{"id":1324,"date":"2024-06-05T03:15:49","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T03:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.17thavenuedesigns.net\/mia\/?p=1324"},"modified":"2025-11-22T21:44:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T21:44:20","slug":"honeymoon-french-polynesia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/?p=1324","title":{"rendered":"A Winter Afternoon at Barter Books, Alnwick"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s something quietly magical about November in Northumberland: the chill in the air, the soft light settling over ancient stone walls, the quiet expanse of golden sands on the coast and the stillness that only early winter can bring. On a recent trip a couple of girl friends and I took a \u2018girlie\u2019 trip to Alnwick. We stayed in a wonderful&nbsp; 3 bed cottage Airbnb in the town, a stone\u2019s throw from the Gardens and Castle, for our 3 night stay. We carved out an afternoon to wander into one of the most enchanting bookshops I\u2019ve&nbsp; visited \u2014 <strong>Barter Books<\/strong>, within the old Victorian railway station.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id1324_9e6c2e-03 .kb-table-of-content-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id1324_9e6c2e-03 .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id1324_9e6c2e-03 .kb-table-of-contents-title{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id1324_9e6c2e-03 .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;margin-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Getting There<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">The shop\u2019s entrance is right at the crossing of South Road (B6346) and Wagonway Road, making it easy to spot.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitalnwick.org.uk\/tourism_info\/barter-books\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"> <\/a>It is an easy walk from the main town centre and there is parking at&nbsp; the door. On arrival, you immediately sense that you\u2019re not stepping into just any bookshop, but into a place steeped in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"6378\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1000033125-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6378\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"6379\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1000032090-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6379\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"6380\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1000032089-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1000032089-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1000032089-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1000032089-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1000032089-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1000032089-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1000032089-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"6381\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/467863553_18366938731119082_1545281633667351580_n-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6381\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"6382\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/489593068_18387314299119082_3745839566940838793_n-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/489593068_18387314299119082_3745839566940838793_n-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/489593068_18387314299119082_3745839566940838793_n-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/489593068_18387314299119082_3745839566940838793_n-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/489593068_18387314299119082_3745839566940838793_n-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/489593068_18387314299119082_3745839566940838793_n.jpg 1125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Sources: Barter Books and Second Era Gadabout<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Station Reborn: History &amp; Atmosphere<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Set in an old Victorian railway station, Barter Books Alnwick is one of the largest second-hand bookshop in England with over 350,000 books on its shelves. It has been nicknamed the \u2018The British Library of secondhand bookshops\u2019 and is one of the only bookshops in the UK that still run on a barter system where you can swap your books for credit &#8211; (hence the name). Of course if you don\u2019t bring any books with you, you can just purchase any books in the usual way. But, beyond the volumes, this is no ordinary bookstore. You also have a miniature railway, roaring fireplaces, ginormous art murals and a cosy station caf\u00e9 to keep you entertained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The building itself oozes character complete with quirky nooks and crannies. The original railway station that was built by William Bell in 1887 which is a massive 32,000-square-foot building, was the terminus stop of the East Coast Main Line that branched out from Alnmouth. It\u2019s main purpose back then was for the Dukes of Northumberland to receive royalty and guests at their home (the Castle, just a stone\u2019s throw away). The exterior still has the iron canopy and wide entrance doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s well worth visiting. It has become a pilgrimage destination for any book lover and certainly I wouldn\u2019t miss it whilst you\u2019re travelling on the Northumberland Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The station closed for passengers in the late 1960s as part of the Beeching cuts, but parts of the building were opened up for repurposing and taken over by local businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the 1990s, Mary Manley decided to open a second-hand bookshop at the station based on a barter system which is essentially a book swap.Her husband Stuart, who had an interest in the railways, went into partnership with Mary and the business has grown from strength to strength ever since. The platform was filled in and has been replaced by a maze of long bookshelves and book cases.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_134425709-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_134425709-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_134425709-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_134425709-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_134425709-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_134425709-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_134425709-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Source: Second Era Gadabout<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Walking inside, you\u2019re greeted by soaring arches, original station walls, many&nbsp; original features&nbsp; and the hum of activity \u2014 but not of trains. Instead, there are lots of people quietly browsing shelves packed with tens of thousands of books&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Charm of the Store<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decor blends the warmth of a bookish retreat with the nostalgia of railway architecture. There are three vast murals on the walls \u2014 the most famous being the Writers\u2019 Gallery, which features 33 life-size portraits of authors, poets and playwrights&nbsp; like Shakespeare, Dickens, Wilfred Owen, Jane Austen,Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell, Virginia Woolf, Ted Hughes, F Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Robert Louis Stevenson and the Bront\u00ebs.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.juliasbookcase.com\/blog\/barterbooks?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"> <\/a>Before your visit you can check out Barter Books website for a full description of the mural and how it came to be, so you will be able to identify your favourites when looking up at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"6384\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143307536-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143307536-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143307536-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143307536-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143307536-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143307536-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143307536-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"6385\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143310638-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143310638-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143310638-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143310638-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143310638-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143310638-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143310638-1-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"338\" height=\"450\" data-id=\"6386\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/587813754_1386142146408092_3704715303014747880_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/587813754_1386142146408092_3704715303014747880_n.jpg 338w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/587813754_1386142146408092_3704715303014747880_n-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"6387\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143254864-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143254864-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143254864-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143254864-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143254864-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143254864-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_20241205_143254864-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"6388\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/567074766_18413964271119082_9170764770505379761_n-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/567074766_18413964271119082_9170764770505379761_n-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/567074766_18413964271119082_9170764770505379761_n-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/567074766_18413964271119082_9170764770505379761_n-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/567074766_18413964271119082_9170764770505379761_n-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/567074766_18413964271119082_9170764770505379761_n-600x799.jpg 600w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/567074766_18413964271119082_9170764770505379761_n.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soures : Barter Books and  Second Era Gadabout<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Above the bookshelves, a miniature model railway chugs gently, weaving between the rafters.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.essentially-england.com\/barter-books.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"> <\/a>Comfy armchairs are nestled around open fireplaces, perfect for curling up with a find you\u2019ve just picked off the shelf. There\u2019s even a children\u2019s room full of toys, so if you bring little ones, they can happily play while adults take turns to browse.<a href=\"https:\/\/travelnorthumberland.co.uk\/visit\/barter-books\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Cosy Lunch at the Station Buffet<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After an hour of gently wandering between dusty spines and hidden corners, we made our way to the Station Buffet, the shop\u2019s cafe housed in the old waiting rooms of the station.<a href=\"https:\/\/travelnorthumberland.co.uk\/visit\/barter-books\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"> <\/a>&nbsp;Each room has its own character: the Skylight Room, the Red Room (once the 1st Class Gents\u2019 waiting room), the Blue Room(1st Class Ladies waiting&nbsp; room), the Green Room (originally&nbsp; the 3rd Class waiting&nbsp; room. Each \u2018room\u2019 or area&nbsp; has its unique style and all have a different story and feel behind them. We settled into a corner by a crackling fire, and had a simple but delicious lunch \u2014 I had Northumbrian Rarebit &#8211; traditional cheese on toast with a twist and using local ingredients with&nbsp; chips and salad. a pot of Earl Grey tea, and a slice of cake. The gentle clink of cups, the muted chatter of other visitors, and the warm glow all made it feel like stepping into a novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"6390\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/587688189_1386137269741913_2764857415525573716_n-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6390\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"6389\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/585574115_1386137613075212_7215426073638920363_n-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6389\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Source: Barter Books<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Browsing in the Heart of Winter<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once fortified, we returned to the shelves. There\u2019s something deeply soothing about browsing second-hand books in the depths of winter \u2014 the soft hush, the promise of discovery in every row. I found a few lovely volumes I couldn\u2019t resist (some fiction, some history), and even just soaking in the atmosphere felt like a gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Details like restored original station fittings \u2014 ticket windows, old fireplaces, drinking water&nbsp; fountain and even the station canopy \u2014 make the place feel lovingly preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>So my 7 top things to do to get the most of&nbsp;your visit.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Obviously browse the enormous selection of books <\/strong> Its big. Rows and&nbsp; rows&nbsp; and different parts ofthe building to explore. There is even a map to help you find the different&nbsp; sections.They have sections on sci-fi, mystery, history, local&nbsp; landscapes, romance, travel, politics, science, psychology, cookery, art, religion, interior design, astronomy and everything you could think of as well as&nbsp; a&nbsp; huge glazed section of antiquarian books. There\u2019s also a large children\u2019s and young adult section. For me, I found one of two hidden gems in the cookery and interiors.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2.Cosy up by the open log fire or snuggle into a comfy cosy nook with your choices of books to look at&nbsp; further.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cosy up by the open log<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the bookshop is fully heated, nothing compares to the glow of a real log fire. The crackling hearth turns this old railway station into a cosy winter hideaway. Comfy sofas are scattered throughout the building \u2014 perfect spots to settle in, warm your hands, listen to the wood popping in the flames, and breathe in that unmistakable scent of burning logs while you lose yourself in a book\u2026 or discover your next great read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3.Admire the colourful bookish decor, murals and original station features<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can find their 40-foot writer\u2019s mural that features over 33 famous characters from Literature. There is also a railway station mural that pays homage to the bookshop\u2019s roots as the old Alnwick Station.You\u2019ll notice a culmination of poetry lines across the shop&nbsp; and they all form part of this mural. It makes a fabulous photo opportunity too. Original features include a drinking fountain and ticket office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. See the Barter Books train on their miniature railway<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This bookshop even has its very own miniature railway set running above your head along the book shelves and over bridges lined with poetry!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"365\" data-id=\"6391\" src=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/587965000_1386142153074758_94395419616133534_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/587965000_1386142153074758_94395419616133534_n.jpg 550w, https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/587965000_1386142153074758_94395419616133534_n-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Source : Barter Books<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. See&nbsp; the poster that started a trend<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you remember that time in the early 2000s when the <em>Keep Calm and Carry On<\/em> poster trend took the world by storm? Well, that whole phenomenon started right here in Barter Books. One day owner&nbsp; Stuart was looking through a box of books he had bought at auction when he stumbled across one&nbsp; of the original Keep Calm and Carry On posters.Although over 2 million copies of the motivational poster were printed in 1939 and some were used during the Blitz in WWII, not many were publicly displayed. The Manley\u2019s proudly framed the poster by their cash register and it started to gather lots of attention. Eventually, Barter Books started selling copies . Ever since its reprinting has led to millions of copies and&nbsp; spin offs&nbsp; being issued and used on all sorts of items and sold all over the world. You can still see the framed original poster today in the shop !<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;6. Don\u2019t forget to visit the Station Buffet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You could easily spend a couple of hours in Barter Books rummaging around for second-hand volumes, there are so many things to see. But, if you were feeling peckish or in need of refreshments, you can visit the Station Buffet at the back of the bookstore. It servess hot&nbsp; and cold drinks, breakfast, lunches and light snacks throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. Buy a Bespoke souvenir<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shop has a range of its own merchandise&nbsp; to act as a souvenir of your visit. I got a great book lovers mug<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Opening times<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Barter Books is open&nbsp; daily 9am &#8211; 7pm, except Christmas Day and the Station Buffet is open 9am &#8211; 6.30pm with last hot food orders at 5 pm.&nbsp;Although I left Molly at home on this trip Barter Books is dog friendly and dogs along with their well behaved owners are welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Nearby<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the&nbsp; winter months the Alnwick Castle itself is&nbsp; closed to the public, however we did visit the famous Poison Garden, Lidori and the festive Winter Lights Trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the castle and gardens, there are lots of independent shops and caf\u00e9s to browse in the main marketplace and side streets. So a great place to purchase a christmas gift or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can visit the Bailiffgate Museum to learn more about the history of the town or catch a show at the Playhouse Theatre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just outside of Alnwick you can visit the seaside towns Amble and Alnmouth with&nbsp; their our charm and features such as Amble Harbour Village full of local craft and artisan pods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kt-info-box1324_6cd1b9-c4 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}.kt-info-box1324_6cd1b9-c4 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}.kt-info-box1324_6cd1b9-c4 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, .kt-info-box1324_6cd1b9-c4 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, .kt-info-box1324_6cd1b9-c4 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}.kt-info-box1324_6cd1b9-c4 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}.kt-info-box1324_6cd1b9-c4 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}.kt-info-box1324_6cd1b9-c4 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-box1324_6cd1b9-c4\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media-container\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media kt-info-media-animate-none\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-icon-container kt-info-icon-animate-none\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-icon-inner-container\"><span class=\"kb-svg-icon-wrap kb-svg-icon-fe_bookOpen kt-info-svg-icon\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"  fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"  aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M2 3h6a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v14a3 3 0 0 0-3-3H2z\"\/><path d=\"M22 3h-6a4 4 0 0 0-4 4v14a3 3 0 0 1 3-3h7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h2 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Practical Tips for Visiting Barter Books &#8211; Alnwick<\/h2><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\"><strong> Location<\/strong><br>Barter Books is inside the <strong>old Alnwick railway station<\/strong>, just a short walk from <strong>Alnwick Castle<\/strong><br>Easy to find by car or on foot if you\u2019re already in town<br><strong>Parking<\/strong><br><strong>Free on-site parking<\/strong> available right outside the building<br>Can get busy on weekends and school holidays \u2014 arrive early if possible<br><strong>Best Time to Visit<\/strong><br>Weekday mornings are quieter<br>Cosy in winter \u2014 especially by the log fires!<br>Rainy days make it the <strong>perfect indoor stop<\/strong> on a Northumberland trip<br><strong>Food &amp; Drink<\/strong><br>Pop into the <strong>Station Caf\u00e9<\/strong> inside for tasty homemade food, hot drinks, cakes &amp; scones<br>Plenty of comfy places to sit and read while you warm up<br><strong>How It Works<\/strong><br>You can <strong>buy, sell, or barter books<\/strong><br>Staff are friendly and happy to help you find specific titles or rare editions<br><strong>What Not to Miss<\/strong><br>The <strong>model trains<\/strong> running above the bookshelves<br>The original <strong>station architecture &amp; fireplaces<\/strong><br>The vintage book browsing areas \u2014 including rare and collectible rooms<br><strong>Combine With<\/strong><br><strong>Alnwick Castle<\/strong> and <strong>The Alnwick Garden<\/strong> are close by \u2014 great for a half-day or full-day itinerary in town<br><strong>Accessibility<\/strong><br>Mostly level access and spacious walkways \u2014 comfortable for slower mobility<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s something quietly magical about November in Northumberland: the chill in the air, the soft light settling over ancient stone walls, the quiet expanse of golden sands on the coast and the stillness that only early winter can bring. On a recent trip a couple of girl friends and I took a \u2018girlie\u2019 trip to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":true,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1324","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-guides","category-food-wine-and-indulgence"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1324"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6433,"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1324\/revisions\/6433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quizzical-keldysh.194-164-22-248.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}