While we were in the area, we called in at Barter Books and the Station Café in Alnwick, Northumberland, and it really is one of those places you could spend ages in.
It is set inside an old Victorian railway station and the whole place feels cosy and quirky from the moment you walk in. The shelves are packed with second-hand books, while model trains run above your head!
According to their website, the buffet is set in a number of rooms that had been shut off for over fifty years when the station and railway closed.
After wandering around the bookshop, we then popped into the Station Buffet for a drink. We had a cappuccino and a pot of tea. Sitting in the old waiting room with a drink and the smell of coffee and old books together, added to the whole atmosphere.
A Victorian drinking fountain ...
I liked the fact the old station still has so many of its original features and hasn't been too modernised. It seems that a lot of the building’s history has been kept. There are old station signs, old seats, waiting rooms, drinking fountain etc. Even the large windows make it feel like you are stepping back into the good old days.
If you enjoy bookshops with character and cosy café stops, this is definitely worth a visit.
My cappuccino was really nice, and the pot of tea went down well after walking around Alnwick most of the morning. It’s easy to see why so many people recommend it when visiting Northumberland.