Steyning Book Shop

The previous reviews may be two or three years old but the Steyning Bookshops maintains the standards and atmosphere they describe so lovingly. It still has a wide selection of books — the children section has grown, and the collection of local books by local authors is impressive. They take orders for any book in print and my experience is that the order is usually at the shop within 24 hours of placing the request. Sara (who with her husband Rob) established the shop decades ago was award the BEM in 2013 of services to the community. The bookshop acts as the hub for ticket purchases and information on the biennial Steyning Festival.

The Steyning Bookshop wouldn’t be out of place in Brighton. It’s not the small town bookshop you might expect, but a room of unexpected treasures. The selection encompasses a lovely small literature section, extensive travel and art selection and an excellent children’s section. The owner and manager, Sara, specialises in thought provoking children’s picture books, and it’s a great destination if you want a beautifully illustrated picture book as a present, or just to take a little kid and let them be inspired. The service is lovely and personal whether you’re young or old, and there’s no rushing, or hovering at shoulders — you’ll be more than welcome to sit and flick through books in here for hours, and I have done before now. The biography/​autobiography section is strong as well, with a small but thoughtful selection of historical figures, contemporary politicians and prominent figures, musicians, artists, writers and scientists all represented. There’s even a selection of handmade wrapping paper and cards, so if you’re present shopping (and this place is superb for that) all the ingredients are there. The shop is also something of a social hub, with old dears popping in for a chat and schoolchildren coming in on their lunch break (unusual perhaps, but the selection caters to them as well.) The manager is the brains behind many of the town’s arts events, and tickets are sold over the counter here for the film society, music events and town fairs and festivals. Come here for a chat, a reel of local knowledge and a book you’ve never heard of but will love — you won’t be disappointed.

When I was little, we used to go and stay with our friends in Steyning and my most favourite treat of the whole holiday was to go to the Steyning bookshop and pick out a book for myself. (And sometimes if we stayed long enough and I was extra lucky, to go back to get another!)
The shop itself looks like a white fronted house and inside while the shop isn’t that big, the kids section is wonderful. In the middle is a train with book racks over it and then the drivers compartment where you can sit and read books.
There’s pretty much every single childs book you could think of here all placed in this beautiful colourful room. Many a time I’ve found different books here, some that might not always be found in other more mainstream bookshops but the shop also stocks the more popular titles that people may be hunting for.
The staff are really lovely and polite always up for a chat and the prices are reasonable, nothing expensive but no real bargains either. Then when you’ve finished you get to carry off your purchases in a lovely brown bag.
This shop is really a character and worth a visit.