Books and Reading
Reading can be free. This page starts with free library borrowing, ebooks and accessible formats, then home delivery, children's reading, book clubs and buying books — and ends with fifteen subjects to explore, each with several places to look.
Free library borrowing, ebooks and legal free reading
Joining a public library is free. Most libraries lend printed books, ebooks and eaudiobooks free of charge; fees can apply to some items, reservations or late returns.
England (GOV.UK)
Find and join your council's library service.
Wales
Libraries Wales: find a library and borrow online.
Northern Ireland
Libraries NI: one service for the whole of Northern Ireland.
Scotland
Use your council's library service; see our Local Libraries page.
BorrowBox
Library ebook and eaudiobook app used by many UK libraries; sign in with your library card.
Libby
Library ebook app used by other UK libraries; check which app yours uses.
Project Gutenberg
Free ebooks of older works whose US copyright has expired; check UK copyright before sharing.
Standard Ebooks
Free, carefully formatted public-domain ebooks.
Open Library
Free digital lending from the Internet Archive; a free account is needed.
Accessible reading: audiobooks, large print, Braille and dyslexia
Ask your library about large print, audiobooks and accessible ebook settings. These specialist services support people who find standard print difficult.
RNIB reading services
Talking books, Braille and accessible reading for blind and partially sighted people.
RNIB Bookshare
Accessible textbooks for learners with print disabilities, through schools and colleges.
ClearVision
Lending library of children's books with Braille and tactile pages.
Calibre Audio
Audiobook library for people with print disabilities. Paid: the site lists £3 a month or £30 a year; free for schools.
Listening Books
Audiobook charity for people who find reading difficult; check membership terms on its site.
British Dyslexia Association
Advice on dyslexia, including reading support.
Barrington Stoke
Publisher of dyslexia-friendly books for children and adults (paid books; many libraries stock them).
Quick Reads
Short, easy-to-read books for adults, from The Reading Agency.
Children and teenagers
Age guides are a starting point, not a rule. For reluctant readers, let them choose — comics, graphic novels, audiobooks and short books all count as reading.
BookTrust
Book ideas by age and free resources for families.
Summer Reading Challenge
Free summer reading challenge run through public libraries.
Bookbug (Scotland)
Free book bags for every child in Scotland at four stages, plus free Bookbug Sessions.
Books Council of Wales
Promotes Welsh and English-language books from Wales.
Imagination Library UK
Free monthly books for young children where a local partner funds it; check your area.
World Book Day
Annual event with £1 book tokens for children and free resources.
Buying books: second-hand, charity, independent and major bookshops
Everything in this section costs money. Prices, postage and returns vary; we have no affiliate links or partnerships with these sellers.
Oxfam Online Shop — books
Charity: second-hand books sold to fund Oxfam's work.
British Heart Foundation shop
Charity shop online; local shops also sell donated books.
World of Books
Second-hand: large online seller of used books.
Find an independent bookshop
Booksellers Association search for bookshops near you.
Waterstones
Major bookshop chain, in store and online.
Blackwell's
Major bookseller, strong on academic titles.
Foyles
Major bookseller, in store and online.
The Works
Discount books, arts and crafts.
Book clubs and reading groups
Many libraries run free reading groups and lend sets of books to groups — ask at your branch. Some online groups need a free account.
Book Club Hub
The Reading Agency's site to find a book club and reading-group resources.
Reading Ahead
The Reading Agency's reading challenge for adults, often run in libraries and workplaces.
Scottish Book Trust
Reading charity for Scotland with reading ideas and events.
Home library delivery
Most library services offer a home delivery service, often free, for people who cannot get to a library because of age, disability, illness or caring duties. Names, eligibility and how often books arrive differ by council — contact your library to ask.
England, Scotland and Wales
Contact your council library service and ask about home library or housebound delivery.
Northern Ireland — Homecall
Libraries NI's home delivery service; check its page for who can use it.
Local Libraries
Our guide to what libraries offer.
Priority: if reading at home is difficult, combine home delivery with large print or audiobooks above.
Book subjects
Several places to look for each subject. These are starting points, not recommendations or bestseller lists.
- Crime and mystery
- Romance
- Fantasy and science fiction
- Historical fiction
- Biographies and memoirs
- History
- Gardening and nature
- Animals and pets
- Food and cooking
- Health and wellbeing
- Travel
- Arts and music
- Poetry
- Children's books
- Teenage and young adult
Crime and mystery
Detective stories, thrillers and puzzles.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Crime Writers' Association
Author organisation with news about crime writing and its Dagger awards.
Open Library
Mystery and detective books; borrowing needs a free account.
Romance
Love stories, from historical to contemporary.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Romantic Novelists' Association
Author organisation with news and award shortlists.
Open Library
Romance titles; free account for borrowing.
Fantasy and science fiction
Other worlds, futures and imagined histories.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
British Science Fiction Association
Long-running association for science fiction readers and writers.
British Fantasy Society
Society for fantasy, horror and related fiction.
Historical fiction
Novels set in the past.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Historical Novel Society
Reviews and news about historical fiction.
Open Library
Historical fiction; free account for borrowing.
Biographies and memoirs
Real lives, told by others or themselves.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Open Library
Biography titles; free account for borrowing.
Project Gutenberg
Free out-of-copyright ebooks, including older biographies.
History
Non-fiction about people, places and events.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Historical Association
Charity supporting the study and enjoyment of history.
Open Library
History titles; free account for borrowing.
Gardening and nature
Plants, wildlife and the outdoors.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Open Library — gardening
Gardening titles; free account for borrowing.
Open Library — nature
Natural history titles.
Animals and pets
Pet care, wildlife and animal stories.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Open Library
Books about animals; free account for borrowing.
Sixpence Support UK
Our own animal and pet guidance.
Food and cooking
Recipes, food writing and kitchen skills.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Open Library
Cookery books; free account for borrowing.
Project Gutenberg
Free historic cookery books out of copyright.
Health and wellbeing
Self-help and understanding health.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Reading Well
Reading Agency book lists chosen with health professionals, available in public libraries.
Open Library
Health titles; free account for borrowing.
Travel
Guides, journeys and travel writing.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Open Library
Travel titles; free account for borrowing.
Free Magazines Across the UK
Our list includes free travel magazines.
Arts and music
Painting, design, performance and music.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Open Library — music
Music titles; free account for borrowing.
Open Library — art
Art titles.
Poetry
Poems old and new, to read or hear.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
Scottish Poetry Library
Free-to-visit poetry library in Edinburgh with poems online.
National Poetry Library
Free poetry library at Southbank Centre, London.
Children's books
Picture books to first chapter books.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
BookTrust
Reading charity with book ideas by age.
Open Library
Children's fiction; free account for borrowing.
Teenage and young adult
Fiction for readers aged around 12 and over.
Your local library
Search your council library catalogue by subject; borrowing is usually free with a library card.
National Literacy Trust
Literacy charity with reading resources for young people.
Open Library
Young adult fiction; free account for borrowing.
Our role
Sixpence Support UK points you to libraries, charities and booksellers; we do not lend or sell books and have no affiliate links or partnerships with anyone listed. Services, prices and eligibility can change, so check with the provider. See also Local Libraries and Free Magazines Across the UK. Spotted a problem? Contact us.
Links and access information checked: 4 October 2026.
Photo: Janko Ferlič, Wikimedia Commons · CC0 public domain (resized and cropped).