Top Ten Most Beautiful Bookshops In Britain

As part of Independent Booksellers Week, we are celebrating in true book lovers’ style by compiling a list of our favourite independent bookshops from around the country. Obviously we love discovering as many new places as we can! From cute and quaint to quirky and unique, there’s definitely plenty of them out there, and these are our pick of the bunch, (though narrowing them down wasn’t easy).

1. Barton’s, Leatherhead, Surrey

The Tudor style exterior of Barton’s makes it a real eye catcher. This cracking independent bookshop is not only housed in the most beautiful building, but is full of book treasures and owned by a rather eccentric gentleman who is rumoured to have the longest eyebrows in the country… Now if that does’t make you want to visit, what will?

2. Booka, Oswestry, Shropshire

Quite frankly there’s nothing we like better then settling down with a good book and cup of tea in hand, which is why Booka is the perfect destination for that, boasting their own cute little café serving tea and delicious home made cakes. Save us a seat!

3. The Book Ferret, Arundel, West Sussex

Not only does it have one of the best names in the book business, it has the perfect old world charm including a tiny rocking chair in the children’s corner and a working range that puts in solidly on our list. Plus it comes complete with bookshops dogs!

4. Clair De Rouen, Soho, London

Hidden away along Charing Cross road, Clair De Rouen specialises in photography and fashion orientated titles, definitely worth a trip if you’re the creative type!

5. Daunt Books, Marylebone, London

This original Edwardian bookshop boasts an impressive 3 floors with original oak balconies, a high conservatory ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows. A little (or rather a large) gem in Marylebone.

6. Mr B’s Book Emporium, Bath, Sommerset

A quirky little delight in the heart of Bath, Mr B’s certainly takes pride in displaying their books. Furnished with cosy armchairs and stunning chandeliers it’s definitely a spot to come while away the hours. It even has a bath book shelf! Now if you can’t display books in a bath in Bath, then where can you?

7. Much Ado Books, Alfriston, East Sussex

As the name suggests, Much Ado Books is the epitome of quintessentially British. Relax in one of the squishy chintz armchairs and lose yourself in a good book.

8. Persephone Books, Bloomsbury, London

Beautiful exterior and beautiful books is what puts Persephone firmly on our list. This adorable book shop reprints classics from women writers on the 20^th century, and these new editions are quite frankly some of the most beautiful we have seen.

9. Sam Read Bookshop, Grasmere, Cumbria

Following on the theme of oldy worldy, nowhere screams quaint and old quite as much as Sam Reads, it’s quite literally chocolate box cute.

10. Word on the Water, Camden, London

Surely you can’t get much cooler than this, a floating bookshop! It’s definitely cosy, in the small space of a canal boat, but such a novelty. After very nearly being forced to close their doors, we’re so glad Word on the Water managed to stay afloat (pun intended!)

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