66 Book Club in Hemel Hempstead offers two warehouse floors of books at around 70% off, making it well worth the trip for anyone who enjoys searching for their next read. It only opens to the public on selected weekends, and knowing what to expect can make the experience considerably easier.
I have now visited twice, including one trip when I queued for three and a half hours before eventually getting inside. I still left with 15 books for £52.67, compared with a combined retail price of £168.94, and I would go again.
It’s worth visiting, but there are several things I wish I had known before making the journey. This guide covers the current opening arrangements, how membership works, where to park, when to arrive, what books you can expect and whether the savings justify the wait.
Important: 66 Books is only open to the public on its advertised Book Club weekends. Do not turn up outside these dates, as the warehouse is a working business and is not open for general browsing.
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What is the 66 Book Club?
Despite the name, 66 Book Club is not a traditional book club where members meet to discuss a particular title. It’s the public shopping event run by discount bookseller and wholesaler 66 Books at its Hemel Hempstead warehouse.
On two selected weekends each month, the warehouse opens to the public, giving access to two floors of clearance titles, remainders and reprints at 70% off. Membership costs £2 per year and covers your whole household.
Outside the published Book Club dates, the warehouse is operating as a normal business and is not open for public browsing, so do not travel there without checking the official opening calendar first.
What kind of books can you find at 66 Book Club?
It’s best to go with an open mind because there is genuinely plenty of choice, but you cannot predict exactly what will be available.
Fiction, particularly paperbacks, offered the widest selection on both of my visits. There were also shelves of non-fiction covering cookery, gardening, fashion, wellbeing and art, alongside large-format and coffee-table books.
I would not visit with a long list of specific new releases that you expect to find. The appeal is in browsing two warehouse floors and discovering books you might not otherwise have considered. Go without a fixed shopping list and you will almost certainly leave with something you are excited to read.
How does 66 Book Club work?
On public Book Club weekends, the warehouse opens at 8am and the last sale is at 6pm. You don’t need to book in advance. Instead, you join on the day for £2 using a QR code before entering and then join the queue.
If the queue remains particularly long into the afternoon, 66 Books may close entry earlier than scheduled. It posts updates through its Facebook page during each public weekend, so check before setting off, particularly if you’re planning to arrive later in the day.
You should be prepared to queue, especially now that the event has become popular on TikTok. On both of my visits, there was a coffee van outside and the toilets could still be used while waiting. There is no shelter, however, so dress for the weather and take an umbrella or fold-up chair if you have one.
The warehouse is spread across two floors and visitors begin upstairs. It is said to contain five miles of books and, having spent around two and a half hours browsing, I can believe it.
Baskets are available while you shop and boxes are provided after you pay. If you are planning a large haul, bringing a suitcase or sturdy wheeled bag will make getting everything back to the car considerably easier.
How much can you save at 66 Book Club?
On my first visit, I bought 15 books for £52.67. Their combined full retail price would have been £168.94, meaning I saved £116.27. The substantial savings are the main reason the lengthy queue didn’ put me off returning. You may not find every book you came looking for, but it is possible to leave with a large selection for considerably less than you would normally spend.
When should you arrive at 66 Book Club?
I first visited 66 Book Club on a Saturday in August. At the time, the advertised opening time was 9am, and we arrived at around 8.30am. Even then, we struggled to find a parking space and queued for approximately three and a half hours, eventually entering just before 1pm.
My second visit, a Sunday in July, was very different. We queued for less than an hour, showing how substantially waiting times can vary between open weekends.
Arriving early is still sensible, particularly if you need to park, but a long wait is not guaranteed. Check the queue updates posted on the 66 Books Facebook page before travelling and allow enough time for both the queue and several hours of browsing.
Getting to 66 Book Club and where to park
66 Book Club is held at the 66 Books warehouse at Unit 2 Eastman Way, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 7DU.
The warehouse is on an industrial estate at the end of a narrow road that also leads to the local recycling centre. Driving all the way down Eastman Way can therefore mean becoming caught behind two separate queues: one for the recycling centre and another for 66 Books.
Parking is limited both on site and around the entrance. On my first visit, spaces were already difficult to find by 8.30am. Getting dropped off nearby may be easier, particularly during the morning rush.
Don’t assume that parking on the surrounding verges is permitted. We parked on a grass verge during our first visit and returned to find a parking ticket. Traffic wardens patrol the industrial estate at weekends, so the risk is not worth taking.
Is 66 Book Club worth visiting? My honest review
I have now visited twice and would absolutely go again. The fun comes from working through shelves of unpredictable stock, finding something you hadn’t planned to buy and gradually realising that your basket has become far heavier than intended.
The prices are excellent, the staff have been friendly on both visits and the selection is broad enough to justify spending several hours inside. The main drawbacks are the queues and limited parking, both of which require more planning than a normal trip to a bookshop.
I would recommend 66 Book Club to anyone who enjoys browsing and is happy to make a day of it. It’s less suitable if you’re searching for one exact title, want the latest releases or only have an hour to spare. Go prepared for the wait and with an open mind, and the savings can make it well worth the journey.
Before you visit
Wear comfortable shoes because you may spend several hours standing in the queue before walking around both warehouse floors. Dress for the weather, take a sturdy bag or suitcase and check the official opening dates and queue updates before travelling. You may not find everything you want, but you will probably find several books you did not know you wanted.
For another book-focused UK day out, read my guide to Cheltenham Literature Festival.
