“Independent booksellers – it’s not exaggerating to say that they are lantern bearers of civilisation” Sir Philip Pullman
The Edinburgh Bookshop, Edinburgh
“This is the kind of bookshop we’d all like to have in our neighbourhood” – The Guardian.
The Edinburgh Bookshop stock everything from new releases, fiction, children’s books, graphic novels, memoirs, cookbooks, and everything in between. They have also hosted a number of successful authors including Kate Foster, Fran Littlewood, and Claire Daverley.
Lighthouse Bookshop, Edinburgh
Nominated for Scotland’s Best Independent Bookshop 2020, Lighthouse is a queer-owned and woman-led community bookshop. They stock over 10,000 titles covering politics, history, fiction, children’s books, crafts, and cookery. They also host events including book clubs and author talks.
Golden Hare Books, Edinburgh
Golden Hare hold close to 2,000 titles, covering all genres from cookery to travel, kid’s picture books to science fiction. They also run an extensive events and workshop programmes full of author talks, book signings, and reading groups. They have a monthly subscription and membership scheme.
The Portobello Bookshop, Edinburgh
Opening in 2019, Portobello Bookshop stocks all kinds of fiction and non-fiction. Their staff are passionate booksellers who put in a lot of love in curating their stock, to ensure they offer an original, and diverse selection of books. Guest authors include Jacqueline Wilson, Julia Armfield, and Andrés N. Ordorica.
Argonaut Books, Edinburgh
Argonaut Books is a community bookshop for Leith, Edinburgh, catering to a population of over 50,000. They hold a diverse, curated selection of old and new titles. Since 2021, they have also been trading as a multipurpose community space. They hold events from book clubs, spoken word nights, book launches, and craft workshops.
Rare Birds Book Shop, Edinburgh
Rare Birds’ mission is to champion female authors and help readers discover brilliant books they may not have heard of. From literary heavyweights to breezy beach reads, they aim to help you make space on your bookshelf for women’s writing. They also host a number of events, including painting nights, clay building workshops, and author talks with the likes of Nikki May.
The Bookmark, Grantown-on-Spey
The Bookmark has been owned and managed by Mrs Marjory Marshall since 2007. Marjory personally selects every title and the astonishing range of stock squeezed into limited shelf space reflects her own eclectic and very varied reading interests. Their stock includes everything from new releases, Scottish interest, crime, thrillers, and children’s titles.
Bigglestones Bookshop, Glasgow
Bigglestones Bookshop is a relatively new addition to Glasgow, and sells everything from new releases, prize nominees, bestsellers, Scottish-interest, and sporting books. They also invite their authors in to give talks and sign copies of their books.
Mount Florida Books, Glasgow
Mount Florida aim to build a thriving bookshop, stocking the very best in literary fiction, poetry, cookery, politics, and more. They are dedicated to reinvesting their profits into literary and literacy projects in Glasgow; using profits to help school libraries, working with prisons to provide access to books for the incarcerated, and providing a space for adult learners.
Leakey’s Bookshop, Inverness
Leakey’s Bookshop is one of Scotland’s largest second-hand bookshops. Complete with an open log fire and just about any book you could think of. Family run since 1979, they also sell artwork, tote bags, as well as first and early editions of much loved novels.
Orb’s Community Bookshop, Aberdeenshire
Originally opened in 2001 as an IT Training centre, Orb’s Bookshop has been a not-for-profit community shop since 2013, entirely run and manged by the community itself, with all profits going back into the community. They provide a range of books, with a particular emphasis on the history and geography of the North-East of Scotland.
*Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of bookshops. All photos sourced from each individual shop’s online presence. If you have any concerns regarding the photos, or concern regarding the text, please get in touch.
Books By Your Bedside 