What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5:30am Tuesday 9am - 5:30am Wednesday 9am - 5:30am Thursday 9am - 5:30pm Friday 9am - 5:30pm Saturday 9am - 5:30pm Sunday 11am - 4pm

The White Horse Bookshop

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The White Horse Bookshop

Multi-award winning independent bookshop in a beautiful Tudor building in the heart of Marlborough. Over 300,000 books online available for next day delivery.

Over 20,000 titles in store - 200,000 online books in the online bookshop. The multi-award winning White Horse Bookshop first opened its doors in 1943 and has stood on its present site - a 16th century townhouse in Marlborough, Wiltshire - since 1949. Although we are now much more than just a bookshop (we are also an online bookshop) we remain independent and inspiring readers of all ages continues to be our passion.

21/08/2026

🌟CURRENT ART EXHIBITION IN THE WHITE HORSE GALLERY: Running until 30 August

There have been some wonderful comments left by visitors to our current art exhibition by recent Falmouth Uni graduate artist and illustrator 🙏

Emily recently received a First-Class Honours in BA Illustration. Her recent practice stems largely from her experience living and studying in Cornwall, observing the mundane and every day, and reflecting on themes of identity, belonging and nostalgia.

This solo exhibition in The White Horse Gallery showcases a selection of Emily's work from across the last three years, highlighting her skill in both traditional drawing and multidisciplinary techniques, alongside several collaborations with Cornish communities and creatives.

Pop in during bookshop opening hours, we'd love to see you!

19/08/2026

🌟CURRENT ART EXHIBITION:

Now showing in The White Horse Gallery until 30 August: 'Graduate Work 2025-26' by recent Falmouth University graduate artist and illustrator

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Emily Mac artist and illustrator
Emily is a recent graduate from Falmouth University, where she received a First-Class Honours in BA Illustration. Her recent practice stems largely from her experience living and studying in Cornwall, observing the mundane and every day, and reflecting on themes of identity, belonging and nostalgia.

This solo exhibition showcases a selection of Emily's work from across the last three years, highlighting her skill in both traditional drawing and multidisciplinary techniques, alongside several collaborations with Cornish communities and creatives.

We look forward to seeing you - pop in during bookshop opening hours!

14/08/2026

✨MEET THE ARTIST!

The artist of our current exhibition, 'Graduate Work 2025-26' will be available all day on Wednesday 19 August in The White Horse Gallery. Pop in for a chat, she'll be delighted to answer any questions about her work, but also - if you or someone you know is thinking about going to art school, or about to undergo a degree in creative practice, she will be delighted to answer any questions you may have.

A glass of wine will be on offer between 12-2pm on this day.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Emily Mac artist and illustrator

Emily is a recent graduate from Falmouth University, where she received a First-Class Honours in BA Illustration. Her recent practice stems largely from her experience living and studying in Cornwall, observing the mundane and every day, and reflecting on themes of identity, belonging and nostalgia.

This solo exhibition showcases a selection of Emily's work from across the last three years, highlighting her skill in both traditional drawing and multidisciplinary techniques, alongside several collaborations with Cornish communities and creatives.

Emily Mac's exhibition, 'Graduate Work 2025-26' will be showing at The White Horse Gallery until Sunday 30th August during shop opening hours.

We look forward to seeing you!

13/08/2026

✨NEW AUTUMN ART WORKSHOPS - RESET YOUR SEPTEMBER!

If you're resting on a sun lounger with a cool aperitif, or perhaps have already returned from holiday, then why not take a moment to browse our Autumn Art Workshop Programme, and consider the range of One-Day Art Workshops we have starting in September. These classes will explore a variety of mediums and interests, with opportunities for all abilities that will also cover new themes and topics such as art journaling, watercolour techniques, life drawing and crochet.

If you would like to find out more information about a particular workshop, please click on the title of the class you wish to view.

To book, call 01672 512071 or pop in and see us.

More info: https://bit.ly/4x81MCz

10/08/2026

✨NEW ART EXHIBITION: Emily Mac, artist and illustrator

Emily is a recent graduate from Falmouth University, where she received a First-Class Honours in BA Illustration. Her recent practice stems largely from her experience living and studying Cornwall, observing the mundane and every day, and reflecting on themes of identity, belonging and nostalgia.

In the final year of her degree, Emily’s practice evolved beyond the page into large-scale installation, experimental filmmaking and spoken word. Encouraged to push the boundaries of traditional illustration; her recent work balances contemporary techniques with interactivity and audience involvement.

This solo exhibition showcases a selection of her work from across the last three years, highlighting her skill in both traditional drawing and multidisciplinary techniques, alongside several collaborations with Cornish communities and creatives.

Emily will be our artist in residence on Wednesday 19th August. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the artist, but also, if you or someone you know is thinking about going to art school, or about to undergo a degree in creative practice, Emily will be delighted to answer any questions you may have!

Emily Mac's exhibition will be showing at The White Horse Gallery from Saturday 8th August - Sunday 30th August during shop opening hours.

We look forward to seeing you!

21/07/2026

🎤SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC: Saturday 25 July, 1pm-2.30pm

Enjoy a showcase of live performances from local, budding singer-songwriters curated by in the bookshop this Saturday lunchtime, as part of our Summer School programme.

First time performances of new original music, featuring and many more - come along to support the growing songwriting talent in Marlborough!

Call 01672 512071 to book your ticket or pop into the bookshop.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

09/07/2026

💫 Don't miss the 'Early Steps in Conversational Arabic' workshop on 23 and 24 July, as part of our White Horse Summer School programme.

Following the success of last year's Arabic course, tutor Sibella Laing is back for 2026! Laing will revisit key areas covered last year, but will offer a deeper dive into Arabic, covering new and unexplored areas.

📖Early steps in Conversational Arabic with Sibella Laing
Thurs 23rd July – Fri 24th July, 2 – 4.30pm.
This is a TWO DAY AFTERNOON course.
Sibella Laing and her husband have spent a number of years in the Middle East, including formal study of Arabic, and here introduce you to elementary conversational Arabic. Whether you have mastered 'First steps' or are a complete beginner, you will enjoy learning about, and how to use, this fascinating and globally important language.

Book your tickets by calling 01672 512071, pop into the shop or online at www.whitehorsebooks.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you.

08/07/2026

🌻CALLING ALL KEEN GARDENERS!

Learn all about Chelsea Flower Show plus top tips on what to do in your garden now with local horticulturist at two afternoon talks as part of our programme on 27 and 29 July:

🌷 ‘Behind the Tent’ – Chelsea Flower Show Experiences, 2pm - 4.30pm, Monday 27 July
A light hearted talk with Sonia about her experiences at the iconic where she has produced three award-winning gardens.

🌼 What to Do in the Garden Now and in the Near Future, 2pm - 4.30pm, Wednesday 29 July
What? Why? When? And how! A tour through the gardening jobs you need to tackle in late Summer and early Autumn. This includes the propagation of cuttings, seed sowing, pruning and general garden upkeep at this time of year. Sonia has 25 years of propagating and growing experience and a lifelong passion for plants and runs a long-established plant nursery in Ogbourne St George.

Call 01672 512071 or pop into the bookshop to book your place!

More info on all our Summer School courses and events at www.whitehorsebooks.co.uk

28/06/2026

Our July Summer School programme features a range of kicking off with 'The Rise of the Country House in Elizabethan England' on 1 July and 'The Grand Tour in Four Parts on 2 and 3 July:

🏚 'Stately Eminences, The Rise of the Country House in Elizabethan England' with
10am-4pm, Wednesday 1 July
The wealth generated by the Dissolution of the Monasteries enabled a new generation of discerning landowners to vaunt their new-found wealth by building palatial country houses. These houses often incorporated new fashions imported from Renaissance France and Italy, and provided opportunities for a series of innovative architects and craftsmen. Many of these stately piles, such as Longleat and Hardwick, still grace our countryside today.

🇮🇹 'The Grand Tour in Four Parts' (THIS IS A TWO-DAY COURSE)
with
This series of four talks explores the history of The Grand Tour and the artistic centres of Renaissance Italy, where the 'grand tourists' visited. Nick Nelson will begin with an overview of the Grand Tour, examining how travel shaped ideals of education, taste, and identity. He will then turn to Florence, Rome and Venice.
*Please note, if you are interested in this talk, but can only make ONE day, it is still possible to book a ticket. Please call us on 01672 513071 or pop into the shop if this applies to you.

Call 01672 512071, visit www.whitehorsebooks.co.uk to see the full July programme and book events or pop into the bookshop to book your place.

We look forward to seeing you!

24/06/2026

✨SUMMER SCHOOL BOOKBINDING WORKSHOP: 30 JUNE✨

There are a couple of spaces available on our art workshop: 'Decorative Bookbinding Criss Cross Long Stitch' with on Tuesday 30 June.

In this fun one day workshop you will learn how to make a variation on a long stitch binding. Preparing pages, creating a beautiful case using decorative papers and bookcloth and producing an intricate set of holes before attaching everything together with this highly decorative criss cross stitch using multiple coloured threads. This wonderful book structure lays flat, making it great for sketching and writing.

You will be guided through each process of this heritage craft and shown how to use traditional tools of the trade. Given step by step instruction through demonstration, at the end of the day you will go home with your own stylish notebook and the skills to make more.

Suitable for both beginners and those with some bookbinding experience. All tools and materials are provided including a great range of decorative papers to choose from but please feel free to bring any you would like to try to use.

Call 01672 512071 to book your place or pop into the bookshop!

Address

136 High Street
Marlborough
SN81HW

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5:30am
Tuesday	9am - 5:30am
Wednesday	9am - 5:30am
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	9am - 5:30pm
Saturday	9am - 5:30pm
Sunday	11am - 4pm

Telephone

+441672512071

Website

http://whitehorsebooks.co.uk/

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