There were two reasons why we booked a city break to Edinburgh in 2019, and why we returned with the kids in 2022: Christmas and book shopping! Oh and a certain connection to a Mr Potter might have also been involved.
But primarily it was because I follow a couple of people on social media who raved about the second-hand and independent bookshops in the city, and I wanted an excuse to visit for myself.
As a top literary city (it was named the first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004) you would expect Edinburgh to have a good amount of bookshops on offer and they truly do not disappoint. You’d also think with two visits under our belts that we would have managed to get round them all but alas, it just means we’ve got another excuse to go back again!
If you are on the hunt for second-hand books, Armchair Books is an absolute must. Our first visit we must have timed it just right because it was fairly empty; it’s not the biggest space so be prepared to feel a little cramped but it is literally stacked floor to ceiling with books and is great fun to explore. The second time around it was a little more shoulder to shoulder but have some patience as you don’t know what gems might be waiting for you.
It definitely has that ‘olde-world’ feel to it when you step through the doors. Think curling pages, and that particular smell that books tend to have. There are a good variety of modern reads and classics side by side and I had a good chat with the staff member on the till both times.
My favourite part of the whole experience? This hilarious sign taped to the outside window. I love a place with a sense of humour.
Address: 72-74 West Port, EH1 2LE
Opening Hours: 10am-6.30pm every day
Website: www.armchairbooks.co.uk
This is undoubtedly a bookshop that will delight book collectors. It is located on the same road as Armchair Books (so a good excuse not to miss it out!) and feels like a place you could get lost in for hours with it’s winding stacks.
There are fewer modern titles here but if you are interested in classics, or children’s books then it’s well worth popping in for a look. They have a whole section dedicated to sheet music downstairs in the basement as well which is worth a look just for the experience.
It has books stuffed just about every which way onto the shelves so be prepared to have a good nosy through their offerings, especially if you are on the hunt for something in particular.
Address: 145-147, West Port, Edinburgh EH3 9DP
Opening Hours: 10am-6pm every day (closed Sundays)
Website: edinburghbooks.net
We made the mistake of not looking up where Tills Bookshop was located and ended up having to walk quite a distance in order to reach it, but it was well worth the trip. Not only had they got their festive decorations out, but it was the place I picked up the majority of the books I bought during our trip; a true bookworm’s dream.
They not only have shelves and shelves of fiction and non-fiction books but they have a whole ‘behind the scenes section’ which I was privileged to be able to peer into. And I even managed to spot a book on my wishlist!
Sadly we didn’t visit this second time around as it was too far for the kids to walk but it’s definitely one I would like to come back to, if we find ourselves in Edinburgh in the future.
Address: 1 Hope Park Crescent, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9NA
Opening Hours: 10am-6pm (Monday-Friday), 10am-5pm (Saturday) + 12pm-5pm (Sunday)
Website: www.tillsbookshop.co.uk
Another bookshop which is slightly outside of the city centre, in Stockbridge, but fully worth the trip if you can get there whilst visiting is Rare Birds Books. This was top of my list as I have been a member of their book club subscription since January 2022 and am an avid follower of their instagram.
If you want to talk beautiful bookshops then this has simply got to be top of the list. They don’t stock a ton of books, and they are all new but it has to be hands down the prettiest bookstore I have had the privilege to explore.
It was the very last shop we visited on our most recent trip and I was in LOVE. I bought three books and renewed my book club subscription for the coming year. Show me a bit of pink and some pampas and clearly I’m hooked.
It’s also located on a very pretty street with second-hand charity bookshops (there’s an Oxfam one just a few doors up) and some independent coffee shops dotted around so you could make a whole thing out of visiting. If you need an excuse!
Address: 13a Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, EH4 1HU
Opening Hours: 10am-5.30pm (Monday-Saturday), 11am-5pm (Sunday)
Website: rarebirdsbooks.com
As I said, we didn’t really get to explore the many other options in the city but if you are planning a literary break you might want to also consider the following:
Other bookshops to visit:-
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Thanks so much!