7 Independent Bookstores You Must Visit on a Trip to Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of the literary capitals of the world. And it’s full of incredible bookish spots and bookshops to visit. I had the opportunity to travel to Scotland for my previous role as a VP of Marketing at a tech startup headquartered there. I had one weekend to myself on the trip, so I made the most of it and visited every independent bookstore I could walk to. Luckily, it’s a super walkable city with incredible charm. Did I fall in love with Edinburgh? Absolutely. Did my colleagues think I was nuts to be running around to every bookstore? Possibly.
These spots are without a doubt, my must visits, and include a mix of vintage, used bookshops, as well as those that carry new and special edition books with those elusive sprayed edges.
Topping & Co.
Located in an old bank building, I spent literal hours in this bookshop. While hardcovers can be scarce in the UK, this location had a fair amount, and all hardcovers in this bookstore come wrapped in a protective clear cover. If you’ve ever wanted to fulfill your dream of standing on a rolling ladder amongst shelves of beautiful books, this is the place for you. I snagged a mini edition of Tolkien’s The Adventures of Tom Bombadil here. ProTip: A lot of independent bookstores will stamp your book, so you can have a memory of where you got it, so always ask at checkout.
Waterstones
Not all Waterstones are created equal. The Prince Street location is a cut above the rest. Multiple floors of new and special editions make browsing a joy. I didn’t want to leave. Plus, there’s a cafe with an insanely beautiful view of the Edinburgh Castle. And of course, I wanted to take home every sprayed-edged book. In the end, I picked up the UK editions of Raybearer and Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko, because these covers are so stunning. ProTip: Walk through the cafe and down a set of stairs to get to the sublevel spot with the best views of the castle. And be warned, they close the cafe around 4pm.
Armchair Books
So incredible, I visited it TWICE. With floor to ceiling shelves, this truly was a magnificent place to while away the hours, escape the rain, and find some truly fantastical tomes. While I desperately wanted to take home the pristine vintage copies of Jane Austen, A Folio Society edition of Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, and endless gilded books on fae and faerieland, my bank account and suitcase wouldn’t allow it. In the end, I found an early J.M. Barrie, and a gorgeous 1906 copy of Aesop’s Fables with beautiful illustrations. If you pick one bookshop to visit while in Edinburgh, pick this one.
Transreal
An entire store dedicated to science fiction and fantasy books. Say less. I was sold. Plus, it’s on Deviation Alley, a little nod to Harry Potter, and close by Greyfriars Cemetery, if you’re doing a little literary urban hike around Edinburgh. They also have a pretty impressive collection of Tolkien volumes. Here’s a little tour inside from the rainy day I visited.
Golden Hare Books
I found this adorable bookshop on my way back from a trek to Stockbridge to see St. Bernard’s Well. While it’s a tiny location with a limited stock, it had charm to spare. Bright and cheery, with many local recommendations. They seem to focus on recent releases, and I picked up a gorgeous paperback collection of Scottish poems.
Blackwell’s
A UK institution, Blackwell’s is always a wonderful stop to find gorgeous, new releases, and signed editions. I snagged a signed copy of the 10th anniversary edition of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. They had some great “three for two” deals on new books as well.
Museum Context on Victoria St.
Part bookshop, part ephemera, this shop sits on Victoria St., the famous street that supposedly inspired J.K. Rowling’s Diagon Alley. There is a TON of Harry Potter merch, trinkets, and of course, books. If you’re looking to snag the house editions of Harry Potter, they’ve got them all, and if you go up a couple flights of stairs, there’s a cool basilisk photo op. I picked up a gorgeous little copy of folklore stories from Scotland.
So you might be wondering how on earth I brought all these books home in my luggage, and I won’t lie, it was precarious for a second. I literally had books everywhere. In my jacket pockets, in my carry on, my purse, and suitcase. But I somehow managed to get this stack home, and most of the books were small. I also left a copy of The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis in my Airbnb for the next guest to enjoy. It seemed fitting since my Airbnb was book themed, and owned by a woman who runs writing and binding workshops. It truly was a magical visit to a very special city. I can’t wait to return.