How popular isBlackwell's in search?
In September 2026, there were an estimated 90.5K branded searches for Blackwell's in United Kingdom which held steady over the last 12 months. Blackwell's holds 33.5% estimated Share of Search among United Kingdom bookstores and is ranked 2nd of 4 competitors for search popularity.
WHSmith61.2%
Blackwell's33.5%
Waterstones3.7%
Foyles1.6%
Follow Blackwell's and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Which bookstores compete with Blackwell's?
Share of Search by month for WHSmith, Blackwell's, Waterstones. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | WHSmith | Blackwell's | Waterstones | Foyles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 76.9% | 18.9% | 3.1% | 1.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 76.5% | 18.8% | 3.8% | 0.91% |
| Dec 2025 | 74.9% | 18.4% | 5.5% | 1.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 73.1% | 22% | 3.6% | 1.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 68.5% | 25.1% | 4.1% | 2.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 69.5% | 25.6% | 3.4% | 1.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 70.1% | 25.8% | 2.8% | 1.3% |
| May 2026 | 70.1% | 25.8% | 2.8% | 1.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 65.6% | 29.4% | 3.2% | 1.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 61.6% | 33.8% | 3% | 1.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 61.3% | 33.6% | 3% | 2% |
| Sep 2026 | 61.2% | 33.5% | 3.7% | 1.6% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 61.2% | 165K | 0% | -0.2 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 33.5% | 90.5K | 0% | -0.1 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 3.7% | 9.9K | +22.2% | +0.7 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 1.6% | 4.4K | -18.5% | -0.4 points |
1.
WHSmith61.2%
Held 1st. 165K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
33.5%
Held 2nd. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
3.7%
Held 3rd. 9.9K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
4.
Foyles1.6%
Held 4th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
Compare search popularity between Blackwell's and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Blackwell's
3 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Blackwell's changed in United Kingdom over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Blackwell's in United Kingdom held steady at 90.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Blackwell's’ estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United Kingdom increased from 18.9% to 33.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Blackwell's’ estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United Kingdom peaked at 33.8% in July 2026 and was lowest at 18.4% in December 2025.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom bookstores in September 2026?
3 changes

In September 2026, Waterstones gained estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United Kingdom, from 3% to 3.7%.

WHSmith’s estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United Kingdom has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 65.6% to 61.2% in September 2026.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Foyles in United Kingdom fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 5.4K to 4.4K in September 2026.
How is Blackwell's measured?
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Blackwell's’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
2 branded search terms
- blackwell s
- blackwells
Do you work for Blackwell's? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Is Blackwell's your brand?
Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.