Welcome to the ultimate guide to the bookshops of Bristol!
This post has been a couple months in the making, as I’ve travelled to each and every one to check them out and give an honest review. Bristol is lucky to be home to 16 bookshops, with a wide variety of independent, charity, and chain shops.
When listing the charity shops I’ve only included specific bookshops that are run by charities, but also included a few bonus charity shops who happen to have a good book selection.
There are seven independent bookshops, five charity bookshops, and 3 chain bookshops in Bristol. So lots to explore and plenty of places to pick up your next favourite read! To save you from traipsing all over Bristol like I did, I’ve put together this guide to give you the inside look at each shop so you can see whether it is for you before visiting!
Independent Bookshops
All the way up in Henleaze is a hidden gem of a bookshop, packed with the latest books. With a large children’s area and host to many events, Max Minerva’s is a great community bookshop.
Down in Bedminster, Storysmith is also a great addition to the community. Host to many book events, it has a great modern vibe. All the books you can ask for, and other book related gifts for sale, it is a lovely bookshop.
The Last Bookshop
Along Park Street is the iconic Last Bookshop. Every book is £3 and there is usually a brilliant mix of old and new, including an extensive non-fiction, poetry, and childrens collection. You never know what you might find in here, and for the price it can be quite a thrill!
Reflecting the neighbourhood you find it in, Hydra is the kind of bookshop you expect from Bristol. Anarchy, socialism feminism – you name it Hydra will have a book or pamphlet to read. It also boasts a lovely cafe and a cosy lounge area in the centre to fully take in the vibe.
*Edit: As of 1st July 2019, Hydra has temporarily moved to the basement of Cafe Kino. Read more about the future of Hydra Books here.
Tucked away, Dreadnought can easily be overlooked. But it is worth popping in if you can as the prices are low and the variety is high. This has the feel of a proper old school bookshop and is packed to the rafters with books to find.
Bloom & Curll seems like a lovely little bookshop, with a lot of character. Unfortunately, whenever I go to visit it seems to be closed, so I have yet to been able to visit.
This page will be updated when that day finally comes!
You can spend hours perusing the shelves of this lovely second hand bookshop in St Nicholas Market. Great value, a huge variety, and the perfect place to have a rummage, Beware is one of my favourites.
Charity Book Shops
An old favourite of mine, I can’t go a week or two without visiting this Gloucester Road staple. The prices are excellent and the stock rotates quickly so you never know what might pop up. In the front is a huge range of non-fiction and a decent children’s section. But if you keep heading toward the back you’ll find the fiction and classic literature room where I’ve found some excellent books over the years!
Oxfam Cotham Hill
A classic Oxfam bookshop, it offers everything you could want from a well curated bookshop, at charity shop prices. The literature and poetry section is well stocked, as is the sci-fi/graphic novels area, and dedicated ‘collectables’ shelf.
British Heart Foundation
A little pricier than others, the BHF bookshops is still worth a visit as the quality is usually high. Shelves line each wall, and there is a wide variety of classics and new fiction and non-fiction on offer.
Oxfam Park Street
Atop Park Street is one of the best Oxfam bookshops in Bristol. Downstairs there are many collectables, but it is upstairs where all the treasures lie. I have found newly released books amongst beautiful old classics, and all for a great price.
Oxfam Clifton
Another great offering from Oxfam, this time in Clifton village. There’s a whole wall dedicated to collectables, and a large selection of literature and Young Adult books too.
Bonus: Also worth visiting are Shelter in Clifton, and PDSA and Sue Ryder in Bedminster, for having a good selection of books for under £1 each.
Chains
There are two entrances to this Waterstones so it is hard to miss! Possibly the biggest of all the bookshops in Bristol is the classic Waterstones. It has a particularly excellent Young Adult section, as well as a cafe. Often host to excellent events, it does well to mash the commercial with the community.
Foyles may be the most expensive bookshop in Bristol, but it makes up for it in beauty and style. I enjoy reading through the ‘Staff Picks’ section near the door and the cafe often has lots of vegan options. The tables are often inspiring and well curated – just a shame it’s out of my budget (for now)!
Clifton is a village of its own, and a village wouldn’t be complete without a bookshop. Waterstones found its way up the hill and it has settled in well. It boasts a large children’s collection, and lots of gifts, stationery and puzzles.
Bonus: There is also a Blackwells located in the University of Bristol’s SU Richmond building.
You can find Stanfords, the specialist map and travel bookshop in Corn Street. As I was passing recently I saw it had some fiction in the window – so may have a wider selection than meets the eye!
WHSmiths and supermarkets often have a good selection too.
