The best bookshops in Edinburgh (in my opinion)

I may be a writer, but like a lot of people I’m a reader first. 

This wasn’t always the case and I used to find non-high street bookshops off-putting, scary even, but this has all changed thanks to my bargain loving husband and gaining more confidence in the books I like. Full disclosure, I’m mainly an ebook/library reader but like to treat myself or the people in my life every now and again.

Here’s a non-exhaustive and very biased list of the best bookshops in Edinburgh, according to me. 

These are in no particular order, okay, here goes:

Lighthouse Books

It’s a radical bookshop tucked away in Edinburgh’s southside, in the student heartland. Don’t let that put you off! Lighthouse Books has a great selection of books for all ages. I lean towards the more feminist stuff, but there’s a romance section, lots of great fantasy books and even witchy ones too. One of my favourite things about this shop is that you can ‘pay it forward’ so someone who can’t afford a book can utilise a prepaid voucher to get one. They also do great events, even if the space is tight in. 

Argonaut Books

Situated at the bottom of Leith Walk, Argonaut Books is a bright, welcoming space with a cafe. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and the selection is varied. This isn’t a huge shop and definitely not as tightly packed as some indie bookshops in Edinburgh. It’s also on the ground floor and much more accessible than most too. The selection is similar to Lighthouse, but I find the space easier to navigate and you can stop for a cuppa after browsing.

Armchair Books

Now for something completely different. Armchair Books is an Edinburgh institution and a bit of a social media celebrity, due to its Grassmarket location and humble charm. This is your classic second-hand bookshop. It’s chock full of everything from pulpy paperbacks to collectable first editions, so you will need to rummage. It’s nice for a bit of bargain hunting, but beware it’s narrow and can get busy with tourists.

Oxfam Bookshop, Stockbridge

Stockbridge is a bit of a haven for charity shops. It’s a great place to while away an afternoon and there’s a nice wee farmers market there on a sunday. The Oxfam bookshop there is huge and caters to most readers (I do find the sci fi/fantasy section a bit lacking though). It’s a great place to get big hitter literary fiction for a cheap price - all the books I got were £3 or less. Books are lightly used but usually in good condition.

Book Lovers Bookshop

This is the UK’s first romance dedicated bookshop and I feel very privileged that it's in our wee city. Book Lovers has a great selection of traditional and independently published romance books, something a lot of other shops are lacking. They also host lots of author and late night shopping events, and there's a real community feel there. Romance as a genre is much maligned, so having a dedicated shop to go into feels very empowering. 

Amnesty International Bookshop

Another great charity bookshop, this time in Marchmont (and just 5 mins walk from Book Lovers). It’s a wide open, airy space with a big selection of books and some seating if you need a rest or to catch up with the book you just purchased. Again, the quality of the books is great and the staff are lovely.