10+ Best Bookshops in Edinburgh You Must Visit (Local Guide for Book Lovers)

Last Updated on 21st July 2025 by Charlotte Nadeau

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Edinburgh is a city steeped in literary history. As the first UNESCO City of Literature, it’s no surprise that the Scottish capital is filled with bookshops that are as magical as the stories they hold.

Home to J.K. Rowling’s beloved Harry Potter series, Sir Walter Scott’s poetic imagery, and the world’s largest book festival, Edinburgh is certainly a book lover’s paradise. So, whether you’re a bookworm, planning a trip, or a local looking for your next read, here’s your ultimate guide to 10+ best bookshops in Edinburgh and where to find them!

Armchair Books

Best for: Rare books, vintage finds, and the smell of old books

Armchair Books is an independent second-hand and antique bookshop tucked just off the Grassmarket. Despite its musty smell and the sense that it’s been there forever, the shop is actually just over 15 years old. Head to their website and you’ll see them describe the bookshop as “very nearly alphabetised chaos”, upon entering, you’ll soon understand why.

Piled high from floor to ceiling, the shelves form a labyrinth, crammed with books that look ready to fall at any moment. This enchanting bookshop has an eclectic selection of rare and old books to peruse, and they buy old books if you have any to sell. With its cosy atmosphere and the scent of inky pages, it’s a true gem of Edinburgh’s literary heritage.

Address: 72-74 West Port, Edinburgh EH1 2LE

Toppings & Co.

Best for: New releases, signed copies, and author events

Found at the bottom of Calton Hill in a beautiful corner side terrace house is the two-storey Toppings Bookshop of Edinburgh. This is the ultimate favourite bookshop in Edinburgh, and you could easily spend hours here. Complete with rolling ladders, wooden shelves neatly stacked with every kind of read you could imagine, there’s also an option of complimentary tea or coffee while you browse.

Topping & Co. is the best spot to pick up signed copies, as well as attend author events, talks, and meet-ups, allowing avid readers to meet the person behind the pages they have loved so much!

Address: 2 Blenheim Pl, Edinburgh EH7 5JH

Argonaught Books

Best for: Having coffee and browsing new releases & well-loved classics

Situated in the heart of Leith, this locally owned and staffed community bookshop functions as both a cosy bookshop and café. Argonaught’s stock is a carefully curated collection of books from all genres, as well as featuring local authors. The bookshop hosts events and regular book clubs that focus on specific themes like horror, Sci-Fi, queer, and poetry.

Address: 15-17 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 8LN

Blackwell’s Bookshop

Best for: University students and non-fiction lovers

Found near the University of Edinburgh, Blackwell’s has been selling books on South Bridge since 1848. The bookshop boasts being the oldest in Edinburgh and is home to over 150,000  titles splayed across three stories of a converted Georgian townhouse.

This bookshop is particularly useful for locating academic texts and specialist books. Plus, they offer a 15% student discount in-store!

Address: 53-62 South Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1YS

Typewronger

Best for: Spying out vintage typewriters

Nestled below ground level at the top of Leith Walk, this small bookshop is quirky in character and offers more than just books for sale. Typewronger is a hidden gem that functions as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company providing a riso print studio, small press publisher, and an event space. It’s also Scotland’s only typewriter repair shop!

Address: 4a Haddington Pl, Edinburgh EH7 4AE

McNaughtan’s Bookshop

Best for: Collectors, history and art lovers, and serious bibliophiles

Found in the same basement property as Typewronger is Scotland’s oldest second-hand bookshop. McNaughtan’s dates back to 1957 and also functions as an art gallery, exuding vintage charm and filled with first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, prints, and old maps.

Address: 3A, 4a Haddington Pl, Edinburgh EH7 4AE

Rare Birds Bookshop

Best for: Literature by women

Tucked away in the heart of Stockbridge (one of Edinburgh’s prettiest neighbourhoods), Rare Birds bookshop focuses exclusively on literature by women. Glamorous and vibrant, Rare Birds stock new, noteworthy, bestsellers and the staff pick favourites.

One of the best things about this bookshop is their subscription offer, which can either be bought as a gift for someone or personal use. Each month, you’ll receive the best new women’s fiction delivered and beautifully wrapped. See more about this here.

Address: 13 Raeburn Pl, Edinburgh EH4 1HU

Waterstones

Best for: Views of Edinburgh Castle

While I wouldn’t normally recommend visiting such a big book retailer chain like Waterstones, the one along Princes Street in Edinburgh deserves a special shout-out thanks to its location opposite Edinburgh Castle. Spread out over four-floors, this bookshop is home to a café that boasts panoramic views of the capital’s castle sat atop a volcanic plug.

Address: 128 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 4AD

Tills Bookshop

Best for: Scottish literature & buying books

Overlooking the Meadows park, Till’s bookshop was established in 1985 and is one of two based in Edinburgh (the other being Tills & Company bookshop and café in Portobello). This corner-side neighbourhood gem primarily sells second-hand and antiquarian books, with a strong focus on Scottish literature and history. But, you’ll also find plenty of contemporary non-fiction and fiction books, too.

Address: 1 Hope Park Cres, Edinburgh EH8 9NA

The Gently Mad Book Shop & Bookbinder

Best for: Book binding services & cosy interior

Easily one of the most aesthetically pleasing bookshops for book lovers, this family-run bookshop and bookbindery is just a short stroll from Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens. The shop was officially opened in 2012, but step through the doors an you feel transported back in time as the oh so comforting smell of old books hits you.

Hidden down the book-lined staircase is where bookbinding services, restoration and repairs take place. Quirky and charming, even if you’re not purchasing a book, this is an absolute must-visit when in the Scottish capital.

Address: 2 Summer Pl, Edinburgh EH3 5NR

Golden Hare Bookshop

Best for: Children’s books, design & hardback copies

Tucked away on a quiet street in Stockbridge, the Golden Hare Bookshop is a haven for those who like to browse books in a warmly lit, peaceful spot. This idyllic bookshop has a great variety of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books, with an emphasis on great book design. In 2019, the bookshop was recognised as the “UK’s Best Independent Bookshop” award by the British Book Awards.

Address: 68 St Stephen St, Edinburgh EH3 5AQ

The Portobello Bookshop

Best for: Reading by the sea!

Found in the charming seaside neighbourhood of Portobello is the independent bookshop named after the suburb. Warm and welcoming, this bookshop is just over 6 years old and houses a diverse collection of over 8,000 titles across fiction and non-fiction. The have a host year-round events programme and regularly host author signings, book launches, themed bookclubs and workshops to bring community together and enjoy the warm space.

Address: 46 Portobello High St, Edinburgh EH15 1DA

Lighthouse Bookshop

Best for: Feminist, LGBTQ+, and activist literature

Self-described as “Scotland’s leading politics bookshop” this queer-owned and women-led independent community bookshop is unapologetically left-leaning and politically engaged. Home to over 10,000 titles, this bookshop is more than just a place for curious bibliophiles and the selling of books, it has become an inclusive, diverse place where the often forgotten voice of literature thrive and are seen.

They also host events throughout the year, in May there’s the First Date romance festival, every August they take part in the world’s largest book festival, and in November you can visit the Radical Book Fair.

Address: 43-45 W Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DB

Little Free Libraries

Take a book, leave a book. Scattered throughout Edinburgh, hidden on street corners beneath vines, tucked into public parks, and along main streets, these little free libraries have become part of a worldwide phenomenon and can now be found in over 128 countries.

These publicly accessible book-sharing boxes are a great way to discard old books and pick up something you might otherwise not have come across!

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