doubt this is my favourite bookstore in the world. It not only houses a wonderfully rich and diverse collection of books for sale, but also sits across from and next to my favourite library in the world, the Bodleian. The selection of books available is phenomenal, the staff are extremely helpful and friendly, and the atmosphere is quite enjoyable. Cozy and buzzing with knowledge, this is a bookstore you absolutely need to visit if you are ever in Oxford. I've spent many an hour at the caffe Nero reading and just taking in the atmosphere.

It's a great book store to go and wander around in. If you're looking for recent fiction and pop culture/psychology books the selection can't be beat, and there are a lot of discounted books as well, even some brand new ones. I didn't find what I was looking for, but I found plenty of other interesting books I'd never seen before. Definitely worth a visit!

Visited three times ...and it's already my favorite bookshop. The atmosphere and selection of books are wonderful.

Best bookstore in Oxford, hands down! I love the poetry room--the whole place is a thinking person's view of heaven.

It's very, very hard for me to admit that any single bookstore in the world can be as good, much less better, than the Seminary Coop/57th Street Books, but Blackwells is it. As far as fiction and academic books go, it's a tie between the two -- comprehensive selections of books you've heard of, never heard of, and never knew that you just Must Have until you see them. Blackwells has the upper hand due to its impressive foreign language section. I've seen entire bookstores that offer less in the way of non-English publications than Blackwells provides on just one floor of its massive shop. The used books section isn't particularly impressive, and the prices on that floor seem quite high, but nothing is perfect. Going to Oxford without visiting Blackwells is almost a crime.

Lots of reviews here already, so I'll just add a few notes I don't think have been mentioned yet: - There are several Blackwell's stores, sort of diagonally across from each other on Broad Street: the main store covering all kinds of subjects and formats, plus a music (book) store that also seems to sell some instruments, and the Art & Poster shop; and possibly more specialty locations. - The main shop has a large selection of cycling route maps, not just for Oxford like the several bike shops (and the tourist information office) I tried first. - Staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. They cultivate staff that have familiarity with specific subject areas and can help you find what you're looking for. I think this in particular makes shopping here superior to buying online.

A necessary item on the bucket list of any booklover. They have lots of discounts and deals on series such as the Penguin Modern Classics series and the Oxford Classics series. One of the best stores in Oxford, in my opinion.

A great (but not comprehensive) source for music scores and recordings... everything from obscure lieder albums to Britney Spears sheet music. Polite service and quite the discounted selection (you will find some treasures!). Beats what we have in New York right now...

Oxford is a town that values its traditional institutions, and loves books and Blackwell's does a fantastic job serving as Oxford's biggest local bookshop. It is, however, a modern bookstore, as it has a coffee shop, carries a large inventory, and has helpful, friendly staff.

Blackwell's is a must if you are shopping in Oxford; it's been around for over a century, and is now the largest bookshop in the city. Fantastic inventory (they cater for the universities) and very interesting layout of the building. Check out the underground rooms, especially the Norrington Room which is underneath Trinity College and is the world's largest display of books for sale in a single room...

A great bookshop in the heart of old Oxford. I could spend hours in here thumbing through all sorts. As the previous reviewer said, once you've had enough reading, head over the white cross for a pint or 2 in Morsey's favourite pub.

No visit to Oxford is complete without a visit to Blackwell's. You can find new books, second hand, text books, gifts, posters, music, etc. Broad Street has multiple locations - the main store, the Norrington Room, which is underground, Blackwell's Music and Blackwell's Art.

Expensive bookshop, but necessary. It has an amazing law section, I just wish I didnt have to spend all my money in this place. But if you're in oxford looking for a book, this is the place to go.

If you are a student or just a book lover then this is the place to go. It has most books and can order in what you want, plus the new reward card means you can save money too!

A very interesting bookshop that is actually massive when you get inside. Staff are very helpful with any queries. Beware of getting lost! Make sure you go to the basement floor, this is apparently the largest underground bookstore in the world!

This is a proper book shop. As a student this should be your first port of call for any course related texts. Venture downstairs and there is a whole world of books down there. Enough to satisy the geeky bookworm in anyone.

Great bookshop - if you can't find what you are looking here then chances are you won't find it anywhere. Situated in one of oxfords oldest streets it is a treat just to walk through, it is like being in a book museum, there are books galore.

Easily one of the best bookstores I've ever been to, Blackwell's has just about everything a nerd could ask for! Their book selection is massive and covers not only main stream titles from big publishers, but more importantly less popular academic works. The only other book store that I've been to that compares is Stanford University's, which is somewhat of a lengthy commute if your in the UK. If you don't want to order your books online, you can't pick a better store than Blackwell's.

Huge bookstore, academic focus, impressive reading room, adjacent to the White Horse, a favourite pub of Inspector Morse

You could spend a week in here! It's fantastic and definately the shop to go to if you're a student