My Favourite Bookshops Around the World

As well as reading, one of my biggest passions is travel, and Lockdown has really got me missing all of the bookshops I have visited around the world over the years. So, I have compiled a list of some of the best bookshops I have visited (and that I actually took photos of!), from those closer to home, all the way to the Far-East and North America.

Enjoy!

London

I live super close to London, and there are just so many amazing bookshops to visit. One of my favourites is the Waterstones in Piccadilly; this is the biggest bookshop in Europe (I believe…), and it is any book-lover’s heaven. There are so many different floors, places to sit and read, as well as a cafe; I end up spending hours in here every time I visit. ❤

Another amazing bookshop in London is Foyles, which is just a few minutes away from Tottenham Court Road tube station. I only went here for the first time last summer, and am so annoyed I didn’t go sooner, as it is absolutely incredible.

One of the most beautiful and unique bookshops in London in Persephone Books, which is situated in the heart of Holborn. This bookshop is dedicated to reprinting neglected fiction and non-fiction, predominantly from the 20th-century, and mostly by female writers. Each book has a soft, grey cover, with a patterned inside cover, and they are just so pretty. I currently have around 6 of their books!

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities in the whole world, and I actually lived just outside the city for a while. There are so many incredible book shops to explore, and I have so many favourites…

The photo above is Till’s Bookshop, which is situated near The Meadows. Specialising in second-hand books, this amazing bookshop is so cosy, and is filled floor to ceiling with books.

Some other incredible bookshops in Edinburgh, that I don’t have any photos of, are Blackwell’s, which is ENORMOUS and so easy to get lost in, and Golden Hare Books, which is just absolutely gorgeous.

A few others that I love in the UK but don’t have pictures of, include Mr B’s Emporium in Bath, The Chaucer Head Bookshop in Stratford-Upon-Avon, and The Haunted Bookshop in Cambridge.

Paris

Whenever I go to Paris, I always visit Shakespeare and Company on rue de la Bûcherie. This is probably the best bookshop in the entire world; it is just so magical.

There are so many books and cosy nooks to read in…

Last time I visited Shakespeare and Company, I bought a mystery book for a couple of Euro, which I THINK was an Iris Murdoch book.

Rome

Rome is my absolute favourite city in the world. Having lived there on and off for 2 years, only recently having come back to the UK during Lockdown, I would return in a heartbeat. I love the architecture, the food, the history, the language, and of course, the sheer number of amazing bookshops!

Although this one isn’t technically a bookshop, it is does HAVE a bookshop in it, and there is so much literary history attached to it, I couldn’t not include it. The Keats-Shelley Memorial House is situated in the heart of Piazza di Spagna, right next to the Spanish Steps, and is where the Romantic poet, John Keats died in the year 1821 of Tuberculosis.

Filled with books, letters and other objects and artefacts owned by several of the key figures of the Romantic period, such as Keats, Shelley, and Byron, this is such a special spot for literature lovers.

There are also unbeatable views of the Spanish Steps, which is a reason in itself for visiting!

There’s also a beautiful little terrace out the back, that is open in the summer.

Another amazing bookstore in Rome, and Italy as a whole, is La Feltrinelli, which is essentially the equivalent of Waterstones. Because La Feltrinelli is a chain, there are a string of stores throughout the city, but perhaps my favourite is the one next to Largo di Torre Argentina in the heart of the Centro Storico.

Libreria Farenheit 451 is also an incredible bookshop, nestled discretely in the vibrant Campo dei Fiori; this is a wonderful spot if you are looking for books in English.

Another great bookshop, that doubles up as a coffee shop/bistro, is RED, which is situated on Via Tomacelli, just a stone’s throw away from the bustling Via del Corso.

The perfect way to end a day of bookshop-hopping in Rome.

Madrid

I’m not even sure what this adorable outdoor bookshop is called, but I couldn’t help but have a browse and take a photo. Selling old books, prints and souvenirs, this bookshop is in the heart of Madrid, and is subtly tucked around a corner, starkly contrasting with the modern shops nearby.

Canada

In 2016, I spent two months travelling around North America, and much of this time was spent in the beautiful Canada. I completely fell in love with this country, from the enormous modern cities, the mountains and lakes, as well as the amazing bookshops!

First stop was Toronto, where I discovered Indigo, which is a huge chain of bookstores throughout the country, that sell books, stationary, home ware, and usually have a fantastic coffee shop as well..

This was the Indigo store in Toronto’s Eaton Center. I bought several notebooks…

As well as Indigo, Toronto has some other fantastic bookshops, particularly in the quirky Kensington Market, where the string of colourful buildings house adorable little independent bookshops, many of which sell second-hand books.

I also visited the Indigo stores in Montreal and Vancouver, both of which were fab as well.

New York City

I went to New York City four years ago, and was so excited to visit Barnes & Noble, which I had heard a lot of great things about.

This one is situated in Union Square, and I LOVED it! I also loved this cute stand that sold ‘blind date’ books.

Seattle

Sadly, I didn’t take any photos of it, but nestled in Pike Place Market is Lamplight Books, which is a wonderful bookshop that specialises in used books. This cosy bookshop has a lovely atmosphere, and is filled floor to ceiling in books.

Old Seattle Paperworks in Pike Place Market! ❤

Kyoto

I visited Japan in 2017, and spent two weeks in Kyoto and Tokyo – I absolutely fell in love with these old-fashioned bookshops, they are just so beautiful.

Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the name of this one, but it was in the heart of Kyoto.

Ho Chi Minh City

In the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is this wonderful bookshop, that has stalls both indoors and outdoors, as well as an amazing coffee shop. it was so nice to browse the books and just take in the pretty scenery.

There are also several of these cute mini book stands!

Bookshop Bucket-List:

Although I have visited quite a lot of bookshops throughout the world, there are so many more on my bucket-list! Here are just some of them:

❤ Starfield Library – Seoul, South Korea: although this one is a library rather than a bookshop, it looks absolutely amazing, and I am desperate to go here one day!

❤ Livraria Lello – Porto, Portugal: I am desperate to go to Livraria Lello, it just looks fantastic, and so magical.

❤ Ler Devaga – Lisbon, Portugal: I went to Lisbon in 2017, and am so mad at myself that I didn’t go to Ler Devaga! It looks incredible.

❤ El Ateneo Grand Splendid – Buenos Aires, Argentina: this looks like one of the most amazing bookshops ever; it is housed in a 100-year-old theater and occupies several floors.

❤ El Péndulo – Mexico City, Mexico: I’ve heard a lot about El Péndulo, it just looks so pretty!

❤ Boekhandel Dominicanen – Maastricht, Netherlands: this bookshop looks incredible; it is essentially a 13th-century church that has been converted into a bookshop!

❤ The Last Bookstore – Los Angeles, USA: having visited LA twice now, I am really annoyed that I didn’t visit The Last Bookstore! It looks beautiful, and even has a tunnel made of books…

Have you been to any of these bookshops? Which bookshops are on your bucket-list? Let me know in the comments!

Thank you so much for reading. ❤