My Saturn Return kicked my ass.

Like many twenty-eight-year-olds before me, I found myself lost. I forgot who I was; I forgot what I liked; I lost interest in nearly all of my previous hobbies and I lost the energy to pursue anything new. I clawed my way out of the house on weekends with a promise of a latte, a trip to the bookstore, a crisp, new paperback. It wasn’t much–but it didn’t need to be.

I’m grateful to these stores for being just enough to get me out of the house on Sunday mornings. I’m grateful for the hours spent wandering the shelves, thinking about literally anything other than my own twenty-eight-year-old problems.

And, of course, I’m grateful for the books.

So, if you’re in the city, here are my must-visit bookstores in LA

1)Octavia’s Bookshelf

The afternoon I visited Octavia’s Bookshelf, the store bustled with life: a vibrant stream of customers filled the space, happily browsing its shelves. In the few months since it opened its doors, it has become a pillar of community in Pasadena. This Black-owned business is a fabulous entry to city’s indie scene: with a focus on diverse authors, it curates a perfect blend of well-known titles and hidden gems alike.

Named after the renowned author Octavia Butler, Octavia’s Bookshelf is the first Black-owned bookstore in Pasadena–which also happens to be Butler’s own hometown. Owner Nikki High spent a decade imagining such a business before leaving her corporate job to follow her dream. 

Tip: For the Octavia Butler buffs, the nearby Huntington Library has her journals, which can be viewed by the public. While you’re there, be sure to take a stroll through the expansive gardens. Bring some sunscreen and your camera! 

2)North Figueroa Bookshop

Those looking for books about Los Angeles will find everything they’re looking for and more at North Figueroa Bookshop. This trendy new shop is situated in Highland Park, a comfortable walk to many of our favorite cafes and vintage shops. 

Funded by publishers, this independent bookstore has a deep tie to local presses. LA-based Unnamed Press and Rare Bird Lit collaborated to build this project and in the process have created a space that is uniquely born from this city. In addition to its thorough section of California Lit, the store also has a well-curated range of fiction, non fiction and children’s titles. Unlike other bookstores, it spotlights publishers by featuring its shelves around individual presses. 

Tip: For the LA tattoo lovers among us, check out Martlet Tattoo down the road—we’re both obsessed with artist Amelia Rose! For some of the best sandwiches in the city, head to nearby Maciel’s Plant Based Butcher, and get coffee at Kumquat!

Read More: 13 Books Set in Los Angeles

3)Skylight Books

Located in the heart of Los Feliz, Skylight is a staple of the neighborhood–a bright and welcoming space with the gravity of a small star. I find it almost impossible to be anywhere in a three-mile radius and not stop by for a quick visit. 

With an event almost every night, it is a literary hub of the city.  A few doors down is the Arts Annex, home to bursting shelves of graphic novels, scripts, coffee table books, and local zines.

We love Skylight for its strong sense of community, its well-curated literary fiction, and the beautiful tree in the center of the shop.

Tip: Skip the meters and park on the neighborhood side streets to the east of Vermont! Double check for street sweeping.

If you’re looking for a longer afternoon out, I recommend parking between Vermont and Hillhurst and visiting businesses on both streets. My favorites are Maru Coffee, The Alcove, Green Leaves Vegan, and Squaresville Vintage.

Read More: Five Day Los Angeles Itinerary

4)Stories Books and Cafe

This bookstore-slash-coffee shop has an undeniably cool air. With trendy baristas, a wide selection of new-and-used titles, and hilarious Instagram presence, this store epitomizes the hipster chic of Echo Park. 

I love spending long afternoons writing here. The steady stream of fashionable clientele and pampered dogs makes for great people watching. When I need a break, I browse through their stuffed shelves, enjoying the combination of unique titles and bestsellers alike. 

In addition to book events, Stories also host a weekly free comedy show, Good Heroin, every Saturday. 

Tip: Come on a Friday afternoon and stop by the Echo Park Farmer’s Market down the block! Open from 3 to 7:30 pm, it is a great spot to grab local produce and prepared foods in the city.

I highly recommend grabbing a plate of vegan pupusas from Delmy’s Pupusas and the utterly addicting tempah offered by Dave’s Korean. 

5)Vroman’s

While you’re in Pasadena, take a drive down Colorado Blvd to visit the iconic Vroman’s Bookstore. This bookstore really has it all: wide selection, well-chosen staff picks, unique gifts, and more. As the largest and oldest independent bookstore in California, it has a deep rooted history in Pasadena. While it has a broad selection in every genre, I particularly love this shop for its broad range of Science Fiction and Fantasy and Young Adult titles. They also host regular author events from local and international writers.

Vroman’s was my favorite depression visit. The drive to old town Pasadena was just far enough to offer a sense of reprieve: as the mountains grew clearer and crisper, my existential dread eased just a little. Maybe it was the fresh air. Or maybe it was just the relief of knowing I probably would not run into anyone I knew. But I treasured those weekend trips to the bookstore and its now-permanently closed neighbor, Zona Rosa Coffee (RIP). 

Tip: If it’s nice out, take your new book to one of the nearby parks. My favorite is Pasadena Central Park. It’s either an enjoyable twenty minute walk or an easy drive.

Nearby are multiple great restaurants and cafes. My favorites are Neighborhood and Friends which offer charcuterie boards (including plant-based!), sandwiches, and great coffee, and HomeBrewed Bar (be careful of the mini boba: it’s delicious but so, so easy to choke on).

Read More: 21 Hotels in Los Angeles Worth Staying At

6)Chevalier’s

Small but mighty, Chevalier’s is an anchor in the LA literary scene. As the city’s oldest indie bookshop, it offers a robust selection in a compact space. You can feel the booksellers’ passion on these shelves: every genre is lovingly curated with bestsellers and hidden gems alike. I have been hand sold multiple titles by the employees here and always look forward to their recommendations. They also have an exciting weekly events lineup from open mic and trivia nights, to zine fests, and author readings. Make sure to see what’s on!

This shop was a common stop for me in high school. A chubby fifteen-year-old, I felt so adult, strolling up Larchmont with a latte from Peet’s and browsing the shelves. Over fifteen years later, not much has changed. 

Tip: I neither drink wine nor eat cheese, but I am a religious about Larchmont Wine and Cheese down the street. Get there in the afternoon before they run out of bread.

Get a number six on baguette. Do NOT fuck around with the ciabatta. You’re welcome.

Read More: 11 Best Food Tours in Los Angeles

7)Book Soup

Bookseller to the Great and Infamous, boasts Book Soup’s sign, proudly hanging over the Sunset Strip. Inside, the shelves tower high: while small, the store is fully stocked, easily transporting the average shopper into a cozy labyrinth of pages. 

Book Soup offers a range of genres, but caters most strongly to readers of literary fiction. It also has a very robust selection of memoir, nonfiction, and cookbooks. I enjoy their staff selections and well-curated table displays. 

Tip: I love taking advantage of the hills in the area and combining a visit to this shop with an urban hike.

Park in West Hollywood south of Santa Monica Blvd and enjoy the butt-kicking grade of La Cienega Blvd. Walk north until you hit Sunset, then head west, enjoying the hilarious people watching on the Sunset Strip.

If you have bad knees like me, take the easier way back: Holloway Drive offers a gentler slope and joins with Santa Monica Blvd to leave you right where you parked in WeHo.  

8) The Last Bookstore

What list of LA independent bookstores would be complete without The Last Bookstore? Inarguably the most famous of the LA indies, this shop brags of a huge selection of new and used titles as well as its most impressive draw: a beautiful (and highly Instagrammable) space. 

Make sure to head upstairs to get the full experience. There, you’ll find charming nooks and crannies–as well as the famous book tunnel, where any book lover could take a new profile picture. 

While it has every new title you could want, I highly recommend perusing their used books. As a fantasy fan, I love getting lost in their shelves and finding out-of-print gems from decades ago.  They now have two locations to choose from, the original in DTLA and a second in Studio City.

Tip: Take public transportation if you can. Parking downtown is famously difficult, but with multiple metro lines converging in the heart of the city, you just might have the option of an easy train journey. Also, if you’re hungry after all that browsing, go to Yuko’s kitchen around the corner. 

9) The Illiad

If you like secondhand books, The Illiad is a must-visit. This is an eclectic shop where you probably won’t find what you want, but you will leave with something cool and find some sweet cats! They have a huge fiction and drama section, plus an extensive non-fiction section sorted by genre and topic.

This one takes a long time to explore, so settle in and get lost. If you want a short but satisfying loop hike nearby, look up Fryman Canyon!

Thankfully, I’m well out of my Saturn Returns now. Books have gone back to being a well-loved passion, rather than a lifeline keeping me afloat–but still, I find myself stopping by these stores every week or so.

As the literary scene in LA grows, the indie bookstores are more and more essential, quiet centers of community in a loud city.  This is just a small selection of the wonderful bookshop in Los Angeles so make sure to keep exploring!

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Some of these bookstores are well-known landmarks, easily recognizable by their iconic storefronts or towering shelves.

Others are tiny holes in the wall you’ll find between breweries waiting to be discovered. But regardless of their size or location, each of these bookshops is a treasure trove of literary delights.

Essential Toronto Bookstores

Whether you’re a longtime resident or a first-time visitor, be sure to carve out some time to explore these wonderful Toronto bookstores.

1) Glad Day Bookshop

In Toronto’s LGBTQ+ hub on Church St, you will find the world’s first-ever gay-owned bookshop, Glad Day. And they’ve been living up to that amazing feat for over 50 years. 

Glad Day Bookshop is the place to go for coffee, drinks, reading events, drag brunches, and queer literature. They have a wide selection, with emphasis on Two-Spirit and Indigenous literature, trans stories, and QTBIPOC books. 

It won’t surprise you to see an array of pride buttons, flags, and excessively friendly, chatty patrons and bartenders alike. It’s a rare gay who hasn’t gone to an event at Glad Day and left with a couple new friends, and perhaps a couple of new lovers, as well.

Visit the Glad Day bookshop website

2) Re: Reading

If Re: Reading isn’t the nerdiest used bookshop in Toronto, it’s certainly the most unique. If I simply call it a second-and book shop in East York, I’d be doing it no justice.

The massive range of books, a movie collection, and an entire room for fantasy and sci-fi are just the beginning. 

Re: Reading hosts a monthly scavenger hunt around their store where participants must solve riddles to win gift cards, but if challenges aren’t your thing, you can swing by to see the amazing and constantly changing decor.

From monster masks in the horror section, Star Trek nicknacks at the front of the store, and some amazing art on the floor keep a bookworm’s mind busy as you rifle through boos and take pictures of every nook and cranny. 

There’s no bookstore in Toronto with so much character, and because it’s in the east end, it’s a hidden gem to most Torontonians…or a weekly visit for east enders.

Visit the RE: Reading bookshop website

3) Sellers and Newel

You might go to Sellers and Newel for the second-hand books, the incredible selection of poetry, the horror books displayed in a used coffin, the books on music…or the actual music. 

Sellers and Newel is the only bookshop in Toronto to double as a music venue. Performers include Juno Award winners, international artists, and Toronto’s hometown musicians.

It’s small and intimate, and tickets for the shows sell out fast; they’re a must-visit for anyone looking for something unique and artsy to do in Toronto. 

Visit the Sellers and Newell bookshop website

4) Little Ghosts

Although Little Ghosts has only been around for a couple years, it’s left a huge mark on Toronto’s reading scene. Tucked away in hipster capital, Kensington Market, this shop has a very modern, extremely fun vibe. 

As the city’s foremost horror bookshop, it sits perfectly between cute-spooky and scary-spooky, with black bookshelves, a mirror that reminds you that we’ll all be ghosts someday, and a giant (and I mean giant!) skeleton on their charming back patio.

Sip the coffee or beer you buy – they have both, in true Toronto fashion. And don’t forget to ask the highly knowledgeable staff for their recommendations: they’ll set you up.

Go upstairs and stare at the analog TV for an undisclosed amount of time, buy some of their merch, or pick up the first novel published by the bookstore themselves; there are plenty of options.

Little Ghosts also hosts many author events, so readers and writers have an excuse to turn up at this spooky shop as often as possible.

Visit the Little Ghosts bookshop website

5) Queen Books

Queen Books is an independent bookstore for everyone. Despite being quaint, with charming storefront displays and beautiful wallpaper, it’s absolutely overflowing with popular books. 

Queen Books is one of the best places in Toronto to go if you want a modern read (but of course, you can buy your Fitzgeralds and your Shakespeares there as well) without going to a corporate store.

While a lot of bookshops pride themselves on their enjoyable clutter, Queen Books is clean and neat. 

Once you make your way through all the beautiful books at the front, and stop to have a chat with the passionate staff, you’ll get to the back of the store.

Given the beautiful wallpaper, you might think you’ve found the classics, but this is, in fact, where the kids and young adult books can be found.

As someone who grew up in a dull little suburb near Toronto, I can only envy kids that get to go to this beautiful area to pick out their next read.

Visit the Queen Books bookshop website

6) Another Story

Another Story is an independent bookshop surrounded by charming cafes and breweries in Toronto’s west end. While other bookshops are where you go for a sense of calm, Another Story is where you go when you’re angry about the state of the world.

With bookshelves displaying books on social justice, trans rights, and “urban politics and cycling,” there are endless possibilities for growing your brain and learning something new. 

The children’s area is probably bigger than the adult section, and they offer an educator discount and deals for book fairs, making it easier than ever to promote diversity and inclusion to children in Toronto.

Visit the Another Story bookshop website

7) Bakka-Phoenix

 As Toronto’s oldest sci-fi and fantasy bookshop, Bakka-Phoenix is a store that can boast a long and, dare I say, storied history.

In the 70s, the shop, originally just Bakka, split off into the beloved Toronto Comic Book store Silver Snail, another great spot to visit as you tour Toronto.

The bookshop has hosted the likes of George RR Martin and been a day job to a handful of Torontonian authors like Robert J Sawyer.

Nowadays, you can read from a massive and magnificently categorized selection of books. The best part of touring its shelves is the cute and useful notes they leave.

Think: Bookstagram you can touch.

Visit the Bakka-Phoenix bookshop website

8) The Scribe

When you enter The Scribe in Toronto’s East End, you’ll be greeted by the ever-important smell of old books.

And of course you would; you’ve just entered a comfortably small shop with walls lined with old books, a window nook full of old books, and a beautiful backroom stuffed with, you guessed it, old books. 

On top of offering a huge and wildly diverse (everything from the Oz series to comics written by Simpsons creator Matt Greoning to vintage Playboy magazines to occult literature) selection of rare and second-hand books, The Scribe also offers services like appraisals and book repairs. 

If you manage to pull yourself away from a conversation with the incredibly helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable staff and exploring the crowded shelves, you’ll find that the back of the store contains the real treasure trove.

The rarest books can be found here, secured behind glass and looking awfully photogenic. 

Breaking up these spaces is a gorgeous writing desk beside a wall literally covered in beautifully scrawled pages. It’s an experience to look into the window of the Scribe; being within its walls feels like an adventure in literature.

Visit The Scribe bookshop website

9) The Monkey’s Paw 

Frankly, I wish I could live at The Monkey’s Paw. 

The shop smells like my grandparents’ place – beyond the lovely scent that old books give off, it gives off a cottagey vibe. It’s probably the tiniest shop on this list, which makes it extra cozy, with floor creaks when you walk. 

You might think this is the perfect recipe for a horror bookshop, but what The Monkey’s Paw actually offers is the quirky and the funky of the literary world, all of which is out of print.

They pride themselves on not buying popular books or books published after 1980. 

So, what do they have? If I read a book off each shelf, I’d learn philosophy, Chinese religions, how to cook fish, and how to set tables like a proper lady. Or I could read a selection of short works by Hunter S Thompson. Depends on my mood. 

But the most unique thing The Monkey’s Paw has to offer is the Biblio-Mat, the world’s first randomizing machine of old books. You never know what you’re going to get, with a selection so simultaneously large and niche.

Visit The Monkey’s Paw bookshop website

Lindsay Clarke is a Toronto-based writer, an alum of George Brown College’s Novel Writing program, and a professional closet-crier. She has been previously published in QT Literary Magazine, Game Cupid, and The Mistress of the House of Books. You can find her at instagram.com/lindsay.p.clarke.writes.

The city of Bath has a museum dedicated to Jane Austen (with a gift shop and tearoom), the historic Roman baths which gave the town its name, the magnificent Royal Crescent and, of course, several of the most fabulous bookshops in the country.

You can even catch the Jane Austen festival, thrown every September.

Bath provides everything that a bookworm could want. Eat at a centuries-old pub, wander the friendly cobbled streets, visit some of the unique museums, and pay a visit to all of these wonderful Bath bookshops. Every bookworm is at home in Bath, and the bookshops of Bath are a big reason why.

1) Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights

A bookshop with a name this glorious couldn’t live anywhere but Bath. It fits this friendly city so perfectly. Once inside, you’ll immediately see the appeal of Mr. B’s Emporium of Reading Delights.

This award-winning Bath bookshop is flooded with natural light, and is also the right kind of cramped, where every turn of the body yields a new bookshelf or display to admire and be tempted by.

There are three floors: the ground floor, which has the newest stock and most of the fiction, as well as delightful window displays and the friendliest staff.

The basement is where all the history and philosophy can be found, as well as a toilet that was hand-decorated by the legendary Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell.

Upstairs hides a fantastic little secret: the reading room. This is a tiny but bright and comforting space, a few chairs to perch upon, and a quiet calm in which to read as you flick through a few chosen temptations. 

These simple details make it one of the best Bath bookshops for a reading retreat.

The store also offers something very special. For £80 you can buy yourself or a loved one a ‘Book Spa’. This includes a visit to the bookshop where you’ll be treated to some bibliotherapy: a member of the store will sit down with you and chat about your favourite books, listen to your tastes, and return with a stack of books tailored to your tastes.

You’ll leave with £55 worth of new books, a mug, a tote bag, and a gift card. We cannot think of a better gift for a bookish friend.

Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights is located in the town centre, just off from the main street, around the corner from the aforementioned Jane Austen Centre, and a few doors down from an excellent pub with an excellent name: The Raven.

Website | Address: 14-15, John St, Bath BA1 2JL, United Kingdom

Read More: 21 Must-Visit Independent Bookshops in the UK

2) Topping & Co, Bath

We frankly adore this shop. Everyone who works in Topping is so incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about literature and what they do.

I can’t tell you how many authors, publishers, and translators we’ve been introduced to thanks to the staff here

It’s very easy to while away an hour on a quiet day chatting with the staff about your favourite indie publishers and Latin American authors, as we have done in the past.

Note: The Bath branch of Topping has since moved location (to the address below) but the shop’s iconic aesthetics remain. In fact, they now have Roman columns and a balcony!

The shop is a beautiful display of traditional ladders that are lifted straight out of Beauty and the Beast. And you can actually use them to help you to reach up to those top shelves, with the shop stretching back as far as the eye can see.

They also wrap many of the books in soft plastic coverings that make them look like irresistible gifts for yourself. No bookshop makes buying new books more deliciously tempting than Topping & Co.

The books themselves are separated into specific and useful sections, which is always appreciated and, despite it being a relatively small shop, I have never not found what I’ve been looking for, including special editions of specific titles.

The wealth of books on offer here matches the sheer antique beauty of the shop itself.

Another area where Topping & Co excel is in their selection of first editions and signed-by-the-authors editions.

Tucked in amongst the normal books, you’ll find these gems everywhere and they’re rarely more expensive than their unsigned counterparts.

Topping & Co. also host literary events throughout the year so it’s well worth keeping an eye on their website. They have other branches in the UK, including in the historic city of Ely.

Website | Address: York St, Bath BA1 1NG

Read More: Visit Hay-on-Wye – the UK’s Beloved Booktown.

3) Persephone Books, Bath

Persephone Books was a beloved London indie bookshop haunt before they announced their recent exciting move to the city of Bath. This move felt so right, given how Bath is one of the most celebrated literary cities in Britain.

With a uniform design that has become so iconic — a dove grey cover and spine with unique and colourful paper inlays (of which you can usually buy off-cuts for craft projects) — Persephone Books publishes out-of-print women writers, mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries, that otherwise might have been lost to history.

This small bookshop is incredibly aesthetic with piles of these iconic numbered books and unique postcards, tote bags, and bookmarks you won’t find anywhere else.

If you fall in love with this independent publisher and Bath bookshop, which is highly likely, they have subscription services where you can receive one of these special books every month, right to your door.

Read More: A Perfect Bath Day Trip for Culture Lovers

Website | Address: 8 Edgar Buildings, Bath BA1 2EE

4) Bath Old Books

While Mr B’s Emporium and Topping both fit that mould of meticulously designed fairy tale book shops, Bath Old Books is Bath’s answer to the old guard of booksellers that revel in being cluttered with stacks and shelves of beautiful old tomes. In other words, Bath Old Books is a true cave of wonders.

Carpeted rooms lined with wooden bookcases from floor to ceiling make for a literal house of books where anything and everything is possible. Bath Old Books provides hours of browsing possibilities.

Along with the Jane Austen museum and the baths themselves, Bath Old Books is an historic and essential part of the city of Bath. Without it, Bath would not be Bath.

What sets this Bath bookshop apart is its selection of antiquarian books from centuries passed. If you’re in the market for old and rare books in Bath, this is where you must take yourself.

Website | Address: 6A Margaret’s Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP, United Kingdom

Read More: Check out some of our favourite independent bookshops in London

5) Skoob Books

Who doesn’t love a good second-hand bookstall? Centrally located in Guildhall Market, with stacks of books to dig through, this is where you’ll find battered and beloved Penguin Classics and all the latest paperbacks.

At wonderfully affordable prices, you are sure to pick up a book or two, or three.

Website | Address: 40 – 42 Guildhall Market, Bath BA2 4AW

Read More: Pay a visit to Gladstone’s Library, the UK’s only Residential Library

6) George Bayntun

George Bayntun was a bookbinder, and a legend of one at that. Though he died back in 1940, his legacy continues in this, the oldest bookshop in Bath.

In his last few years of life and work, Bayntun’s shop was often visited by Queen Mary, wife of King George V, who spent her golden years living in the Bath area.

Today, George Bayntun is a specialist in antiquarian books of the rarest and most beautiful variety. Beyond this, the bindery which was set up by George Bayntun, and by which he was best known, is still in operation today.

If you’re looking to have a rare and broken book rebound, or a new book bound, consider turning to the historic George Bayntun for their services.

Website | Address: 23 Manvers St, Bath BA1 1JW, United Kingdom

Read More: A Complete Bookish Guide to Norwich, UK

7) The Beaufort Bookshop

Found in the charming district of Larkhall, northeast of the centre of Bath, you can find this lovely independent bookshop run by former Head of English, James Thomas, and a number of volunteers.

They mainly sell secondhand books so this is the ideal place if you’re looking for something unique or simply want to find a bargain.

Like all the best secondhand bookshops, be prepared to scour the shelves and browse the piles of books in the hope of finding that special something, the lack of organisation certainly adds to the charm here.

Endlessly passionate about books, if you’re looking for a recommendation then be sure to ask the friendly staff.

Website | Address: 1 Beaufort Pl, Bath BA1 6RP

8) The Oldfield Park Bookshop

Found on the bustling Moorland Road, a favourite amongst locals in Bath for its collection of independent eclectic shops and cafes, you will find this local bookshop that does its best to give back to the local community.

Run by two book-lovers Harry and Phillip, they’re always on hand for a friendly book chat and put huge effort into making the book displays as tempting as possible. With a diverse range of books to suit everyone, make sure to pay this charming bookshop a visit.

Website | Address: 43 Moorland Rd, Bath BA2 3PN

9) Oxfam Bookshop

One of the UK’s most beloved charity bookshop chains, the Oxfam bookshop may not be an independent bookshop in the same way as the other’s on the list but it does mean you shop for secondhand books while also giving to a good cause.

The branch in Bath is particularly good and often have some of the latest hardbacks for a fraction of the price that you’ll find elsewhere.

Address: 4, 5 Lower Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1QR

10) Waterstones Bath

Though this is a chain bookshop, sometimes you do just need to visit a branch of Waterstones.

The Bath branch is excellent and is also the only bookshop in this list to have a cafe located onsite though Bath does have a wide range of independent cafes to choose from so you certainly won’t have trouble finding coffee.

This Waterstones has two floors to enjoy, bathrooms, and has a wide selection of books including their own special editions.

Website | Address: 4-5 Milsom St, Bath BA1 1DA

Read More:

• Discover more independent bookshops in nearby Bristol
• Get Lost in Literary Covent Garden with this Bookish Guide
• Visit the Literary Sites of Yorkshire
• Discover These Five Literary Cities in the UK
• Spectacular Day Trips from London

Art both modern and classical; iconic architecture, bridges, and canals. There’s so much to love.

And as the cherry on top, there are also an awful lot of beautiful bookshops in Amsterdam!

The Best Bookshops in Amsterdam

After you’ve found and explored your favourite galleries, museums, restaurants, and cafes in Amsterdam, you’re going to want to check out the best bookshops in Amsterdam as well.

All the bookshops here are located in and around the centre, all within walking distance of one another, and all are unique from each other in one way or another.

This is your guide to all the beautiful bookshops in Amsterdam.

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The American Book Center

While this isn’t the only American Book Center in The Netherlands, it is the nation’s big flagship store.

And when we say big, we mean it. This is the kind of bookstore that feels like it goes on forever, like it could inspire a novel about infinite shelves of infinite books full of infinite stories.

As its name implies, everything here is in English, beginning with the enormous magazine section on the ground floor.

You’ll find brand new bestsellers in hardback and paperback, as well as almost oversized sections for genres like sci-fi and fantasy, horror, comics and manga, and romance.

The first set of stairs is lined on one side with shelves so tall you can’t reach the top. It’s tantalising.

You’ll also find a cafe upstairs, right after a section on board games, DnD, Warhammer, and Pokemon cards. A little nerdy haven in the heart of a colossal bookshop.

Of all the bookshops in Amsterdam, this is the one you don’t miss. If you only have time to visit one and you have plenty of time to spare, visit the American Book Center.

Even better, come here with wads of cash and enjoy an unshackled, manic shopping spree.

Waterstones

While there are many wonderful independent bookshops in Amsterdam, it’s worth mentioning the strange fact that there is a Waterstones here.

British readers will be familiar with Waterstones, the largest bookshop chain in the UK. Finding one in the heart of Amsterdam is a little strange, but very cool.

What’s even stranger is the fact that this particular Waterstones even has a section dedicated to British snacks: Jaffa Cakes, Jammie Dodgers, Yorkshire Tea teabags, and more.

This Waterstones is a decent size, and it looks and behaves identical to all other Waterstones: it has the same black and gold aesthetic, same section headers, same layout.

For bookish Brits in Amsterdam, this Waterstones is a home away from home; a place of home comforts right down to the snacks.

And since it is a Waterstones, everything in here is brand new, with an emphasis on the newest and hottest English-language books of the moment.

You’ll also find tote bags, stationary, and gifts near the till, just like in every other Waterstones.

If you’re looking for brand new English books, this is one of the essential bookshops in Amsterdam.

The English Bookshop

As its name boldly states, this is an English bookshop in Amsterdam. It’s a decently-sized place that stocks the best and most popular English language books.

It’s just the right size to stock everything you need: both fiction and nonfiction from almost every popular genre.

The bonus here is the shop’s booksellers, who are some of the kindest, most welcoming, most enthusiastic people you’ll meet in Amsterdam.

Booksellers are the heart of the publishing world, and the booksellers at Amsterdam’s English Bookshop are wonderful at their job; a delight to chat with.

If you’re in need for brand new English language books, and you’d rather not visit a big chain like ABC or Waterstones, pay a visit to one of the most welcoming bookshops in Amsterdam.

Pegasus

At Books and Bao, we are huge fans of specialty bookshops. Bookshops that focus on queer writers, radical authors, women writers, authors of colour, and so on.

Pegasus bookshop in Amsterdam is one of these wonderful specialty bookshops, dedicated entirely to Eastern European literature in translation.

From Poland to Ukraine via the Baltics and Balkans, you’ll find here some of the best fiction and nonfiction from across Eastern Europe.

Pegasus is also a publishing house, so some of the books sold here have been published by the bookshop itself; their covers are eye-catchingly colourful.

Specialist bookshops are such an integral, and often overlooked, part of the publishing and bookselling world, but they set themselves apart by highlighting specific areas that deserve attention.

As readers and book lovers, we are very grateful for the work that specialist bookshops like Pegasus are doing.

For that reason, Pegasus is one of the absolute must-visit bookshops in Amsterdam.

Happy Bookieman

It would be so easy to miss Happy Bookieman when exploring the capital of The Netherlands, but to do so would be a terrible shame.

This little bookshop is a haphazard space in the best way possible, selling a random selection of used books in both Dutch and English.

Located right on the edge of one of Amsterdam’s central canals, this place is decorated with protest art and is run by a kind, welcoming, and chatty man who will even make you a cup of tea!

Pantheon Bookstore

Pantheon is another great bookshop in the heart of Amsterdam, surrounded by excellent coffee shops on all sides.

It’s a neat, tidy, organised, and bright bookshop that sells all the most exciting fresh, new literature, mostly in Dutch but with an English section as well.

The English section is particularly impressive, stocked high with the best brand new books of the moment: hardback and paperback fiction from UK publishers.

Mendo

Mendo is very unique amongst the bookshops in Amsterdam. It is as much an artspace as it is a bookstore.

The moody lighting and meticulously planned and executed decor exudes a very specific mood that makes the visitor feel as though they have just walked into a modern art gallery.

Lining the walls are large coffee table books, all nonfiction and specialist books with an emphasis on aesthetics.

Travel books, street photography, architecture books; all large hardbacks, gorgeously designed and impressive to examine.

Handling them, these books are all weighty and would be very at home on display on anyone’s coffee table.

This is the kind of bookshop with a very specific tone and aesthetic in mind, both in terms of what it is and what it sells, and Mendo has executed on that perfectly.

Certainly one of the most unique bookshops in Amsterdam, by a long way.

The Book Exchange

This one is a definite favourite amongst all the bookshops in Amsterdam.

The Book Exchange is a second-hand bookshop that exclusively deals in English language books, and has been open for around fifty years.

Like any good second hand bookshop, The Book Exchange feels endless; it has four floors and two of them are underground! Its shelves are all a little too high. It’s perfect.

The stairs creak, the walls are undecorated, the shelves are musty, but the place is meticulously organised by section, genre, and all alphabetised.

The Book Exchange is the perfect second hand bookstore; a cave of wonders where hidden gems and cheap alternatives to expensive new books abound.

You can spend forever combing the shelves in this wonderful bookshop, scouring the genres to see what treasures you might uncover.

The atmosphere is perfect, and the books uncountable. One of the best bookshops in Amsterdam, easily.

Island Bookstore

Located a little walk west of the city centre, Island Bookstore is one of those fun open-plan bookshops with multiple levels all within the same space.

In that way, it reminds us of a slightly smaller version of Heffers in Cambridge, UK.

Like Pantheon (above), Island Bookstore is a shop that focuses on new books in Dutch, with an English section as well for those who are interested.

Reisboekhandel Evenaar

Another specialist bookshop, Evenaar is dedicated to travel books, and its decor reflects that.

With globes on the shelves and bunting decorated with little bicycles, this is a charming little bookshop at the edge of Amsterdam’s city centre.

Most of what you’ll find here is in Dutch, with random English books strewn about.

You’ll find travel guides as well as specific history and culture books, as well as books dedicated to things like nature writing and local culture.

Very reminiscent of London and Bristol’s Stanfords — a wonderful UK travel bookshop — Evenaar is one of the loveliest bookshops in Amsterdam.

While the beach and pier and beautiful, and the food is delicious; while the people are friendly and the streets are peaceful, nothing beats a good bookshop.

The Best Bookshops in The Hague

The Hague is a city of wonderful galleries, museums, restaurants, and beautiful bookshops. There’s so much art and literature to explore here.

This is your guide to the best and most beautiful bookshops in The Hague.

Stanza Bookshop

Located on the central street of Noordiende, just a few doors down from the city’s palace (and office of the king) is the charming and welcoming Stanza Bookshop.

Run by booksellers from different countries, Stanza is an international bookshop that sells new fiction and nonfiction in multiple languages, including English.

The wonderful booksellers at Stanza speak fluent English and are the most kind, considerate, and inclusive people you will meet in The Hague.

The shop itself has stunning window displays, a wide range of fresh new fiction, and a particular love for Japanese literature.

It’s a small space, cosy and compact and kind. The booksellers here will be more than happy to order in anything you’re after and chat with you about your favourite books and authors.

The location of this central bookshop is also fantastic, sitting at the heart of it all, amongst the city’s best cafes and restaurants.

Read More: The Best Things to Do in Delft

Bookstor Cafe

Located directly opposite Stanza is another one of the best bookshops in The Hague: The Bookstor Cafe.

Open since 1921, Bookstor is a bookshop that doubles as a cafe. It’s a soothing space to relax, read, and work.

Sofas and armchairs, a conservatory at the back, potted plants, broad bookshelves, and books piled high. The aesthetics here are something else.

In the summer months, sit out on the street with a coffee and watch the world go by. Otherwise get cosy on a sofa inside with a book that took your interest.

On the book front, Bookstor specialises in anything and everything published by Penguin, so you’ll find many classics here.

And as for its food offerings, there are plenty of delicious baked things and some really excellent coffee options to enjoy.

Take a seat and work at your laptop for a while, browse the bookshelves, or just while away an hour reading in the corner. This is one of the most charming bookshops in The Hague.

American Book Center

This is one of the largest bookshops in The Hague. The American Book Center specialises in English language books from US and UK publishers.

When you first enter, you’ll find a selection of English language magazines lining the wall on your right.

Beyond that are the new bestsellers and recommendations from the shop’s booksellers.

Side note: bookseller recommendations are always one of the best parts of any bookshop, and it’s great to see them here.

From here, the bookshop opens up into a treasure trove of literature and nonfiction. Every category and genre you can imagine.

There’s an alcove of comics and manga that is decorated with posters and merchandise from various properties. Very enticing!

The sci-fi and fantasy section is especially broad, extending around the entire border of the shop. It snakes its way around the walls and covers everything you can imagine within those genres.

Amongst all the bookshops in The Hague, the American Book Center is probably the most extensive and impressive in terms of its size.

Mayflower Bookshop

Just a few doors down from the American Book Center is one of the most cosy and charming bookshops in The Hague.

Mayflower Bookshop is separated by Dutch language books on the right and English language books on the left. You’ll also find here a selection of new and used books, if you’re interested in digging for hidden treasure.

It’s a welcoming and friendly space with a warm vibe, with books stacked high and plenty of options for every kind of bookworm.

After dancing between the different bookshops of The Hague, Mayflower also seems to often have the lowest prices, which is a nice bonus.

Alice in Wonderland

This is The Hague’s kinderboekhandel (children’s bookshop), and it is everything a children’s bookshop should be!

Before you enter, you’ll see a little free library standing by the doorway, as well as a white rabbit cutout inviting you inside.

The aesthetics take your breath away immediately. Cosy wood furnishings, colourful books lining every wall, a stage at the back with a throne at its centre!

A section dedicated to Roald Dahl, and even what could only be called a shrine to Alice in Wonderland.

Sections are divided by age, and you’ll find everything from picture books and pop-up books to novels for children and middle-grade readers.

This is exactly what a children’s bookshop should look and feel like: a bright, magical space that feels like a portal into one’s own imagination.

One of the most beautiful and essential bookshops in The Hague, this is a haven for little bookworms.

Just an hour outside of London, this easily accessible coastal city is a wonderful place to spend some time and go book shopping. Take your new read to Brighton Beach, Brighton Pavilion Park, or one of the many bright, independent cafes with seaside views.

Many of the most exciting Brighton bookshops can be found in The Lanes, an iconic central area not too far from the seafront. This tight labyrinth of side streets, shops, cafes, and market stalls is the heart of independent shopping in Brighton.

A short walk along the promenade will take you to the district of Hove where you can find several of the other most beloved and busy Brighton bookshops.

Since the charming and historic town of Lewes is just fifteen minutes on the train from Brighton and Hove, and has one of the oldest buildings housing a bookshop in the entire country, we also included a couple of bookshop gems found in this nearby market town, one which makes for a great day trip from Brighton. 

Brighton Bookshops

Here are the best bookshops in Brighton. Fiercely feminist bookshops, proudly independent bookshops, and important charity bookshops. Every one of them adds to the colour and variety that Brighton is so famous for. These are all must-visit Brighton bookshops.

The Feminist Bookshop

This bright and cosy bookshop tucked away in central Brighton, is a quiet haven for anyone looking to pick up the latest diverse reads and relax downstairs in the reading room with a coffee from their plant-based cafe.

 A recent addition to the Brighton bookshop scene, opeing in 2019 thanks to a sucessful crowdfunding campaign meant the owner Ruth could convert her living room into what is now The Feminist Bookshop.

Floor to ceiling, bookshelves offer everything from feminist theory, to graphic novels, the latest diverse YA reads. They support and promote self-identifying female and non-binary writers, creatives and entrepreneurs and their regular events mean you can become part of the community. 

Well organized, you’ll undoubtedly find something interesting to pick up, and of course the friendly faces in the shop are more than happy to help out.  This really is a must-visit on your Brighton literary trail.

Read More: How to Spend a Perfect Day in Brighton, UK

Dave’s Comics

A staple of The Lanes in Brighton, Dave’s Comics is one of the most iconic Brighton bookshops; a reliable linchpin of the Brighton bookish and nerd communities. While its original founder — the famous Dave — is no longer with us, Dave’s legacy lives on in this magical comic book store.

Consisting of two tightly-packed floors, lined with comics and full of colour, Dave’s Comics is a happy haven to visit and explore. Its iconic Batman symbol awning and recognisable logo lure shoppers into this wondrous cave of comics.

You’ll find everything from the best-selling DC and Marvel comics that inspired their modern movie adaptations to indie comics that push boundaries and speak for marginalised voices.

The staff at Dave’s are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a newbie in the world of comics and manga, they can help you out, make suggestions, and offer some enthusiastic conversation.

Dave’s Comics is one of the most essential and welcoming Brighton bookshops, and a shop bursting with joy and good energy.

Goldsboro Books

The original Goldsboro Books can be found at Cecil Court, London — a street lined with curious independent booksellers. However, Goldsboro Books has also expanded to include a Brighton branch.

What makes Goldsboro unique amongst Brighton bookshops is its gimmick: this bookseller only stocks signed first editions. If you see a book on their shelves, you know it is signed by the author(s) and is of the first of its kind.

This unique gimmick offers a distinctive allure for collectors and those who take pride in having the best, and the rarest, version of each and every book they buy.

The team of booksellers at Goldsboro Books take pride in what they do, and their shelves are perfectly curated to tempt the most voracious collectors of signed first edition books.

Oxfam Bookshop, Brighton

Not enough praise is lavished on Oxfam Bookshops (and UK charity shops in general) for the good they do for readers and the literary world.

They give readers a place to take their dearly loved or unwanted books. They give beady-eyed shoppers the chance to find hidden gems, rare classics, and books they’ve been itching to read for a fraction of their regular price.

When you stumble upon a big, beefy Oxfam Bookshop, it’s a very exciting occasion. And the Oxfam Bookshop in Brighton is certainly that.

Spread across two rooms and, in true Brighton fashion, delightfully colourful, this is one of the best bookshops for finding hidden gems and secondhand books in Brighton that you’ve wanted for ages but have put off buying. You might find it here for £1 and not be able to resist!

Amnesty Bookshop, Brighton

Much like the Oxfam Bookshop, the Amnesty Bookshop is another series of second-hand bookshops around the UK. You’ll find them in Cambridge, Bristol, Norwich, and, of course, Brighton.

What makes the Amnesty Bookshop one of the most iconic Brighton bookshops is its neon pink walls. Bright, gay, and colourful, Brighton’s Amnesty Bookshop offers as much of an allure as the vibrant Dave’s Comics does.

This is another charity shop packed full of ever-changing secondhand stock: books of every kind for a fraction of their RRP. Pop in often to see what new gems they have recently stocked.

Read More: Literary Things to Do in Norwich

Kemptown Bookshop

When you picture an independent bookshop, it’s likely that what springs to mind closely resembles Kemptown Bookshop in Brighton. This is your quintessential UK independent bookshop.

Open for more than fifty years, with books spread over three floors, Kemptown Bookshop stocks fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, stationery, and even children’s games.

Kemptown Bookshop stocks new bestsellers and modern classics; has won multiple bookseller awards; is run by booksellers fuelled by knowledge and passion for literature.

The games and toys they sell are vintage, educational, and wholesome. Their stationery is top-quality. They stock the best books of the moment and curate their shelves beautifully.

Here is everything you want in an independent bookshop, making Kemptown Bookshop one of the best Brighton bookshops, full stop.

City Books

Located in Hove, City Books proudly calls itself “Brighton and Hove’s Largest and Liveliest Independent Bookshop”. It’s very hard to argue with that, and why would you want to?

Boasting plenty of fiction, children’s books, and non-fiction of every kind (including poetry and cookbooks), City Books has it all.

What makes City Books one of the liveliest Brighton bookshops is its author events and promotions, including stocking unique signed editions of upcoming titles. City Books is also the sponsor and official bookshop of the Charleston Festival.

The Book Nook

Another Hove bookshop, The Book Nook is a specialist bookshop that sells a wide range of children’s books. An adorable bookshop requires a delightful name, and The Book Nook is certainly that.

The Book Nook proudly stocks diverse and inclusive children’s books, and the shop’s booksellers are experts in children’s literature. They’re here and happy to help you find what you’re looking for, or to recommend something you might like.

Like several other Brighton bookshops, The Book Nook has its own cafe, offers special author events, and even hosts storytime.

In terms of stock, The Book Nook has shelves of books for children of all ages, from picture books for the youngest readers to the newest YA fantasy novels.

Lewes Bookshops

Just a quick train ride from Brighton, spending a day or a few hours is well worth your time if you love secondhand bookshops and historical sites. 

Lewes Castle, a well-preserved grand Norman fortress, Anne of Cleves house which houses a museum showcasing the Tudor way of life, eclectic shops, and pubs. The Rights of Man pub named after the seminal work by local author and political theorist Thomas Paine is certainly one that should be on your radar.

Fifteenth Century Bookshop

If you visit Lewes for one reason, let it be this stunning bookshop with visible wood beams on the inside and out at the top of the high street.

A staple of the town, the shop specialising in secondhand books and has a particularly large selection of antiquarian children’s books. 

While the building has a long history, it’s only the last fifty years or so that it has operated as a bookshop

Box Windows Bookshop

With its prominent space on Lewes high street and iconic red facade, you won’t be able to miss this antiquarian bookshop full of rare and fine books. Spanning most genres, the owners Ric Latham and Jonathan Menezes are very helpful if you’re looking for more information or need something special found. 

Whether you are looking for a leatherbound classic or a contemporary first edition, or just want to enjoy that old book smell, then make sure to stop by this staple of Lewes’s literary scene.

These are the best independent bookshops across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The best independent bookshops in the UK are the ones that stand out and do something special. That might mean community events, from concerts to book clubs. It might mean amplifying the voices of queer and Black writers. It might just mean showing love and enthusiasm for literature.

The independent bookshops in the UK really are one of the country’s best and brightest qualities. It’s one of the reasons to love this country. We cherish our independent bookshops; we support and love them every single day. And here are the best of them.

The Best Independent Bookshops in England

From the best queer and feminist bookshops of London to the coolest and coziest bookshops of towns from Bath to York, these are the best independent bookshops in England.

The Second Shelf (London)

Owned and managed by American writer A.N. Devers. Devers moved from New York to London’s Soho neighbourhood and opened The Second Shelf, a shop which has become an immediately powerful weapon in the fight for gender equality in the literary world.

The Second Shelf sells, as their site describes, “rare and antiquarian books, modern first editions, ephemera, manuscripts, and rediscovered works by women.”

We will take any and every opportunity to mention The Second Shelf and the work they do. As a prominent and important soldier in the war against transphobia, The Second Shelf proudly supports trans women writers and we love them for that.

The Second Shelf is a beautiful London bookshop, tucked into a romantic little courtyard and offering shoppers a small but busy world of women writers, especially those from across history.

If you love antiquarian books and women authors, you need to pay The Second Shelf a visit; it is one of the very best independent bookshops in the UK.

Gay’s The Word (London)

One of the most legendary bookshops in London, Gay’s The Word, is a very special independent bookshop which boasts of the welcoming and diverse atmosphere that London offers.

Gay’s The Word has been out and proud since 1979 and even played a major role in the movement known as Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners. The alliance would often meet at Gays The Word back in 1984-85 and collect money in support of the miners’ strikes of the Thatcher era.

Gay’s The Word is a celebration of liberal progress, of standing for your rights, of the transformative books written by LGBTQ writers from around the world.

We love this London bookshop for its community atmosphere and its range of inclusivity. You’ll find graphic novels by trans writers; memoirs by gay writers; fiction of every genre by every gender and sexuality you can imagine.

Gay’s The Word is one of the most important and beautiful independent bookshops in the UK, and it deserves all your support.

Housmans (London)

With an incredible history of its own, Housmans is a bookshop that has, since its doors first opened in 1945, championed the rights of minorities by promoting works by black authors, queer writers, feminist writers, and all written words by minorities fighting to have their voices heard.

If you’re shopping for feminist manifestoes, queer stories, the history of the Black Lives Matter movement, comics by transgender writers, or anything else beyond the stories of straight white men, Housmans is a must-visit bookshop that deserves your support.

They have spent decades supporting minorities, and we should likewise support them in this ongoing fight.

Of all the independent bookshops in the UK, Housmans stands out as a place that fights. It supports justice and human rights; it teaches us social and political histories; it encourages us to be better people and read books by better people. An incredible London bookshop.

Read More: Inspiring Books for the Literary Traveller

Heffers (Cambridge)

The crown jewel of bookshops in Cambridge, this three-story menagerie for book lovers has been around since 1876 and has been the focus of book-related events in the city.

Fabulously friendly booksellers are at hand to help you with the latest releases and thousands of other titles to choose from including classics, comics and manga, and every genre of fiction and non-fiction.

Downstairs you’ll also find paper products from the Cambridge Paper Company including wrapping paper, journals, scrapbooks etc. and a floor of travel fiction, cookbooks, and eco-friendly and bookish gifts.

Plus, there’s a musical instrument section. It’s really a bookshop that caters for everyone and could easily be called the best bookshop in Cambridge.

Sarah Key: The Haunted Bookshop (Cambridge)

This charming Cambridge bookshop with the greatest name is tucked away on the quiet St Edward’s Passage which absolutely suits the atmosphere of the shop. Is it haunted? Who knows, but it certainly feels like it could be.

They specialise in children’s and illustrated books but we also found plenty of antiquarian books and old Penguin Classics. This is the kind of shop where you take a deep breath, enjoy the smell of old books, and pick up a gem or two. The shop is closed on Sundays.

The Feminist Bookshop (Brighton)

The result of a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2019, The Feminist Bookshop in Brighton is exactly what it sounds like! But it’s also a cafe, and it sells a bunch of very tempting, very proud merchandise.

Originally born out of a feminist book club, The Feminist Bookshop is one of the warmest, kindest bookshops in the UK. Like all great bookshops that stand for something and promote diversity, The Feminist Bookshop is a community space that supports and sells the works of self-identifying women and non-binary writers.

On their shelves, you’ll find children’s books, graphic novels, fiction, memoirs, history books, essays, and more. Promoting feminism is activism, and The Feminist Bookshop is doing a wonderful job as an activist for women’s art.

The Grimoire Bookshop (York)

A charming local York bookshop themed around folklore, horror, and the supernatural. This is very fitting for a town famously branded the UK’s most haunted city.

As you would hope, The Grimoire Bookshop has that rustic, cluttered, spooky feel of a good old bookshop. Narrow passages; bowed wooden shelves; stacks of books every which way you turn; that romantic old book smell. For atmosphere alone, The Grimoire Bookshop takes the crown.

And, while its name and its theme make it one of the best independent bookshops in the UK, The Grimoire Bookshop does also sell a wide range of books beyond the folklore and supernatural genres.

Tombland Bookshop (Norwich)

This charming and unassuming 15th-century building in Tombland is home to the largest antiquarian and secondhand bookshop in East Anglia.

In many ways, this Norwich bookshop is the Mary Poppins’ handbag or TARDIS of bookstores (depending on your fiction of choice), as the inside is far bigger than its outside suggests, and the cavernous vaulted ceilings certainly contribute to this.

Nearly every shelf is stacked with books on every topic imaginable. The books range in price from £1 to £10,000!

In addition to selling a wide range of books, Tombland Bookshop provide several other book-related services, including restoration, binding, and valuation for insurance and probate.

Their staff can also help procure pretty much any book you have your heart set on. And they buy books if you’re looking to sell old ones.

Read More: Unique Gifts for Bookworms & Writers

Abstract Sprocket (Norwich)

As any fan of comics can tell you, finding a good bookshop is key to your ongoing happiness. For residents of Norwich, that place is Abstract Sprocket.

This geek’s paradise is always well stocked with a wide variety of manga, graphic novels, and comics. This includes comics from across all publishers and fandoms, with many titles that you may not be able to find anywhere else in the city.

If you’ve ever seen a “comic book store” in film or TV, then this is that place in real life, but with infinitely more pleasant customer service.

Storysmith (Bristol)

The two best things about this most charming of Bristol bookshops are its aesthetics and its selection of children’s books. While they’re not a specialist children’s bookshop, they have a really great selection of them here. And the atmosphere of this still new bookshop is charming, warming, sweet, and kind.

Storysmith host events (check their website for more info). They also offer gift vouchers, subscriptions, and signed copies of new books.

And the cherry on top: they host three different book clubs! If you live in the area of Bedminster and Southville and you’ve always been tempted by a book club, definitely consider one of the three at Storysmith.

Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights (Bath)

A bookstore with a name this glorious couldn’t live anywhere but Bath. Once inside, you’ll immediately see the appeal. The award-winning store is filled with natural light, and is also the right kind of cramped, where every turn of the body yields a new bookshelf or display to admire.

There are three floors: the ground floor, which has the newest stock and most of the fiction, as well as delightful window displays and the friendliest staff. The basement is where all the history and philosophy can be found, as well as a toilet that was hand-decorated by the legendary Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell.

Upstairs hides a fantastic little secret: the reading room. This is a tiny space with sunlight flooding in, a few chairs to perch upon, and a quiet calm in which to read as you flick through a few chosen temptations. This simple details makes it one of the best Bath bookshops for a reading retreat.

The store also offers something very special. For £80 you can buy yourself or a loved one a ‘Book Spa’. This includes a visit to the store where you’ll be treated to some bibliotherapy: a member of the store will sit down with you and chat about your favourite books, listen to your tastes, and return with a stack of books tailored to your tastes.

You’ll leave with £55 worth of new books, a mug, a tote bag, and a gift card. We cannot think of a better gift for a bookish friend. The Book Spa alone makes this one of the best independent bookshops in the UK.

Read More: The Best Time to Visit England: A Complete Guide

Topping & Co. (Bath)

We adore this shop. Everyone who works in Topping & Co. is so incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about literature and what they do.

It’s very easy to while away an hour on a quiet day chatting with the staff about your favourite indie publishers and Latin American authors, as we have done in the past.

The shop is a beautiful display of traditional ladders that are lifted straight out of Beauty and the Beast. And you can actually use them to help you to reach up to those top shelves, with the shop stretching back as far as the eye can see.

They also wrap many of the books in soft plastic coverings that make them look like irresistible gifts for yourself. No bookshop makes buying new books more deliciously tempting than Topping & Co.

The books themselves are separated into specific and useful sections, which is always appreciated and, despite it being a relatively small shop, I have never not found what I’ve been looking for, including special editions of specific titles.

The wealth of books on offer here matches the sheer antique beauty of the shop itself, making it one of the best and most beautiful independent bookshops in the UK.

The Best Independent Bookshops in Wales

With Wales being home to Britain’s famed booktown — Hay-on-Wye — it’s no surprise that Wales is also home to some of the best independent bookshops in the UK, and here they are.

Richard Booth’s Bookshop (Hay-on-Wye)

Richard Booth is the man credited with the transformation of Hay-on-Wye from sleepy idyllic Welsh town into the book town of Britain. After completing his education at Oxford, he returned home to Hay and invented a way of transforming his home into the world’s first book town.

Richard Booth’s Bookshop is the most beautiful bookshop in Hay, without question. A staggering two-storey wooden structure that looks totally out of place in a town of stone houses, and stands out even more as a result. The shop stocks mostly new books, and they really do get the newest stock every week.

The space itself is open, all dark wood, and rows of neatly-kept bookcases. The presentation is gorgeous; upstairs and downstairs they have areas to sit and flick through your chosen books.

The booksellers are the friendliest around and they’ll happily have a proper good chat with you about whatever you pick up. The light pours into this place, making Richard Booth’s Bookshop the most beautiful building in Hay on Wye, and one of the unmissable Hay on Wye bookshops.

Murder & Mayhem (Hay-on-Wye)

One of the most unique Hay on Wye bookshops. In fact, one of the most unique bookshops in Wales, full stop. Murder & Mayhem, as its name suggests, primarily stocks and sells horror novels, crime fiction, thrillers, and gothic masterpieces.

You’ll know them by the wonderful artwork painted below the window outside, depicting the stalking silhouette of a certain hound roaming the moors, a glowing moon on the horizon.

Inside the decoration is just as delightfully spooky, with a real log fire! The shop stocks books of all sorts, from all periods of time, just as long as they’re chilling enough. From Agatha Christie to Edgar Allan Poe, if you’re looking for scary, you’ll find it here.

This is, it goes without saying, the perfect bookshop to visit in the Autumn months, and one of the most original independent bookshops in the UK.

Book-ish (Crickhowell)

Tucked into the sweet Welsh town of Crickhowell (next to Brecon), Book-ish is an absolute haven for bookworms, and winner of Best Independent Bookshop in the UK 2020.

As their sign says, Book-ish is all about “Books, Conversation, and More.” Many of the best independent bookshops in the UK are ones which foster community around a love for literature.

They foster this community by running two monthly book clubs: one on the first Monday of the month and another on the last Wednesday of the month (the Wednesday book club even serves beer!)

Book-ish is one of those rare kinds of bookshops that welcomes you with open arms and encourages discussion, community, and love. For this reason, it deserves all of your love as well.

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Best Independent Bookshops in Scotland

Scotland is a place of great love for literature, and that is reflected in its incredible independent bookshops. Radical, queer, diverse, and full of love, these are the best independent bookshops in Scotland.

Category is Books (Glasgow)

As their slogan says, Category is Books are “fiercely independent and queer.” Here is a Glasgow bookshop that says trans rights are human rights; that says all love is love.

Category is Books (incredible name) encourages diversity in its readership. It opens its doors and its arms to queer readers and queer writers. It celebrates books by writers of every gender and sexuality.

If there is one independent bookshop in Glasgow that you need to visit, it’s Category is Books. They celebrate and promote nothing but love and kindness through great books.

Golden Hare Books (Edinburgh)

The beautiful Golden Hair Books is a UK independent bookshop that does it all. Here, you’ll find a cosy and warm atmosphere, enthusiastic and friendly booksellers, and a community spirit that encourages reading widely and well.

Golden Hare Books sets itself apart with a beautiful name and logo, a stunning storefront, and gorgeous extra features like a woodburning stove and a subscription service. They reward loyalty and are ready to be friends of passionate readers across Edinburgh and the UK.

We love the aesthetics and the philosophy of Golden Hare Books; their warmth and dedication to books and readers makes them one of the best independent bookshops in the UK.

Lighthouse (Edinburgh)

The importance of independent bookshops can be highlighted by their ability to be radical; to champion good politics and good people; to support minorities and encourage us to think kindly.

Lighthouse is a queer-owned bookshop in Edinburgh that supports women’s voices, trans writers, international literature, and more. Diverse and inclusive, Lighthouse encourages its visitors to read broadly and read well, to think and consider every person and their story.

At Lighthouse, you’ll find a focus on queer voices, activism, migrant voices, literature in translation, and indie presses from the UK and beyond.

All of this makes Lighthouse one of the most beautiful and important independent bookshops in the UK.

The Portobello Bookshop (Edinburgh)

Located in Portobello, Edinburgh, The Portobello Bookshop sets itself apart in a sea of beautiful UK independent bookshops with its minimalist aesthetic. From its logo to its floorplan to its website, this bookshop glows with charm and refinement.

One of the shop’s coolest features is its columns, which were discovered hidden behind plasterboard walls when the shop was bought and renovated. It informs a classic and calming aesthetic that shines throughout the bookshop.

The Portobello Bookshop also hosts events that range from conversations surrounding prize longlists and shortlists to launches and conversations with authors.

This is one of Edinburgh’s most important bookshops and one of the most beautiful independent bookshops in the UK.

Best Independent Bookshops in Northern Ireland

In the city of Belfast, you can find some of the most charming and community-focussed bookshops in the UK. These are the best independent bookshops in Northern Ireland.

Books Paper Scissors (Belfast)

Books Paper Scissors is a wonderful independent bookshop in Belfast that prioritises community and a love for literature. They stock the latest fiction and non-fiction, while also promoting Irish voices.

This bookshop has its own dedicated children’s room, and they also offer a six-month subscription which provides readers with gift-wrapped books, selected with love from their booksellers.

This is a charming Belfast bookshop and one of the most delightful independent bookshops in the UK.

No Alibis (Belfast)

No Alibis is probably the most famous and beloved independent bookshop in Belfast. Having been open for more than twenty-five years, No Alibis prides itself on being a community bookshop in Belfast.

As a community bookshop, No Alibis hosts events, poetry readings, and even concerts! They stock books new and old across all genres, with an emphasis on Irish literature, politics, children’s books, and the humanities.

The booksellers at No Alibis are a passionate and bookish group of dog-and-cat-lovers who provide every visitor with a friendly atmosphere. It’s the people and the focus on community that make No Alibis one of the best independent bookshops in the UK.

Shopping for books is one of the best things in life. There’s something about wandering amongst shelves, browsing through colourful covers and inventive titles, and knowing that, eventually, either by accident or by design, you’re going to walk away with a pile of new thoughts and ideas that you get to keep forever.

Dotted amongst the big chains, tucked cosily away in various corners, are a multitude of independently owned and operated bookstores offering a celebration of diversity, creativity, progressive thinking and community spirit.

The book culture in New York is palpable and apart from those famous bookstores in NYC that we all head to, there are some incredible independent and wonderfully diverse bookstores across NYC that need to be explored.

There’s something literally (and literary) here for everyone. We’ve also covered some other great bookstores in Brooklyn for anyone perusing exclusively over the river,

The Lit. Bar

131 Alexander Ave, The Bronx, NY 10454

The Lit. Bar is a cosy bookstore and wine bar nestled in a corner of South Bronx, and is the only operating independent bookstore in their borough. African American and Puerto Rican owner Noëlle Santos has created a haven for book lovers and those who wish to get comfortable and discuss their favourite literature over a glass of wine.

The shop has dedicated sections to Black Feminist authors, local Bronx authors, and a children’s section showcasing inspirational books for children of colour. As an added bonus, there’s also some excellent street art on the walls, both inside and out.

This is one of our favourite black-owned bookstores in NYC, and it needs to be on your itinerary.

Read More: 6 Brilliant Collections of Short Stories by Black Authors

Turn the Page…Again!

39-15 Bell Blvd, Bayside, NY 11361

The book-to-shop-space ratio here is impressive! Turn the Page…Again! was designed for “individuals with a mental health diagnosis” and runs as a not-for-profit organisation operated by Transitional Services for New York Inc. (TSINY). Turn the Page…Again only hires people with disabilities, focusing on those with mental health diagnoses adjust to working life.

It’s been up and running since 2010, and stocks a huge selection of secondhand books across pretty much every genre. All the books they resell are in good to excellent condition, and due to the nature of secondhand book acquisition, their stock changes daily!

It’s an excellent place to introduce yourself to new literature, as you never know what they’ll have, shop for some used books in NYC, and all the proceeds go to a good cause.

Read More: Mental Health: 7 Books that May Help

Bluestockings Bookstore, Cafe & Activist Center

They’re currently relocating but you can still shop online.
This collectively owned, volunteer-run outfit has been operating for over twenty years in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and was founded originally as a community centre, bookstore and venue for women.

Since saving it from financial difficulty in the early 2000s, the six-person collective that owns Bluestockings has aimed to create a space that welcomes and empowers all people.

There are book sections here on anarchism and political theory, queer and gender studies, as well as regular workshops devoted to feminism and social activism (with fair trade coffee and pastries available as well).

Read More: Important Transgender Books by Trans Authors

Sister’s Uptown Bookstore

1942 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10032

This family-run independent bookstore in Harlem, started in 2000 by owner Janifer P. Wilson, has a motto: “Knowledge of Self is the Key to Understanding”. With this in mind, the Wilson family has created a hub of cultural understanding and education, as the Sister’s Uptown Bookstore operates as a community resource centre in addition to selling books.

The store specialises in past and present works of African American authors, and holds regular events to celebrate them, including book signings and poetry readings. As you peruse the shelves, make sure to grab a piece of vegan cake from the juice bar!

Read More: 11 Outstanding Modern Novels by Black Women Writers

Word Up Community Bookshop

2113 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10032

What began as a one-month pop-up shop in 2011 has grown into a thriving community-focussed success. The Word Up Community Bookshop is a volunteer-run not-for-profit organisation that stocks general interest books in a multitude of languages.

Located in the Washington Heights area of northern Manhattan, the store is run by a large, highly diverse group of volunteers, and features frequent live shows, including readings, concerts, screenings, talks and workshops, art exhibitions and open mic evenings for anyone who wishes to participate.

Read More: Travel Guide: The Best Towns to Visit in the Hudson Valley, NY

Oriental Culture Enterprises Co. Inc. (Eastern Bookstore)

13 – 17 Elizabeth St 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013

This spacious cultural centre and bookstore has operated in the middle of Chinatown in Manhattan for over 40 years. Many of the books here are in their original Chinese, both simplified and traditional, and the collection has been gathered from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and beyond.

Visitors looking to learn about Oriental Culture also have the opportunity to engage in physical activities, as there are regular classes on calligraphy and classical Chinese painting. Oriental Culture Enterprises also stocks supplies for these pastimes, as well as full artworks, Chinese wedding decorations, children’s games and even musical instruments.

Read More: 10 Incredible Chinese Novels in Translation

Cafe Con Libros

724 Prospect Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Cafe Con Libros in Brooklyn offers “a vibrant community space where everyone, specifically female identified folx, feel centered, affirmed and celebrated”. This bookstore, founded by Kalima DeSuze, stocks all manner of stories by, for and about womxn and girls of all identities, with positive messages of Feminism for anyone looking for a cosy, wood-panelled place to relax with a good book (and a tasty hot beverage).

Cafe Con Libros also offers a Feminist & Bookish Monthly Subscription, where you can receive books from categories including Feminism, Women of Colour and Feminist children’s books for younger readers.

Mil Mundos

323 Linden St, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Mil Mundos was created as a direct response to the gentrification approaching the neighbourhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn. Founder Maria Herron wanted to preserve the community and chose Mil Mundos as her holding ground.

Here, she and her staff foster a community-based environment that celebrates Black, Latinx and Indigenous heritage. In addition to this, nearly 50% of the titles available at Mil Mundos are in Spanish, making it the first bilingual bookstore in Brooklyn.

Spanish classes are also available for those wanting to brush up on their language skills or start completely from scratch.

Kew & Willow Books

81-63 Lefferts Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11415

This cosy literary den was started in order to address the lack of bookstores in the Queens area. The brainchild of Vina Castillo and Holly Nikodem, the store got its name from a combination of its location (Kew Gardens) and a tree to symbolise their supporters in the neighbourhood where the pair met (Forest Hills).

Kew & Willow, I am very pleased to say, has a vast children’s section, and strong effort is put into showcasing books that represent marginalised voices. As well as books, there’s also all sorts of art and crafts from many local artists and creators available to buy.

Read More: 11 Amazing Books by Women in Translation

Koryo Books

35 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001

Looking for any and all things Korean? Koryo Books should be top of your list. This Midtown Manhattan bookstore has been providing patrons with Korean-language translations of books both classic and modern for over 30 years.

And they don’t just sell books – Koryo Books’ other speciality is K-Pop music, and they (understandably) have a huge selection of albums available, from EXO to Wonder Girls (and, of course, BTS).

There’s also a huge array of other Korean merchandise, such as cosmetics, posters, t-shirts and hats, stationery, pins … basically, if you can think of it, and you want it Korean, you can find it here.

Read More: 10 Must-Read Korean Books in Translation

It’s no surprise, then, to discover a labyrinth of culturally-enriching bookstores sprinkled around the capital, enabling bookworms to open their eyes to new knowledge and purchase jaw-dropping volumes to add to their collections.

Join us on a tour of the top ten most beautiful and obscure Tokyo bookstores.

Komiyama Vintage Bookstore

1-7 Jimbocho, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo

Tucked away in Jimbocho’s Vintage Book Town area, 4-storied Komiyama Vintage Bookstore is as cool at it comes. Founded in 1939, it’s overflowing with vintage posters, fashion magazines, erotic and queer art, street art, plus literature, humanities and Japanese culture books.

Photography enthusiasts flock here to feast their eyes on the bookstore’s rare photography collections, as well as see featured artists and graphic designers like Tadanori Yokoo. Quirky, antique, and inspiring — this is one of the genuine must-see places in Tokyo.

Ginza Tsutaya Books

6F, Ginza Six, 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061

‘Live closer to art’ is the ethos of Ginza Tsutaya Books. You’ll understand why on entry. Over 60,000 art magazines and books soar up the walls, making it a paradise for any creative. Stacks of literature, magazines, and anime & manga books also lie here, illuminated beautifully by the warm natural light created by the bookstore’s clever open design.

Easily accessible in the Ginza Six shopping centre, visitors wind away blissful afternoons here. Take one step inside this wonderful Tokyo bookstore, and you’ll do the same.

Read More: Discover the Biggest and Smallest Bookstore in Tokyo

COW Books

153-0042 Tokyo, Meguro City, Aobadai, 1 Chome−14−11, 103

A short walk from Tokyo’s Nakameguro Station, stepping into COW Books is like stepping back in time. This antique hideaway sells out-of-print books focusing on 1960-70’s social and literary movements, protests, progressive politics, and first editions of niche and under-appreciated modern authors. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

The place has a special atmosphere that sucks you in and empowers you with a thirst for exploration. There’s also a coffee shop, art and design studio, and Cow mascot outside!

Daikanyama T-Site

16-15 Sarugakucho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0033

A must-visit in the Daikanyama district, the Daikanyama T-Site is luxury personified – and somewhat of a Tokyo icon. It spans across three buildings stuffed full of local wood – creating a ‘library in the woods’ type feel. Books on food, travel, automobiles, architecture, design, art, plus humanities and literature are all on offer here.

You can also check out 30,000 vintage magazines (mainly from the 1960’s and 70’s), including old issues of famous Japanese magazines Heibon Punch and Taiyo. Borrow movies and music, or unwind in a luscious lounge where you can sip on coffee or cocktails while you read.

Read More: Amazing Books Set in Tokyo

Bohemian’s Guild

101-0051 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kanda Jinbocho, 1 Chome−１

Dating back to Japan’s Taishō period (1912-1936), Bohemian’s Guild has a rare collection fit to drop the jaw of any bookworm. Set over two atmospheric two floors lit by beautiful lamps, visitors can dive deep into volumes on philosophy, vintage art and design books, photography, and fashion.

Wade through stunning displayed prints, poetry, critical theory, and classic Japanese authors like Kenzaburō Ōe. Welcome a powerful moment of reflection in this antique paradise.

Kitazawa Bookstore 

101-0051 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kanda Jimbocho, 2−5, 2F

Founded in 1902, time in this second-hand bookstore offers a heavenly expedition for the academically inclined. Books are predominately available in English (with some in French and German), and are sourced from the surrounding universities.

Titles include English and American literature, folklore, critical theory, politics, philosophy & religion, and remain in good condition. Tucked away in the edgy Jimbocho used-bookstore strip, Kitazawa Bookstore’s walls and walls of brilliant books are spilling onto the floor, some of which even date back to 1600. Let your intellectual curiosity take you on a journey!

Book & Beer 

155-0033 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Daita, 2 Chome−3 6−15, 2F

Book & Beer, (or ‘B&B’), does exactly what it sounds. A beautiful combination, you can sip a refreshing Japanese beer (or herbal tea, if that’s your thing) as you read. Transport yourself to another world exploring its travel books, comics, or magazines.

Dive deep into philosophical, classic and modern literature collections. Saunter over to Shimokitazawa for this unique experience: the vibe is tranquil and reflective (rather than loud). Guest author speakers often in attendance – making it a hotspot for bookworms. Perfect for snuggling up with a good read on a rainy day, don’t miss out! 

Maruzen Marunouchi Main Store

100-8203 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Marunouchi, 1 Chome−6−4

Founded in 1869, Maruzen Marunounchi’s outstanding variety makes it a bibliophile’s dream. Browse countless Japanese genres for hours, soaking in travel memoirs, history, politics, science, business, fashion, manga, and novels both new and old. A stone’s throw from Tokyo station, it’s rude not to pay a visit.

An immense array of English-language books can be found on the top floor. You can gorge on Hayashi Rice (named after the store’s founder) on the 3^rd floor, and pick up elegant stationery on the first. The place feels like an adventure-park… so step in and unleash inner explorer!

The Isseido Booksellers

101-0051 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kanda Jinbocho, 1 – 7 

Dating back to 1913, Isseido Booksellers has survived fire, earthquakes, and war. Yet it’s legacy remains. Today, it’s run by the grandson of the owner. Rare and antique foreign and Japanese books is the vibe, including volumes on local history, religion, economics, travel, performing arts – and rare woodblock (ukiyo-e) prints.

You can even read books about books! There’s a spine-tinglingly significant atmosphere inside its walls… step in and feel it for yourself.

Cat Bookstore Anegawa Nyankodō

Anegawa Bookstore, 2 Chome-2-2 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0051

Found in the vibrant Jimobocho district, Anegawa Nyankodō is a cat bookstore (yes… you read that right). This snug, cat-loving cubby-hole sells over 2000 cat books, plus cat handbooks, cat-themed magazines, tote bags, and stationery. You name it.

This is euphoria for cat-lovers, and stuffed full of enough fluffy cuteness to convert even those who aren’t. In Japan, cats are associated with good luck – so a quick visitation to this cosy cat corner may just do you a world of good. This bookstore in Tokyo needs to be seen to be believed.

Read More: Japanese Books for People Who Love Cats

Tokyo is an unknowable and thrilling labyrinth of alternative culture and arts, and so it only makes sense to find both the world’s largest bookstore and the world’s smallest bookstore hidden somewhere in this labyrinth.

We’ve talked before about Tokyo’s bookstores. The booktown of Jimbocho, at the heart of Tokyo, is a neighbourhood dedicated to bookstores of all types, from a shop that sells old issues of music mags from the 70s to a vintage manga store and beyond.

There, you’ll also find @Wonder, a place with a massive selection of English-language Western comics just upstairs. We’ve even listed ten of our favourite Tokyo bookshops in this list. But we have had yet to mention these two magical places; little and large: the world’s smallest bookstore and the world’s largest bookstore, to be discovered on your next trip to Tokyo!

Daikanyama T-Site (World’s Largest Bookstore)

Whether Daikanyama T-Site is, in fact, the world’s largest bookstore is perhaps contestable. There are shops in the US, the UK, and even in Tokyo itself that might disagree. But Daikanyama is the hill I’m dying on. But what can you expect when you get here?

Daikanyamachō itself is a relaxed and jolly neighbourhood in the hustling and bustling district of Shibuya, Tokyo. Here, life moves at more of a relaxed and enjoyable pace. And so, where better to build an enormous shopping complex dedicated to arts and literature.

This complex is known as Daikanyama T-Site. The complex gets its name not from its shape but by the fact that its outside facade resembles a hand-stitched blanket of interwoven white letter Ts.

Inside, you’ll find Tsutaya Books, a gargantuan bookshop separated out into bookshelves, reading nooks, cafe areas, and lounge areas scattered across three smaller buildings which are all interconnected by a strip called Magazine Street. Everything about Tsutaya Books has reading, learning, relaxing, and book shopping in mind.

The big question for most Western visitors is: are there English books? And, yes, there are. There’s an entire foreign language section where you can pick up English language novels, magazines, study guides, and more. This being the world’s largest bookstore, the selection of choices and categories for both fiction and non-fiction are, quite honestly, staggering.

Obviously, where English books are concerned, this is less so. But the fact that all of this exists in the heart of Tokyo, against the backdrop of crushingly busy Shibuya, makes my heart soar. At Tsutaya Books, customers are very much encouraged to relax, wander, get lost, admire the aesthetics, browse the books, and lose themselves in the atmosphere of the place.

It’s a space for book-lovers and those who wish to learn and read and relax. In many ways, Daikanyama T-Site feels like the evolution of the bookshop.

Beyond books, Daikanyama also recognises the importance of creative arts outside of literature. And that’s why you can also browse a staggering selection of films in their movie department or explore their music department to pick up both CDs and vinyl.

Many people in modern Japan have an emphatic love for buying and collecting vinyl; most famous among them being author Haruki Murakami who has a dizzyingly large personal collection of vinyl, and used to manage a jazz bar before becoming a writer (jazz bars are also everywhere in Tokyo).

If you needed more proof that book buying and vinyl collected belong hand-in-hand, allow Murakami to guide your way! So, Daikanyama T-Site has books, movies, and vinyl to browse and buy. Anything else? Well, the world’s largest bookstore couldn’t call itself a modern bookstore if it didn’t sell coffee as well.

On the ground floor you’ll even find a Starbucks! You can sit, refresh and refuel with a latte, and flick through some of your newest purchases.

Daikanyama T-Site honestly doesn’t give you much incentive to ever leave, and all the incentive to keep returning. It’s a favourite haunt for art and literature lovers in Tokyo, and it’s not to be missed on your next visit to the heart of Japan’s capital.

Morioka Shoten (World’s Smallest Bookstore)

There are different ways to go about buying, supporting, following, enjoying, and loving books and literature. In fact, let’s talk about that for a second. The publishing industry, bookstores, the lives of booksellers, publication dates, press releases, release hype, it’s all so exhausting and overwhelming.

If you’re in the book industry even a little bit, as we are, and you try your very best to keep up with the biggest titles, as we do, it can be downright daunting to always follow along with the hype. To be part of the conversation, the zeitgeist, the excitement. An interesting way to, perhaps not counter this per se, but at least curtail or refocus this hype and potential exhaustion is to sell only one single book.

And that’s what Morioka Shoten does. This single room in Ginza sells a single book. Or, to be more precise, each week this tiny one-room bookstore — the world’s smallest bookstore — chooses a book, gets a heap of stock in for this one book, and sells it for one week.

The following week, Morioka Shoten selects a different book, buys a bunch of stock, puts it on display, and sells it. And so it goes, week after week, all year round. This is more than just a gimmick (and even if it weren’t, it’s a gimmick that undeniably works). It’s a philosophy. It’s a genuinely novel (pardon the pun) approach to bookselling; to curating and promoting literature.

And while the much-touted concept of Japanese minimalism hyped and capitalised on by people like Marie Kondo is largely a myth (and a deeply frustrating one), there is some truth to it in specific circumstances. And this is one of them.

Morioka decorates his one-book display with flowers and trinkets, but the store itself is largely left empty. The concept of ma (empty space) is often seen utilised or represented in Japanese art, and is an integral part of Japanese design.

It can be seen very clearly here, as the open and empty space surrounding this single book on display allows breathing room and the encouragement of focus on this solo piece of art.

You’re not being tempted by another book in the corner of your eye or suffering from sensory overload as the shelves are crammed with more and more potentially wonderful novels. There’s just the one book. Buy it, or don’t. That’s your choice. Next week, there will be another.