It’s not often you get to hear about the launch of a new bookshop in difficult times, but, ahead of the town’s much expected rejuvenation now work has begun on the Eden Project North, it’s good to hear about the launch of the new incarnation of the Lost at Sea Bookshop in Morecambe, Lancashire.
But wait – there are other independent book and comic shops nearby, too, making an area visit essential!
Morecambe already has one long established independent bookseller, of course, the marvellous, eclectic emporium that is The Old Pier Bookshop on the seafront, its name reflecting a now long gone seaside attraction in the town, described as, “Undoubtedly one of the most apparently disorganised bookshops in the world – one suspects wilfully so.”
(I’m not so sure about that – I’ve visited a fair few “disorganised” bookshops in my time, all of equal appeal when it comes to finding treasures you may not have expected, the amazing Michael Moon’s in Whitehaven, for one, although, admittedly, there is some logic to that wonderful bookery’s shelves).
Run by Christopher Wood, after operating at the local Festival Market for 25 years, six under his care, Lost at Sea Bookshop has now opened the doors to their very own permanent shop on Victoria Street. If you’re in the northern seaside town, why not check it out?
Offering all genres of books, colouring books, and unique titles at affordable prices, they have a Facebook page you can follow, and a website in development.
Morecambe becoming a “Book Town”?
Alongside the town’s independent secondhand bookshops, The Old Pier Bookshop, and The Borrowed Book, opening next month (follow their vlog on TikTok or YouTube), you could be forgiven for thinking Morecambe is on the way to becoming a “Book Town”… but this region of Britain has its fair share of indie book and comic shops.
With First Age Comics and Zine Freak close by in Lancaster (Zine Freak sharing the Assembly Rooms on King Street with the brilliant Assembled Books, a secondhand bookstand, and Atticus Bookshop just down the road), surely a visit to the area soon is a must?
And that’s even before you head to the long-established Carnforth Bookshop just up the road (a magnificent blend of new books and a cracking selection of the secondhand), or check out some of the independent bookshops in the Lake District and wider Cumbria: Fred’s Bookshop, in Ambleside, Sam Read Bookseller, in Grasmere, Bookends, in Keswick (the official bookshop for Words by the Water, a 10-day literacy festival held annually in Keswick during March, one of three independent Cumbrian bookshops owned and run by the Matthews family who have lived and worked in the Lakes since 1978) or Verey Books, in Pooley Bridge, and, on the way, perhaps, to the aforementioned Michael Moon’s, check out the much-praised Withnail Books, in Penrith.
If you’re heading to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, perhaps you now have cause to tag on a couple of days “book hunting time” to your trip!
Morecambe’s Independent Bookshops
• Lost at Sea is at 19 Victoria Street, Morecambe LA4 4AE | Follow Lost at Sea on Facebook
“Whether you’re searching for your next great read, a forgotten favourite, a bargain, or simply fancy a browse, there’s plenty waiting for you on the shelves.”
• The Borrowed Book will be at 19 Pedder Street, Morecambe
Lancashire, LA4 5DY from October 2026 | Web| Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Tucked away just off the beautiful Morecambe seafront , The Borrowed Book is a cosy indie bookshop offering a carefully curated selection of perfectly preloved books.
“We believe every book deserves a second chapter,” says owners Paul and Tori, “and we’re passionate about bringing quality, affordable reads to our community and a relaxed little space to enjoy a coffee whilst you browse at leisure.”
• The Old Pier Bookshop is at 287 Marine Road Central
Morecambe, Lancashire, LA4 5BY | Follow The Old Pier Bookshop on Facebook
“Undoubtedly one of the most apparently disorganised bookshops in the world – one suspects willfully so,” notes a description on LibraryThing. “All the better for it too: it feels like someone has taken Finnegans Wake and turned it into a shop.”
Nearby and Near-ish Book and Comic Shops…
• Have you checked out the downthetubes British and Irish Local Comic Shop Map?
• First Age Comics is at 3 Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QD | Follow First Age Comics on Facebook | WhatNot
Awesome stock and excellent prices. First Age Comics now stocks new, as well as secondhand comics and graphic novels! Well worth a visit.
• Zine Freak is at the Assembly Rooms Emporium, King Street, Lancaster LA1 1JN| Follow Zine Freak on Facebook | Instagram | Read our Profile
Shop for independent comics and self published zines. The Assembly Room Emporium is also home to Assembled Books.
• Atticus is at King Street, Lancaster | Web | Follow Atticus on Facebook
Atticus is not for profit local independent bookstore and social enterprise project, specialising in South East Asia It supports Tasikoki Animal Rescue Centre. Donate via their Simply Giving page
• Carnforth Bookshop is at 38-42 Market St, Carnforth LA5 9JX | Hive | Bookshop.org | Follow Carnforth Bookshop on Facebook
An independent, family run bookshop at the heart of the historic town of Carnforth, Lancashire
• Bookends of Keswick is at 66 Main Street, Keswick CA12 5DX | Web | Follow Bookends on Facebook
Independent book shop
• Fred’s Bookshop is at Ambleside, Cumbria. LA22 9BS | Web
A cosy independent bookshop in Ambleside. Although small, they are mighty and well curated! The shop offers a next day ordering service in store as well as an online shop for home delivery
• Michael Moon’s Bookshop is at 19 Lowther Street, Whitehaven CA28 7AL | eBay | Follow Michael Moon’s Bookshop on Facebook |
Thirteen rooms full of books in this incredible shop, 30,000+ books covering [almost] every subject known
• Sam Read Bookseller is at Broadgate House, Broadgate
Ģrasmere, England LA22 9SY | Web | Follow Sam Read Bookseller on Facebook | Instagram
Award-winning small independent bookshop in Grasmere in the heart of the English Lake District, selling a wide range of books for children and adults, from nature writing to romance, crime thrillers to literary fiction, picture books to poetry.
• Verey Books is at Treetops, Pooley Bridge, Penrith, CA10 2NN | Web | Follow Verey Books on Facebook | Instagram
An independent bookshop that’s the realisation of one man’s boyhood dream, 40 years in the yearning. On its shelves, a thoughtfully curated selection of books from bestsellers to Lakeland greats, practical maps and guides to children’s classics.
• Withnail Books is at Corn Market, Penrith, CA11 7DA | Web | Bookshop.org | Follow Withnail Books on Facebook | Instagram |
A secondhand bookshop full of lots of lovely old books you never knew you wanted…
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Books, downthetubes News, Other Worlds
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Lovely article – I’ve had very enjoyable visits to many of those bookshops just in the last year. Exciting to hear of more arriving in the area!