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Bookshop Tours of Britain
Based on her touring of bookshops, which she did over the three years since starting Fairlight, Louise Boland’s Bookshop Tours of Britain is a slow-travel guide to Britain, navigating bookshop to bookshop.
Across 18 bookshop tours, the reader journeys from the Jurassic Coast of southwest England, over the mountains of Wales, through England’s industrial heartland, up to the Scottish Highlands and back via Whitby, the Norfolk Broads, central London, the South Downs and Hardy’s Wessex. On their way, the tours visit beaches, castles, head down coal mines, go to whiskey distilleries, bird watching, hiking, canoeing, to stately homes and the houses of some of Britain’s best-loved historic writers – and last but not least, a host of fantastic bookshops.
Across 18 bookshop tours, the reader journeys from the Jurassic Coast of southwest England, over the mountains of Wales, through England’s industrial heartland, up to the Scottish Highlands and back via Whitby, the Norfolk Broads, central London, the South Downs and Hardy’s Wessex. On their way, the tours visit beaches, castles, head down coal mines, go to whiskey distilleries, bird watching, hiking, canoeing, to stately homes and the houses of some of Britain’s best-loved historic writers – and last but not least, a host of fantastic bookshops.
320 pages, Paperback
Published October 29, 2020
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523 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 26, 2021
It's impossible to compile a book featuring every independant bookshop in Britain, but Louise Boland puts quite a few of them into this enjoyable guide.
Some of my favourites have been omitted, but it's great to see reviews & photographs of many of the ones I have visited. I've also come across a few local ones that I have never been to before, as well as others further afield that I will visit in the future.
Not a definitive guide, but certainly a worthwhile one.
Some of my favourites have been omitted, but it's great to see reviews & photographs of many of the ones I have visited. I've also come across a few local ones that I have never been to before, as well as others further afield that I will visit in the future.
Not a definitive guide, but certainly a worthwhile one.
October 21, 2021
Can i visit all the books in this? Im certainly going to try!
April 18, 2021
Very disappointing, I am always keen to visit new bookshops and I thought this book would be a great aid.
But it’s just so slim, loads of good independents missing and whole areas like Yorkshire are very badly covered.
Charity bookshops don’t seem to be in at all. Yet Waterstones is.
I wonder if shops had to pay to get in to this one?
Would avoid, tempted to take my copy back for a refund.
But it’s just so slim, loads of good independents missing and whole areas like Yorkshire are very badly covered.
Charity bookshops don’t seem to be in at all. Yet Waterstones is.
I wonder if shops had to pay to get in to this one?
Would avoid, tempted to take my copy back for a refund.
November 22, 2022
Er... no. Admittedly this wasn't what I was expecting, but even for what it is, it is disappointing. I had thought I was picking up a slow travel account of a woman travelling around Britain visiting independent bookshops, telling us interesting tales of the owners, the customers, the books, the ambience, isn't reading and books just a wonderful world?!?!
No. It's a guide book. Of SOME independent bookshops in the UK. And admittedly, it would be impossible to get them all in here, but there are some serious omissions. And she bashes through in short text, giving no more detail than a glossy, cheap tourist brochure level of lips service to each place, and no sense of place, or anything. The best adverts for the bookshops have to be the lovely photos. I live in York, and she has missed out the best, the wonderful and quirky Minster Bookshop. I wondered if it's because she's only doing sellers of new books. No, because in her "bag a bookshop" list of bookshops she's not written about, she mentions Barter Books in Alnwick, which is a second hand bookshop. She doesn't tell you about the little train going round on the bookshelves, or the fact that this is where they discovered those old war time posters: "Don't Panic..."
In her intro, she mentions that Britain's most northerly bookshop is on the Orkney Islands. I think the Shetlanders might have a thing or two to say about that. Her geography may be off, but she does mention the Shetlands later on.
I read the intro, which I found at times a bit patronising, like a guide for people who have never set foot in a bookshop before. Skimmed the guidebook sections, found them dull to be honest. It is a great concept for a guidebook, even if guidebook was not what I was expecting, but I find this lacking.
Very glad I only borrowed this from the library.
No. It's a guide book. Of SOME independent bookshops in the UK. And admittedly, it would be impossible to get them all in here, but there are some serious omissions. And she bashes through in short text, giving no more detail than a glossy, cheap tourist brochure level of lips service to each place, and no sense of place, or anything. The best adverts for the bookshops have to be the lovely photos. I live in York, and she has missed out the best, the wonderful and quirky Minster Bookshop. I wondered if it's because she's only doing sellers of new books. No, because in her "bag a bookshop" list of bookshops she's not written about, she mentions Barter Books in Alnwick, which is a second hand bookshop. She doesn't tell you about the little train going round on the bookshelves, or the fact that this is where they discovered those old war time posters: "Don't Panic..."
In her intro, she mentions that Britain's most northerly bookshop is on the Orkney Islands. I think the Shetlanders might have a thing or two to say about that. Her geography may be off, but she does mention the Shetlands later on.
I read the intro, which I found at times a bit patronising, like a guide for people who have never set foot in a bookshop before. Skimmed the guidebook sections, found them dull to be honest. It is a great concept for a guidebook, even if guidebook was not what I was expecting, but I find this lacking.
Very glad I only borrowed this from the library.
November 17, 2020
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Visit a few of the locations of the featured bookshops
This is a book all booklovers need. I do love a trail and a booktrail or two, of course, to see the places the author writes about and where the characters live, but imagine doing a tour of ALL THE BOOKSHOPS!
Louise Boland has put together a wonderful book full of hope and wonder in these troubled times and there are pictures and pictures of bookshops inside and out. Perfect for exploring now when the real life things are sadly shut.
It’s a wonderful book with delightful illustrations and photographs which are going to make you want to visit the bookshops you haven’t yet. And revisit the ones you have. We all know of that allure that a bookshop has and this book captures that magic and more.
There’s lot of literary snippets throughout too such as classic writers and information about settings. There’s a lovely bit about Thomas Hardy’s Wessex for example – a real allure for all fans of classic fiction.
Just looking at this book reminded me of all the wonderful bookstores we have in the UK and why it’s so sad they are closed now. As Forum Books in Northumberland says ‘There’s nothing quite like a real bookshop” and they’re right. This book shows you just why they are so magical and invaluable. Wouldn’t it be lovely if people bought this book as a gift for either themselves or another bookworm and thereby helped the very bookshops themselves to survive during lockdown.
This book captures the magic and wonder of everything that books are. Travelling around the country and seeing what delights can be found is the perfect bookish dream!
Visit a few of the locations of the featured bookshops
This is a book all booklovers need. I do love a trail and a booktrail or two, of course, to see the places the author writes about and where the characters live, but imagine doing a tour of ALL THE BOOKSHOPS!
Louise Boland has put together a wonderful book full of hope and wonder in these troubled times and there are pictures and pictures of bookshops inside and out. Perfect for exploring now when the real life things are sadly shut.
It’s a wonderful book with delightful illustrations and photographs which are going to make you want to visit the bookshops you haven’t yet. And revisit the ones you have. We all know of that allure that a bookshop has and this book captures that magic and more.
There’s lot of literary snippets throughout too such as classic writers and information about settings. There’s a lovely bit about Thomas Hardy’s Wessex for example – a real allure for all fans of classic fiction.
Just looking at this book reminded me of all the wonderful bookstores we have in the UK and why it’s so sad they are closed now. As Forum Books in Northumberland says ‘There’s nothing quite like a real bookshop” and they’re right. This book shows you just why they are so magical and invaluable. Wouldn’t it be lovely if people bought this book as a gift for either themselves or another bookworm and thereby helped the very bookshops themselves to survive during lockdown.
This book captures the magic and wonder of everything that books are. Travelling around the country and seeing what delights can be found is the perfect bookish dream!
January 2, 2021
A quick and a fun read but I feel like it missed a trick as it didn't cover sufficient detail about each shop nor did it really include any top tips like you might find in a Lonely Planet Guide. It also didn't really include much on second hand bookshops of which there are many treasures to be found. On the other hand it is certainly going to inform a few pitstops for me when we are allowed to travel around again.
July 27, 2024
I admit I occasionally buy books for the person I might be in a different life. A book of fancy cocktails when I never have anything but wine in the house (and Bailey's at Christmas), or a recipe book when I have the world's worst store cupboard and never eat anything that has more than 3 ingredients and can't be cooked in one pan. This definitely falls into that category: a world in which I am organised enough to plan trips around the country to visit bookshops.
Focused on shops selling new rather than second hand or antique books (so Wigtown only gets a passing mention, and Barter Books doesn't feature) this is a charming meander around the UK. I've been to quite a few of these bookshops, which was nice - I got a buzz from her mentioning a favourite - but I also enjoyed reading about areas I will likely never visit. The book is packed with photos - including of bookshop dogs, cats and even chickens!
Focused on shops selling new rather than second hand or antique books (so Wigtown only gets a passing mention, and Barter Books doesn't feature) this is a charming meander around the UK. I've been to quite a few of these bookshops, which was nice - I got a buzz from her mentioning a favourite - but I also enjoyed reading about areas I will likely never visit. The book is packed with photos - including of bookshop dogs, cats and even chickens!
January 1, 2021
Amazing book! Doesn’t just talk about bookshops, it’s covers great places to visit all over Britain. Loved the glossy photos and the recommendations for independent bookshops. Can’t wait until we can travel again! (2020/2021 covid restriction are causing havoc with travel plans).
December 26, 2021
Helpful guide to indie bookshops around the UK… outdated now as there are many more new ones in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
August 6, 2021
I’m currently away for a week of bookish adventures and so this non-fiction tour of some of Britain’s bookshops was a perfect read this week, to get me even more hyped up!
I throughly enjoyed reading all about the different shops, looking at all the beautiful pictures and fully embracing my inner booknerd!
Huge thanks to Charlotte for the lovely gift!
I throughly enjoyed reading all about the different shops, looking at all the beautiful pictures and fully embracing my inner booknerd!
Huge thanks to Charlotte for the lovely gift!
November 2, 2023
This is more a reference book tbh but I'm really loving it...so much so I just wanted to share it with all the lovely readers out there!
If your like me you love visiting bookshops! For me visiting indie bookshops is less about buying thousands of books and more about finding nice editions and seeing the bookshop, having that new experience of the shop and it's unique charm. I tend to look for cute editions of my favourite books "Alice in Wonderland" or "Pride and Prejudice" but mostly it's about the surroundings for me there's something about indie bookshops that makes me happy. I love spotting all the quirky parts that make up a bookstores identity.
This book is fabulous it takes you on several tours of different areas around Britain with bookshops being the main feature and then it adds different ideas of things to do around them. Love it! I love a good holiday / day out so this is wonderful inspiration for us. It focuses on Independent Bookshops but in the back there is also a list of High Street stores too... The bookshop I work in is in! Yay!!
If your like me you love visiting bookshops! For me visiting indie bookshops is less about buying thousands of books and more about finding nice editions and seeing the bookshop, having that new experience of the shop and it's unique charm. I tend to look for cute editions of my favourite books "Alice in Wonderland" or "Pride and Prejudice" but mostly it's about the surroundings for me there's something about indie bookshops that makes me happy. I love spotting all the quirky parts that make up a bookstores identity.
This book is fabulous it takes you on several tours of different areas around Britain with bookshops being the main feature and then it adds different ideas of things to do around them. Love it! I love a good holiday / day out so this is wonderful inspiration for us. It focuses on Independent Bookshops but in the back there is also a list of High Street stores too... The bookshop I work in is in! Yay!!
September 18, 2021
A dear friend gifted this book to me, and reading it was a joy and a delight. I savored each of the tours. I love literary tourism and this gave me a sense of slow travel across different routes in Britain. Other local spots of interest are mentioned to round out potential trips, and I plan on revisiting these chapters when I plan our literary and other travel itineraries. The author has a warm and engaging tone in her bookstore descriptions, and she discusses the bookstore’s owners, history, and distinctions. There are some specialty bookstores that I’ve heard of that could have merited attention for their special interests (i.e. Persephone Books reprints neglected fiction by mostly mid-twentieth century women writers; The Second Shelf focuses on works by women) but these are London-based and I knew that these bookshop tours would be focusing on reaching various regions of Britain. I would visit all of these stores if I could!
November 9, 2021
In summary this was an interesting and informative book. However not a book to be read from cover to cover but better used as a reference when planning places to visit.
I read the sections relating to areas that I had visited fairly recently or am very familiar with. There are, unfortunately, only so many ways that one can describe a trip from town to town and shops with a good book stock (cafe, activities etc.) so it felt a little repetitive. There were one or two minor mistakes in the descriptions / points of interest but these didn't distract from the overall enjoyment that this book (and a book of roadmaps) can potentially provide when planning a trip. I suggest curling up with it and mug of hot chocolate on a cold wintry evening.
I read the sections relating to areas that I had visited fairly recently or am very familiar with. There are, unfortunately, only so many ways that one can describe a trip from town to town and shops with a good book stock (cafe, activities etc.) so it felt a little repetitive. There were one or two minor mistakes in the descriptions / points of interest but these didn't distract from the overall enjoyment that this book (and a book of roadmaps) can potentially provide when planning a trip. I suggest curling up with it and mug of hot chocolate on a cold wintry evening.
January 18, 2021
This, a birthday present, was a total delight. To start, inevitably, I dipped in to find bookshops I knew and loved, such as Drake the Bookshop in Stockton-on-Tees and Stromness Books and Prints, (listed but not visited); Bridport and Aberfeldy, plus those discovered in the past year or so.
Then, perceiving it as a book to plan trips out, short breaks to, with diversions, I read from cover to cover.
It does more than suggest books: castles, bird-watching opportunities and coastal walks are lightly mentioned, and the mouth-watering photographs urged me to go NOW. If I only could. Henceforth no non-local journey will be undertaken without it.
Then, perceiving it as a book to plan trips out, short breaks to, with diversions, I read from cover to cover.
It does more than suggest books: castles, bird-watching opportunities and coastal walks are lightly mentioned, and the mouth-watering photographs urged me to go NOW. If I only could. Henceforth no non-local journey will be undertaken without it.
April 26, 2021
I love bookshops and I could very well imagine spending a vacation exploring a region based on the locations of its bookshops. The idea here is very good, but I realize that the parts about the non-bookish sights are more interesting: hiking trails in Cornwall, stargazing in Wales, castles and mansions in Yorkshire. All bookshops sound exactly the same: they have a lovely children’s section, they accept dogs and they have author events that you can check up online.
Maybe this book will come along on the next trip to Britain anyway. It’s charming and inspiring.
Maybe this book will come along on the next trip to Britain anyway. It’s charming and inspiring.
August 6, 2022
I loved this book.
While quite fast paced, it includes so much information on not just the bookshops that were visited, but descriptions of local areas, places of interest, cafés for a rest stop and local or personal anecdotes from the author. I love that while concentrating mostly on indie/ independent bookshops, the author has included lists of high street chains & another on much loved bookshops she didn’t get to visit. The inclusion of the little maps of each book tour (chapter) is great & her beautiful style of writing had me picturing each area as if traveling through it myself.
While quite fast paced, it includes so much information on not just the bookshops that were visited, but descriptions of local areas, places of interest, cafés for a rest stop and local or personal anecdotes from the author. I love that while concentrating mostly on indie/ independent bookshops, the author has included lists of high street chains & another on much loved bookshops she didn’t get to visit. The inclusion of the little maps of each book tour (chapter) is great & her beautiful style of writing had me picturing each area as if traveling through it myself.
April 3, 2024
It’s a very informative book about some places. I’m looking forward to ticking off each of the bookshops in this book but feel like there are a lot missing. For instance it makes it look like we only have 1 bookshop on the Isle of Wight when we have some wonderful bookshops here. Did the bookshops have to pay to get into this book I wonder?
Also the hay-on-wye section again makes out like there’s only one shop when any book lover will know it’s full to the brim of bookshops being the first book town.
It’s still a great book just not what I was quite expecting.
Also the hay-on-wye section again makes out like there’s only one shop when any book lover will know it’s full to the brim of bookshops being the first book town.
It’s still a great book just not what I was quite expecting.
February 9, 2025
oh my gosh I loved this book so much because it made me dream about planning a trip to my favorite travel destination- the UK- with visiting bookstores as the main activity. UK countries are so literate. People on the UK value books and reading. Even small towns have multiple bookstores. I loved reading about the bookstores, their histories, and their connections with their communities. I want to leave for The UK today so I can visit these bookstores. A completely happy and uplifting read in an otherwise dark time.
March 8, 2023
Interesting book of all the independent and some chain bookstores throughout Britain. It was laid out nicely by breaking the routes per location. They showed many pictures of the bookstores, an outline of the map for each location. Beautifully done, and will take with me if I go on a trip to Britain someday.
February 10, 2021
Can't wait to mark off all the shops that sounded amazing. Looks like my TRP is going to be expanding 🙈
February 12, 2021
An entertaining read with delightful illustrations. Loved the armchair travel and highly recommend this book
February 25, 2021
Lovely book. Well laid out and beautiful pictures. Lots of beautiful bookshops I need to visit
January 23, 2023
So, the first book of the year. Not a bad way to start at all.
I received this as a present from my partner on Christmas Eve (we always gift each others a book on the 24th December in an attempt to adopt the Icelandic tradition) and I will admit that I never intended to read it cover to cover. It seemed like a wonderful book to have a quick flick through and then refer to when needed. I was as surprised as anyone when I found that by the end of boxing day I had devoured nearly half the book's contents.
Bookshop Tours of Britain is a fantastic little book that details a great number of bookshops to be found all over the British Isles. Each chapter focuses on a different area of Britain and outlines a number of book shops to be found in these areas that come in all shapes and sizes. It also serves as a rough travel guide mentioning other points of local interest from museums to landmarks and even some eateries.
I think this is why I enjoyed this book as much as I did. It served as a brief tour of Britain through the medium and comfort of books and stirred up a real wanderlust to explore this beautiful country (that is so often besmirched by politics).
Let's be clear; this book is not entirely comprehensive. There is a good chance someone may pick it up and be disappointed to find that they're favourite shop is not mentioned. Equally if you are expecting an in depth travel guide or quiet contemplations of each shop you are likely to be disappointed. It is a whistle stop tour but still does a great job at showcasing a wide variety of booksellers and at making you want to explore the shops and landscapes they can be found in.
A fast and fun tour of a large list of Britain's bookshops that will make you want to explore both the shops and the areas they can found in.
I received this as a present from my partner on Christmas Eve (we always gift each others a book on the 24th December in an attempt to adopt the Icelandic tradition) and I will admit that I never intended to read it cover to cover. It seemed like a wonderful book to have a quick flick through and then refer to when needed. I was as surprised as anyone when I found that by the end of boxing day I had devoured nearly half the book's contents.
Bookshop Tours of Britain is a fantastic little book that details a great number of bookshops to be found all over the British Isles. Each chapter focuses on a different area of Britain and outlines a number of book shops to be found in these areas that come in all shapes and sizes. It also serves as a rough travel guide mentioning other points of local interest from museums to landmarks and even some eateries.
I think this is why I enjoyed this book as much as I did. It served as a brief tour of Britain through the medium and comfort of books and stirred up a real wanderlust to explore this beautiful country (that is so often besmirched by politics).
Let's be clear; this book is not entirely comprehensive. There is a good chance someone may pick it up and be disappointed to find that they're favourite shop is not mentioned. Equally if you are expecting an in depth travel guide or quiet contemplations of each shop you are likely to be disappointed. It is a whistle stop tour but still does a great job at showcasing a wide variety of booksellers and at making you want to explore the shops and landscapes they can be found in.
A fast and fun tour of a large list of Britain's bookshops that will make you want to explore both the shops and the areas they can found in.
May 1, 2023
Lovely!!! An inspiring look at the places I can visit on my upcoming trip.
July 2, 2023
4.5 stars
A great idea - bookish tours of Britain, picking out wonderful book shops and places used as inspiration and filming locations for film adaptations.
A great idea - bookish tours of Britain, picking out wonderful book shops and places used as inspiration and filming locations for film adaptations.
January 21, 2026
Joyous books only for Joyous Jan - very lovely coffee table book with some MCR classics mentioned ❤️
July 19, 2025
This book serves as a guide to British bookshops. It’s not bad for giving you a basic idea about where various British bookstores are, but it doesn’t provide more detailed descriptions or behind-the-scenes stories either. I was looking for the Wigtown section when I opened the book since I joined the Random Book Club organized by Wigtown’s The Bookshop in early 2024... so, naturally, Boland barely mentions Wigtown and all its bookshops in a single paragraph. Go, figure. But I still got some useful tips for bookshops I’d like to check out the next time I’m in the UK, whenever that might be.
November 16, 2022
A marvellous UK guidebook for any book lover either as an informative read from page to page by geographical region or equally as a reference book to dip into for planning your next bookshop travels...enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews