Beautiful Bookshops in Bristol You Must Visit
Bristol is well-known for being a student city, and with that comes many great bookshops in Bristol! There are so many beautiful Bristol bookshops to explore, and I cannot recommend that you visit this city enough. In this blog post, I will go through some of the most well-known Bristol bookshops. I will also mention some of the lesser known, independent shops, and ones with significantly discounted prices.
If you are coming to Bristol and looking for some of the best things to do in the city, then make sure you check out my other Bristol guide below. In this guide, you will find the best landmarks, museums, cafes, and more.
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Best Bookshops in Bristol
1. Bloom and Curll
If you are a fan of little, charming bookshops with cute decorations and books scattered in every corner, then Bloom and Curll is one of the best Bristol bookshops for you! Inside Bloom and Curll, you will find beautiful decor items such as mirrors, typewriters, and hanging plants. The decor and the warm atmosphere are one of the things that makes Bloom and Curll so unique. On top of this, they sell various fiction and non-fiction books, so you can be sure you will leave with a book or two!
2. Beware of the Leopard Books
Nestled inside the famous St Nicks Market, you will find Beware of the Leopard Books, one of the best bookshops in Bristol. This unique little bookshop only sells second-hand books and is a haven for those who enjoy rummaging to find something unique and affordable. Beware of the Leopard Books has many great budget-friendly classics, poetry books, fiction, and more. It is also a perfect place for anyone travelling to Bristol, as it is located in the most well-known market in Bristol. So after you finish book shopping, you can go directly to the food market area and have a snack or lunch!
3. Dreadnought Books
Dreadnought Books is one of my personal favourite Bristol Bookshops. The bookshop is beautiful with a charming atmosphere and has a wide range of second-hand books under genres such as Fiction, Philosophy, History, Economics, and more. The friendly owner and his fluffy, friendly cat are probably the best of all. When you first arrive at the window of Dreadnought Books, you will notice the cat sitting looking at you, luring you into the bookshop! You will then be greeted by the friendly, fluffy friend at the door. If you love books and cats, this is the perfect place to visit. Now, I cannot promise that the cat is there every time. However, the owner did say that the cat sitting in the window seal works wonders for customers coming to have a peek inside.
4. Heron Books
Although Heron Books is most famously known as the smallest Bristol Bookshop, it is also one of the most beautiful bookshops in Bristol. So if you like well-curated bookshops that are pleasing to the eye, this one’s for you. You will find this charming little bookshop in the Clifton Arcade off Boyce’s Avenue in Clifton Village. It is the only independent bookshop in Clifton, and it stocks a range of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books. One of the things I loved the most when I visited was that they had little books wrapped up in brown paper bags with short descriptions so that you could pick a book based on the story rather than the cover or the reviews. I love that.
5. Storysmith
Storysmith is one of the best independent bookshops in Bristol. They stock a curated selection of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books, and you will most definitely be sure to leave with a new book or two or three. On top of this, they also serve locally roasted coffee and have a lovely dog named Roy! Coffee, books, and a fluffy friend, could you ask for more, really?
6. The Last Bookshop
You will find The Last Bookshop on the way up famous Park Street. It is one of the coolest on this Bristol Bookshops list. The story behind it and how it operates is entirely unique from any other bookshop I have ever been to. The first thing you need to know is that every book in this bookshop is £4. Yes, you heard that right, every single book!
How may this work? The owners, Jake Pumphrey and Nick Walsh got the business idea from the vast amount of waste created by the publishing industry. So many books are printed, but not as many are sold. This results in stacks of books taking up space in warehouses and, in the end, ending up wasted. While this means that the shop stocks less of the newest releases, it also means that when you shop at The Last Bookshop, you will find classic book bargains and support less waste.
7. Gloucester Road Books
Gloucester Road Books’ aim is for the shop to be a unique and fascinating place to explore. They go out of their way to have broader selections than elsewhere. An example of this is their “Time and Place” section. This section has books in History, Geography, Reportage, and Travel Literature. On top of this, they also focus on titles from small independent publishers. They want to showcase all the incredible and exciting books that may not have as much attention on them in the media, yet still are fantastic reads.
Gloucester Road Books also has a great selection of books in the fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books sections. This is one of the best Bristol Bookshops to visit to support small presses, but also, if you want to explore exciting titles you may have never heard of before but could become a new favourite!
8. Arnolfini Bookshop
Arnolfini Bookshop differs from the other Bristol Bookshops on this list, as it is a specialist store emphasising contemporary art and culture. This means they have a fantastic selection of magazines and art, literature, film, and design periodicals. If you are looking for the absolute best titles across all areas of art and culture, then this is the perfect place. Arnolfini Bookshop is also a registered charity. By shopping at this bookshop, you will be directly supporting Anofilini’s mission to bring art to everyone.
9. Clifton Community Bookshop
Clifton Community Bookshop is not only one of the best bookshops in Bristol, but it also hosts yoga classes, book clubs, music gigs, weekly talks, and so much more. However, you will not be disappointed if you only visit for good book deals! Clifton Community Bookshops sells budget-friendly second-hand books to the local Clifton people. The books are usually sold at around £3 per book. This is a great place to explore for those looking to find a welcoming community space in Bristol.
10. Bookhaus Bookshop
Bookhaus Bookshop is one of the best Bristol Bookshops for anyone interested in politics. It strongly focuses on politics (UK left-leaning). However, they also have a variety of books in the genres of contemporary fiction, independent presses, children’s books, and more. Those interested in political and social issues will particularly like Bookhaus. Bookhaus prides itself on stocking these types of books. They want people to leave with an eye-opening book that will enlighten them somehow. Topics such as climate change, local history, and black and female voices are prioritised in Bookhaus. As you can probably imagine, Bookhaus hosts regular events, including panel discussions, reading groups, and book launches.