This page is a work in progress! Please email, to update with links, if you run a distro or similar, or if you feel anything needs editing. Especially love to hear from zine distros outside of the UK and US/Canada!
What is a 'Zine'?
'Zine' is a shortening of the word 'fanzine', but as in magazine too.
Zines or fanzines are self-produced print publications. They can be about any topic, and the author has total freedom over content. They can be any length, and there are a huge variety of approaches to design, style, lay-outs, and print production methods. Anyone can make a zine.
Zines or fanzines are self-produced print publications. They can be about any topic, and the author has total freedom over content. They can be any length, and there are a huge variety of approaches to design, style, lay-outs, and print production methods. Anyone can make a zine.
Where can I buy 'zines?
Zines are distributed in many ways. There are zine-specific shops online which sell zines, known as 'distros'. You will find a list of some distros below. Sometimes physical shops sell zines, such as in independent book shops, music shops, craft shops, art galleries, etc. Sometimes people choose to sell their zines to people direct via online shops like Etsy or eBay. Zines are sometimes sold at music events, or in person between friends/other zine creators. All over the world, there are regularly occurring zine fairs / independent press events. See below for a list of some.
Distros - UK - A to Z
Active Distribution: Long-standing political zine stockist. Also stocks music, DVDs, badges, and more.
Dead Trees & Dye: Range of perzines and political zines.
Girls Get Busy: Feminist zine specialist and collective.
Marching Stars: Lovely feminist distro that sadly closed in 2015.
Pen Fight: feminist-friendly work created by women, non-binary, working class, LGBTQ+ or disabled people.
Princesa Pirata: Zines on feminism, sexuality, sexual assault recovery, mental health, politics, plus crafts like patches and postcards.
Twigs & Apples: zine collective based in Preston - artsy items plus zines on wide range of topics.
Vampire Sushi: Specialist in feminist and mental health perzines, and other subjects such as sexuality, and food, as well as stocking music and crafts.
Dead Trees & Dye: Range of perzines and political zines.
Girls Get Busy: Feminist zine specialist and collective.
Marching Stars: Lovely feminist distro that sadly closed in 2015.
Pen Fight: feminist-friendly work created by women, non-binary, working class, LGBTQ+ or disabled people.
Princesa Pirata: Zines on feminism, sexuality, sexual assault recovery, mental health, politics, plus crafts like patches and postcards.
Twigs & Apples: zine collective based in Preston - artsy items plus zines on wide range of topics.
Vampire Sushi: Specialist in feminist and mental health perzines, and other subjects such as sexuality, and food, as well as stocking music and crafts.
Distros outside of the UK - A to Z
Brown Recluse distro: aims to be a one-stop shop for POC zines.
Doris: Mental health zines, support zines, queer zines, health zines, anarchist zines, feminist zines, body image zines, and food zines. Doris is its own zine too.
Echo Publishing: Belgium-based feminist/DIY zines.
Fight Boredom: Perzines that are feminist, queer, anarchist, and on a range of topics.
Ms Valerie Park: Personal, political, and literary zines.
Portland Button Works Physical shop in Portland run by Alex Wrekk, long-time zine creator. Huge range of zines - crafts for sale too.
Stranger Danger: Zine topics such as feminism, sexuality, and gender.
Sweet Candy Distro: Huge range of zines from this US distro that is 8 years old. Specialises in perzines, but also parenting/cooking/body image. + crafts on sale.
Take Care: Australian zine distro - ranges from perzines to art and music zines.
Things You Say: Personal and political zines mainly.
Doris: Mental health zines, support zines, queer zines, health zines, anarchist zines, feminist zines, body image zines, and food zines. Doris is its own zine too.
Echo Publishing: Belgium-based feminist/DIY zines.
Fight Boredom: Perzines that are feminist, queer, anarchist, and on a range of topics.
Ms Valerie Park: Personal, political, and literary zines.
Portland Button Works Physical shop in Portland run by Alex Wrekk, long-time zine creator. Huge range of zines - crafts for sale too.
Stranger Danger: Zine topics such as feminism, sexuality, and gender.
Sweet Candy Distro: Huge range of zines from this US distro that is 8 years old. Specialises in perzines, but also parenting/cooking/body image. + crafts on sale.
Take Care: Australian zine distro - ranges from perzines to art and music zines.
Things You Say: Personal and political zines mainly.
Other zine stockists + zine libraries - UK
56a Info Shop (also has an amazing organic food co-op!): 56 Crampton Street, London, SE17, has a large and varied zine library, with many zines also on sale.
Active Distribution: DIY, not for profit, political zines.
BookArtBookShop: 17 Pitfield St, London, London N1 6HB
Cowley Library: Zine/pamphlet library in Brighton.
DIY Space for London: A zine library is going to be arranged in this amazing new cooperative arts space in SE London. Also hosts regular zine events and will soon have a printing workshop.
Feminist Library, has a feminist zine library: 5 Westminster Bridge Rd, London, Greater London SE1 7XW
Glasgow Women's Library
Here: Art gallery and small press shop in Bristol.
Housmans radical book shop: 5 Caledonian Road, King's Cross, London, N1 9DX
ICA: The ICA book shop sells a range of small press works and zines, mainly art and politics.
LCC (London College of Communication): LCC Library has a zine collection which the public can book to view. There are sometimes exhibitions too.
Poetry Library: At the Southbank Centre. Small press poetry zines are stocked, some historical, some current. For reference or for loan.
Salford Zine Library: Nexus Café, Dale Street, Manchester.
Stuart Hall Library @ Iniva Gallery: has a zine reading collection: Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts), Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA
Ti Pi Tin: book shop in Stoke Newington, north east London which sells some zines, mainly art related.
Veggies: Vegan catering organisation who sell recipe zines and vegan related zines on their site and at various events around the UK.
Zineopolis: Comic zine library in Portsmouth
Also, some public libraries in the UK carry small press books or pamphlets in their stock, and are great places to advertise zine events.
Active Distribution: DIY, not for profit, political zines.
BookArtBookShop: 17 Pitfield St, London, London N1 6HB
Cowley Library: Zine/pamphlet library in Brighton.
DIY Space for London: A zine library is going to be arranged in this amazing new cooperative arts space in SE London. Also hosts regular zine events and will soon have a printing workshop.
Feminist Library, has a feminist zine library: 5 Westminster Bridge Rd, London, Greater London SE1 7XW
Glasgow Women's Library
Here: Art gallery and small press shop in Bristol.
Housmans radical book shop: 5 Caledonian Road, King's Cross, London, N1 9DX
ICA: The ICA book shop sells a range of small press works and zines, mainly art and politics.
LCC (London College of Communication): LCC Library has a zine collection which the public can book to view. There are sometimes exhibitions too.
Poetry Library: At the Southbank Centre. Small press poetry zines are stocked, some historical, some current. For reference or for loan.
Salford Zine Library: Nexus Café, Dale Street, Manchester.
Stuart Hall Library @ Iniva Gallery: has a zine reading collection: Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts), Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA
Ti Pi Tin: book shop in Stoke Newington, north east London which sells some zines, mainly art related.
Veggies: Vegan catering organisation who sell recipe zines and vegan related zines on their site and at various events around the UK.
Zineopolis: Comic zine library in Portsmouth
Also, some public libraries in the UK carry small press books or pamphlets in their stock, and are great places to advertise zine events.
Zine events - UK
There are no set dates for zine events, and not all events occur every year or even repeat more than once or a few times, but there are plenty happening all over the UK throughout the year. If you have a zine event coming up, please email to be added. This list will comprise organisers of upcoming, or recent or past events - check their sites for news of any events as we cannot be held accountable and are just linking to them for reference.
Alternative Press Fair
Anarchist Book Fair
Bristol Zine and Comic Fair
DIY Cultures
Glasgow Zine Fest
Leeds Zine Fair
Radical Book Fair
Sheffield Zine Fest
Wimbledon Zine Fair 2015
Alternative Press Fair
Anarchist Book Fair
Bristol Zine and Comic Fair
DIY Cultures
Glasgow Zine Fest
Leeds Zine Fair
Radical Book Fair
Sheffield Zine Fest
Wimbledon Zine Fair 2015
Useful zine-related websites
365 Zines: Zine reviews blog
Spill the Zines: UK zine review blog
We Make Zines: online zine community
We Love Zines: Tumblr dedicated to zine news with spotlights on zines and call outs for submissions
Spill the Zines: UK zine review blog
We Make Zines: online zine community
We Love Zines: Tumblr dedicated to zine news with spotlights on zines and call outs for submissions