Where to Find English Books in Paris
Finding books in English in Paris is surprisingly easy. In fact, you are spoiled for choice with several bookstores housing English sections and a few specializing in English language books exclusively. The most famous is Shakespeare & Company, which carries an expertly curated selection
Of new English books, for which you should expect to pay full price. If you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, stay tuned to discover three excellent options and find out which place is best for used English language books in Paris. Shakespeare & Company carries on the name of a storied bookshop that once catered to
The likes of Ernest Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald. The original shop closed in 1941, but George Whitman opened a new store in 1951 that took on the Shakespeare moniker in 1964. Today, the store sits on the left bank facing Notre Dame Cathedral and draws enough of a
Crowd to require a line to enter. Filming inside is forbidden, but you will find a large area of new books, a small used book section, and a reading room upstairs. So where can the book-addicted or Euro-deficient find affordable English books in Paris?
This used book chain is originally from Japan but now has several locations in Paris. I visited their location next to Châtelet and headed downstairs to find a decent selection of English language books, from Science Fiction Novels to self-help books and more. They also have a wide selection of Japanese language books.
Book-Off is known for excellent prices, with paperbacks going for just a few euros, and some as low as 1 euro. With prices this low, it also presents an excellent opportunity to delve into French literature. A few blocks from Shakespeare & Company sits this Canadian-owned bookstore specializing in new and used English language books.
Every inch of this small shop and its vaulted basement is packed with reading material – from psychology textbooks to children’s books to novels and beyond. The prices are either written in pencil on the first page or stamped on a cover-page sticker.
The prices depend on the type of book and condition – but expect to pay a bit more than Book Off. Still, the Abbey has a much more extensive selection and carries specialized topics that will be hard to find elsewhere. This well-known French book retailer offers a wide selection of English language books
On the second floor of their location at 26 boulevard Saint Michel in the 6th arrondissement. Head up two flights of escalators to find several rows of English language novels – including a mixture of new and used books. Used books are marked with a yellow sticker with the word “occasion.”
All of these bookstores are within a 20-minute walk of each other. If you’re a true bookworm, I recommend starting at Book Off, paying a visit to Shakespeare, and then mozying by the Abbey and Gibert Joseph. If you’re still not satisfied, the San Francisco Book Company is another nearby bookstore specializing
In used English language books. To visit Book Off at 9 rue Saint-Martin Take metro Line 1 or 11 and get off at Hôtel de Ville. It’s a short walk away. Alternatively, take the metro to Châtelet. On line 4, get off at Châtelet and take exit 10 (Place Sainte Opportune)
On line 7, get off at Châtelet, and take exit 19 (rue Saint Martin) On line 11, get off at Châtelet and take exit 1 (rue de Rivoli) On Line 14, get off at Châtelet and take exit 14 (rue saint denis)
As you can see, it’s much simpler to exit at Hôtel de Ville than navigate the many exits of Châtelet. To visit Shakespeare & Co at 37 rue de la Bûcherie (75005) Take metro Line 4 or the RER B or C and exit at Saint-Michel Notre Dame
Take metro Line 7 and exit at Pont Neuf or Take metro Line 10 and exit at Cluny La Sorbonne To visit The Abbey at 29 rue de la Parcheminerie Take the same route as Shakespeare & Company To visit Gibert Joseph at 26 boulevard Saint-Michel
Take metro Line 4 and get off at Odéon or take metro Line 10 and get off at Odéon or Cluny La Sorbonne. The same route will take you to San Francisco Book company a few blocks away. Opening up a book can transport you to another time or place and expand your knowledge and
Worldview. Whether you’re looking for a vacation read or are studying in Paris on a tight budget, your next read is waiting for you at one of Paris’ used bookstores. While Book-Off is certainly the cheapest, the Abbey had the most diverse selection of
Used books, and Gibert Joseph was an excellent place to find novels. Their close proximity makes visiting all of them a great way to spend a lazy afternoon in the city. Thanks for watching.
Finding books in English in Paris is surprisingly easy. In fact, you are spoiled for choice with several bookstores housing English sections and a few specializing in English language books exclusively. The most famous is Shakespeare & Company, which carries an expertly curated selection of new English books, for which you should expect to pay full price. If you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, stay tuned to discover three excellent options and find out which place is best for used English language books in Paris.
Paris within reach brings tips and tricks to get the most out of Paris for next to nothing, because you shouldn’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the finer things in life.
*You should get off line 11 at Châtelet Exit 11, not exit 1.
0:00 Introduction
0:45 Shakespeare & Company
1:28 Book-Off
2:03 The Abbey
2:42 Gibert Joseph
3:09 How to get there
3:32 Getting to Book-Off
4:11 Getting to Shakespeare & Co or The Abbey
4:35 Getting to Gibert Joseph & SF Book Co
4:51 Concluding Thoughts