Literary haven: exploring Edinburgh’s unique bookshops

By Alyssa, from Singapore, studying Integrative Neuroscience
When I chose to come to Edinburgh for my postgraduate degree, I lost count of all the friends who gushed about the city’s rich and vibrant literary scene. And so, even as I knew Edinburgh as the inspiration and home to countless storytellers, I was in awe with how intertwined literature is with the city itself.
From hosting the world’s largest literary festival to the countless bookshops and literary landmarks throughout the city, you can really see why Edinburgh was the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature.
As a self-proclaimed bookworm, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to finally get back into reading more than scientific papers by exploring the city’s unique and beautiful bookshops. Here are some of my favourites so far:
Typewronger Books
Tucked away in a basement shop at the top of Leith Walk, Typewronger Books is a bookshop, event space and risograph studio. Run as a not-for-profit company, this cozy space quickly became one of my favourite places to take visitors.
Firstly, they have a typewriter sat neatly in the middle of the shop for anyone to use. Whether you just want to click some keys, or you’re planning to create your own masterpiece, the booksellers encourage you to give it a go – and there’s no rush to finish up.
Beyond their iconic typewriter, Typewronger is home to a community of literary enthusiasts, runs free events that bring together readers, poets, artists and musicians to explore literature forms from poetry and short stories to plays and non-fiction.
Also, isn’t the name just so clever?
View Typewronger Books website
Topping & Company Booksellers
Down the road from TypeWronger, you can find Topping & Company Booksellers. An absolute dream for book lovers, Toppings offers two floors of books from ground to ceiling with rolling ladders that let you reach the top shelves.
If you decide to take a seat and read in the shop for a bit, they’ll offer you free tea and coffee, making it a perfect shelter from the cold.
On top of their impressive collection (including their blind date series), Toppings runs a huge programme of author events and talks. Last term, I got to attend a talk by the author of one of my favourite books – If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio – which was such a fun experience.
View Topping & Company Books website
The Gently Mad: Book Shop and Bookbinder
Stepping into The Gently Mad is like taking a step back into time, with its distinct old leather books smell and eccentric decorations. Located near the Royal Botanic Gardens, you can find antiquarian books from genres including archaeology, neuroscience and children’s illustrations.
The bindery is integrated with their bookshop, and you can really tell how much care goes into restoring the volumes in the shop. When I first entered the shop, I was in awe of their incredible selection. I would definitely recommend taking your time to browse volumes and editions of books you may never have seen before.
Book Lovers Bookshop
Right by The Meadows, this newly opened bookshop is a must-visit destination for all romance fiction readers. With its pastel and floral theme, Book Lovers is the UK’s first brick and mortar romance bookshop, covering pretty much any romance trope you could think of (and they sell the cutest stickers).
If you’re not quite sure what you want to read or you have an idea but no specific book in mind, have a chat with the booksellers! They’re super friendly and, wielding their enthusiasm for and knowledge of the romance genre, will find The One for you.
View Book Lovers Bookshop website
Spoiled for choice
I’ve never lived in a city with so many bookshops, each so different from the next but all of them run on a universal love for literature. This list barely scrapes the surface of Edinburgh’s bookshops – and there’s so many that I haven’t gotten to visit yet. Some of those include:
Since returning to Edinburgh after the break, winter has truly started to make itself known – daylight seems to come and go in the blink of an eye and the cold feels even more biting. Really, there’s no better time to wander in the warmth of one (or all!) of these bookshops, add to your ‘to-read’ pile and spend some cozy evenings cracking open a new book.
Want to find out more?