{"id":18182,"date":"2025-06-09T13:49:30","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T13:49:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/?p=18182"},"modified":"2025-06-09T13:49:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T13:49:30","slug":"a-literature-students-guide-to-cardiffs-most-bookish-corners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/a-literature-students-guide-to-cardiffs-most-bookish-corners\/","title":{"rendered":"A Literature Student\u2019s Guide to Cardiff\u2019s Most Bookish Corners"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re a literature student in Cardiff, you\u2019ll quickly realise this city is a dream for book lovers. I came here thinking I\u2019d just be reading in the library or my room, but Cardiff has so many cosy corners and quirky bookshops that my to-be-read pile has doubled (sorry, not sorry). Whether you\u2019re into classics, graphic novels, or just want a chill place to read, here are my favourite bookish spots that make Cardiff feel like home.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Waterstones,<\/a> The Hayes<\/span>
\n<\/span>Let\u2019s start with the obvious. Waterstones in the city centre is basically a book lover\u2019s playground. It\u2019s huge\u2014two floors packed with every genre imaginable, plus a really nice caf\u00e9 upstairs for when you need a caffeine boost or a place to study. They have student discounts and even a loyalty scheme, which is a lifesaver when you\u2019re buying books for your course and for fun. I love how easy it is to find what you\u2019re looking for, and the staff always have great recommendations.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Troutmark Books<\/a>, Castle Arcade<\/span>
\n<\/span>If you\u2019re into second-hand books (or just love the smell of old paper), Troutmark Books is a must. It\u2019s tucked away in Castle Arcade and, honestly, it\u2019s like a maze of books. The place is stacked from floor to ceiling, and there\u2019s something magical about wandering the narrow aisles. I\u2019ve found everything from vintage poetry collections to random sci-fi novels here, all on a student budget. The staff are super friendly and always up for a chat about what you\u2019re reading.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Bear Island<\/a>, Cardiff Market<\/span>
\n<\/span>Bear Island is a little gem hidden inside Cardiff Market. It\u2019s small but packed with affordable books, and their comic book selection is surprisingly good. It\u2019s the kind of place where you can spend ages browsing and always walk out with something unexpected. The owner is really helpful, and the whole vibe is just cosy and welcoming. Plus, it\u2019s right in the middle of the market, so you can grab a snack and read at one of the nearby benches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wellfield Bookshop<\/a>, Roath<\/span>
\n<\/span>For a proper indie vibe, head to Wellfield Bookshop in Roath. It\u2019s family-run and feels really personal. They have a great mix of new and second-hand books, and they\u2019re always happy to order something in if you can\u2019t find it on the shelves. It\u2019s a bit of a walk from campus, but totally worth it for the atmosphere and the chance to explore a different part of Cardiff.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Cant a Mil<\/a>, Whitchurch Road<\/span>
\n<\/span>If you\u2019re interested in Welsh literature or learning the language, Cant a Mil is amazing. They specialise in Welsh books for all levels, plus English books about Wales and by Welsh authors. The staff are happy to chat in Welsh or English, and it\u2019s a great place to pick up something unique for your shelves.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Bonus: Cardiff\u2019s Charity Shops<\/span>
\n<\/span>Don\u2019t sleep on the charity shops, especially around Albany Road<\/a> and City Road<\/a>. I\u2019ve found some absolute gems for less than the price of a coffee. Plus, it\u2019s a good way to give old books a new life and support local causes at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re looking for a study spot, a hidden gem, or just a new story to get lost in, Cardiff\u2019s bookish corners have something for every literature student. Happy reading!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you\u2019re a literature student in Cardiff, you\u2019ll quickly realise this city is a dream for book lovers. I came here thinking I\u2019d just be reading in the library or […]","protected":false},"author":6946,"featured_media":18185,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,756],"tags":[88,151,566,160],"class_list":["post-18182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-only-in-cardiff","category-things-to-do-in-cardiff","tag-fun","tag-student-life","tag-things-to-do-at-cardiff","tag-university"],"meta_box":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6946"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18182"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18186,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18182\/revisions\/18186"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}