Edinburgh Bookshops

This guide is for those visiting Scotland's cultural capital who want to indulge in its literary scene. Whether you are searching to find a radical independent or the best place to secure second-hand treasures, give this a read!

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Are you a big fan of 'Outlander' or 'Harry Potter'? Did you read about Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in high school? Or have you simply heard what a vibrant and cultural place Edinburgh is? If you're looking for some good bookshops in the city with some cultural points along the way, please keep reading ...

The most important thing to know about Edinburgh's historic landscape is that the city centre is split into two UNESCO World Heritage sites, aptly named the Old Town and the New Town. Fun fact, the 'New' Town is about ten or so years older than the United States, so the 'Old' Town is pretty old! Both have wonderful things to see and do for book lovers.

We shall start our search on Princes Street, outside the outrageously grand Balmoral Hotel. Our first fun literary fact is that this is where J.K. Rowling finished writing 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' and consequently increased the value of her hotel room by quite a bit! From here, walk down Leith Walk towards Topping and Co at 2 Blenheim Place.

This shop is a chain with other stores in university towns. The Edinburgh venue is a wonderful two-story store with every genre you could want. Enjoy climbing the plenty of ladders they provide to reach the top shelves and searching through the myriad of special copies and signed editions they have on hold. Watch your pennies though, this could be the most expensive stop on your book hunt.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eleanor McKie

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Hiya, how are you doing? I'm Eleanor and I am so excited to share everything I know about Scotland and beyond with you 😊🌲✈️ My guides are based on my own experiences and interests. I love including places off the (slightly) beaten track so you can find new nooks and crannies you may miss otherwise. Heads up, Scotland is full of these ❗ These digital guides will help you navigate the winding cobbled streets of Edinburgh, the city of my studies and work. They'll also help you if you're off on a working holiday or working as an au pair🗺️ You can use these guides to help you find the best spots for food, history, literature and of course, pictures. I hope you can also find comfort in them, as I know how incredible but daunting travel can be. If you need more, please feel free to select a service. Happy travels! 😌🙌

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