How common are large used book stores in the UK?

I like to buy books from used book stores with a large selection of recent books.  Just as important, I like to sell them back when I am done.  Perhaps some of you UKYers are familiar with the Half Price Books chain in Texas and the Midwest.  Anything like that? ...or is it more like Mom & Pop places with old dusty tombs that may pick out a book or two from a box you haul in to sell back?

Afraid that most of the used book stores here are of the charity variety...usually Oxfam. They have a decent selection but do not buy or trade anything. The other thing I have used is Freecycle to collect books. So the good news is that the buy part is perhaps even better here...but the selling/trading is non-existent, which works for a collector like me.

But I think there may be a few small mom/pop shops that have specialty shops by genre...i.e. sci-fi/fantasy or mystery...that may actually buy and trade.

Afraid that most of the used book stores here are of the charity variety...usually Oxfam.

Oh, that's not true at all!! The UK is teeeeeeming with second-hand bookshops! They're everywhere! There are more small independent ones, though. I don't know anything about Half Price Books, I'm afraid, but I can't think of anything like that here. However, there are so many second-hand bookshops that I can't imagine you'll have a problem selling books.

Try markets, our local market has a few second hand book stalls that will trade books, You tend to get a better rate as well if you take payment in books rather than cash.

The closest thing to Half Price Books that I can think of is a chain called The Works - http://www.theworks.co.uk/. They don't buy back books though.

You can also try Amazon.co.uk Marketplace.  I use them a lot for used books, buying and selling.  (Amazon.com does it as well)

You can also try Amazon.co.uk Marketplace.  I use them a lot for used books, buying and selling.  (Amazon.com does it as well)

Good point, Stacey! There are plenty of online options if you don't find a suitable second-hand shop near you. I've also used Green Metropolis.

Good point, Stacey! There are plenty of online options if you don't find a suitable second-hand shop near you. I've also used Green Metropolis.

Ohh, I'm going to check them out too!

I've made loads selling my stuff. (A lot I give to the charity shops though, especially older titles)  DVD's make the most money. (FYI)

The best places for books in the UK, other than the standard Waterstones/Books etc, are..

Charity shops
The dusty old bookshops in Charing Cross Road
Foyle's (big independent bookstor in Soho)
British bookshops & Sussex Stationers http://www.britishbookshops.co.uk/
The Book Warehouse

The latter two are for cheap but new books, usually remainders and £1 penguin paperbacks, that sort of thing.  Both have branches dotted around.

Also, there is a second hand book fair on weekends on the South Bank (if you are in London).

Don't forget libraries though!

Vicky

The best places for books in the UK, other than the standard Waterstones/Books etc, are..

I think the OP is looking for somewhere she can sell, as well as buy, books.

My personal experience is that when selling books back you won't get a lot of bang for your buck (or rather, pound). It's possible I've just had some bad luck there. But as Chary points out, the scope and variety of used book shops in the UK is AMAZING!

That said, if current best-seller type books are all you are after, I'm not sure that the shops will be your best option. I suspect online sellers, as mentioned above, will be better for that.

modified for typos

Well, here in Northumberland, there is what I think is the first used book store or something like that (or the biggest or oldest or whatever, can't remember) called Barter Books. It's gigantic and has loads of neat stuff, even antiquities like the history of Northumbria encyclopedias, etc., which cost an absolute fortune, but it's neat to see those types of things. Overall, I don't enjoy it quite as much as Half Price Books, because there seemed to be few books I was looking for, and something pretty standard like Pride and Prejudice costs much more there as a used paperback than I would ever pay in the US. I have found a few good deals there. I loved the art book selection at Half Price Books, you could get loads of great photography books for $2 - $5, and I had amassed a huge collection of those before I moved away. Alas, nothing like that at Barter Books, from what I have seen.
Having said that, I have picked up LOADS of books from the local charity shop for 10p each, and from the local market and car boot sales, where they are dirt cheap. But it's the pick-through paperback bin arrangement, so if there is something specific I am looking for, then I usually just pick it up on Amazon for cheap.

http://www.bagginsbooks.co.uk/

There's one or two other second hand bookstores on the Rochester High Street.  Be prepared to stay all day to look in Baggins, though.  It's huge.

Thanks for the outstanding advice everyone!   

Seems like the buying/selling situation varies quite a bit by area and experience.  But that is how the US is too! 

There aren't any here.  Charity ones, but not stores that let you trade in for credit.