The Best Bookstores in Bath: 7 Bookshops Book Lovers Should Visit

Sneak Peak at What's in This Post

Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer held in front of Bath Abbey in Bath, England

If you’re like me and you love exploring bookstores when you travel, Bath is a perfect destination.

Bath is already one of my favorite cities in England (probably in the world). I love its history, its beautiful Georgian architecture, its connection to Jane Austen, and the fact that seemingly everywhere you turn, there’s another story to uncover. But one of the things I especially love about Bath is that this isn’t a city that simply celebrates its literary past. Books still feel like part of the culture here.

There are independent bookstores filled with new releases, secondhand shops where books are piled almost to the ceiling, beautiful special editions, author events, and even an independent publisher dedicated to bringing forgotten books—especially books by women—back into print.

On my most recent trip to Bath (yes, I’ve been more than once), I made it a goal to visit as many bookstores as possible. I didn’t manage to get inside every shop on my list (yet…), but I found several I absolutely loved—and, of course, came home with a few new books. My favorites ranged from Persephone Books, where I discovered forgotten women writers in beautiful editions, to Mr. B’s, where the staff tracked down a book I’d been hunting for and had it waiting for me within 24 hours.

If you’re planning your own literary trip to Bath, these are the best bookstores in Bath:

[Ultimate Guide to Bath for Book and Movie Lovers] (COMING SOON!)

1. Persephone Books

Persephone Books storefront in Bath, England, with a large book-filled window, wrought-iron balcony and pink flower boxes

Persephone Books was probably the Bath bookstore I was most excited to visit because it is both an independent bookstore and a publisher.

The store specializes in bringing “neglected” fiction and nonfiction back into print, mostly works by women from the mid-twentieth century. Many of its books come in surprisingly muted grey covers—but open them and you’ll find beautiful patterned endpapers based on designs connected to the period in which the book was originally published. The books even come with matching bookmarks.

In other words: they are extremely difficult for a book lover to resist (especially when there’s a special deal to buy three at once…assuming you have the room in your luggage).

What I especially appreciated in the shop was how easy it is to discover an author or title you’ve never encountered before. There are descriptions available for each of the books, and I found myself reading through them trying to decide which forgotten story deserved to come home with me. I even asked the staff to help me find one to choose and they were very helpful!

I eventually chose High Wages by Dorothy Whipple, a 1930 novel about a young woman making her way in the world of retail in an English town.

Even if you don’t buy anything, Persephone Books is worth visiting because it offers something different from almost every other bookstore you’ll encounter. And if, like me, you enjoy discovering books connected to women’s lives and voices, leave yourself some browsing time.

[Best Books Set in Bath] (COMING SOON!)

2. Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights

Exterior of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath, England, with books filling the large shop window beneath its hanging sign

With a name like Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, how could I possibly not go inside?

This independent bookstore is one of those places that is genuinely fun to explore. Rather than feeling like one large retail space, it has different rooms and areas to wander through, with books tucked seemingly everywhere.

But what stood out most to me was the service.

Before one of my trips to Bath, I had been trying to track down A Cotswold Family Life by Clare Mackintosh. I hadn’t been able to find a copy, so while I was at Mr B’s, I asked whether they might be able to get it.

They could and they could get it before I had to depart. They ordered it for me and had it waiting at the shop within 24 hours.

After walking the Cotswold Way, I was particularly excited to get my hands on it, and having a Bath bookshop solve my little book hunt made the experience even more fun.

That personal attention also seems very fitting for Mr B’s. This isn’t simply somewhere to walk in, grab the latest bestseller, and leave. It feels like a bookstore designed around the idea of helping people find books they’ll love.

They even offer their well-known Reading Spas, during which a bookseller talks with you about your reading tastes and then recommends books specifically for you.

Yes. A spa for books.

This is Bath, after all.

3. Topping & Company Booksellers

Exterior of Topping & Company Booksellers in Bath, England, with its columned entrance and books displayed in the windows

If Mr B’s feels quirky and intimate, Topping & Company feels grand.

The Bath branch is located close to Bath Abbey in a beautiful historic building, and it’s the kind of bookstore where you can easily lose track of time.

There are books everywhere. And when you think you’re finished exploring—don’t forget the basement. (I almost missed it!)

One of the things Topping & Company is particularly known for is its selection of signed books and first editions. I loved looking through them even when they were decidedly outside my book-buying budget. (During my visit, I spotted signed Sally Rooney editions priced at more than £1,000!)

Topping also has a busy program of author events, so it’s worth checking what’s happening during your visit. If you’re planning a book-focused trip to Bath, attending an author talk here could be a particularly fun addition.

And while you’re wandering around, take a look out the back of the shop—you can catch an interesting view toward Ralph Allen’s former home, another little reminder that in Bath, history always seems to be peeking into whatever you’re doing.

4. Old Bath Books

Red storefront of Bath Old Books in Bath, England, with books displayed in the windows of the historic stone building

Old Bath Books provides a completely different experience from the polished displays of a large new bookstore.

This is where you go to dig.

The shelves are filled with secondhand books, with books stacked and tucked into seemingly every available space. It feels a little chaotic at first glance, but I found it surprisingly well organized once I started browsing.

For me, the best part was the selection of books specifically about Bath.

I was visiting partly because I’d become fascinated with the city’s history, so naturally I ended up browsing that section for quite a while.

I left with Tales from the Pump Room: 900 Years of Bath: The Place, Its People, and Its Gossip by Thomas Hinde.

Honestly, how was I supposed to leave that behind?

If you like searching secondhand shops for unusual local-history books that you probably aren’t going to encounter on the front table of a chain bookstore, I’d definitely make time for Old Bath Books.

5. George Bayntun

Arched wooden entrance to George Bayntun in Bath, England, with the Bayntun name above the doorway and framed prints visible in the curved display windows

George Bayntun was unfortunately one of the shops I wasn’t able to properly visit, so this one remains on my list for next time. (And yes, there will almost certainly be a next time.)

But if you’re the kind of book lover who gets excited about beautiful bindings, rare books, and antiquarian books, George Bayntun offers something very different from the other Bath bookstores on this list.

The shop grew out of the bookbinding business George Bayntun established in Bath in 1894 after training as an apprentice. Today, George Bayntun is both an antiquarian bookshop and home to the Bayntun-Riviere bindery, where craftspeople still bind and restore books by hand.

Even from the outside, it felt very different from the other bookshops I’d visited around the city.

Because I didn’t get the chance to explore inside myself, I can’t give you a personal review yet. But if you’re a serious book collector—or simply love the craftsmanship and history behind beautiful books—I’d put George Bayntun on your list.

6. Skoobs Book Stall at Guildhall Market

Explore a classic bookshop in Bath, England, featuring stacks of paperbacks in a cozy market setting.

I didn’t make it inside Skoobs on either of these trips either (lesson learned: it’s closed on Sundays), so I can’t personally review it yet. But I kept it on this list because it offers something slightly different from Old Bath Books: affordable secondhand books with plenty of popular fiction. If you’re more interested in finding a bargain paperback than hunting for an unusual antiquarian title, this may be the better secondhand stop for you.

I’ll have to report back after my next Bath visit. (See? I’m already finding excuses to return.)

7. Waterstones Bath

Waterstones bookshop and café occupying a large historic stone building with arched windows in Bath, England

I know. You can visit Waterstones in cities all over the UK.

But sometimes you just want a really good, big bookstore where you can find almost anything you’re looking for.

The Bath Waterstones is exactly that.

In addition to its book selection, I particularly liked browsing the gifts and stationery. There were cards, notebooks, puzzles (quite a few themed around Jane Austen and Bath, of course) and all the other little things that somehow end up in my hands when I supposedly went into a bookstore “just to look.”

If you need a specific current release—or you’re traveling with someone who isn’t prepared to spend an hour digging through secondhand books—Waterstones is an easy stop right in central Bath.

Which Bath Bookstore Should You Visit?

Ideally?

All of them.

But if you have limited time, I’d choose based on what kind of bookshop experience you want.

For beautiful forgotten books and women writers, go to Persephone Books.

For personal recommendations and a wonderfully quirky independent bookstore, go to Mr B’s.

For a huge selection, signed books and serious browsing, go to Topping & Company.

For secondhand books and unusual books about Bath, try Old Bath Books.

For affordable secondhand popular fiction, check out Skoobs Book Stall at Guildhall Market.

For Bath and Jane Austen-themed gifts and stationery, try Waterstones.

And if you’re a collector interested in rare and antiquarian books, put George Bayntun on your list.

The nice thing is that central Bath is extremely walkable, so you don’t necessarily have to choose just one. Several of these shops can easily be incorporated into a day spent exploring the city.

[One Day in Bath] (COMING SOON!)
[Self-Guided Literary Walking Tour of Bath] (COMING SOON!)

Why Bath Is Such a Great City for Book Lovers

Tales from the Pump Room by Thomas Hinde held in front of the historic Pump Room in Bath, England

The more time I spend in Bath, the more I think its literary appeal goes far beyond the fact that Jane Austen once lived here.

Of course, Austen is everywhere—in fact, I have a whole special guide on [Jane Austen in Bath]. (COMING SOON)

But Bath feels like a city that still genuinely appreciates books and the arts. Independent bookstores thrive alongside major booksellers. Authors come here for events. A small publisher has built a beautiful shop around rediscovering forgotten writers. You can browse antiquarian books, hunt through secondhand shelves, attend a literary event, or simply buy a novel and take it to one of the benches around the city to read.

That’s part of the energy I’ve come to love about Bath.

It’s an elegant city, certainly, but it doesn’t feel like its culture has been preserved behind glass. Its literary history is just another layer of a city that still feels creative and alive.

And apparently, every time I visit, I need to bring a bigger bag for the books.

If you’re looking for my recommendations on how to spend a full day exploring all of the literary sites of Bath, be sure to check out my [Self-Guided Literary Walking Tour of Bath] (COMING SOON!)

Planning a Trip to Bath?

I’ve fallen a little bit in love with Bath, and one visit definitely wasn’t enough. If you’re planning your own trip, explore my complete collection of Bath guides for book lovers, movie fans, and curious travelers.

📚 Bath for Book Lovers

[Jane Austen in Bath: Places Every Book Lover Should Visit] (COMING SOON!)
[Best Bookstores in Bath] (COMING SOON!)
[Best Books Set in Bath] (COMING SOON!)
[Literary Sites in Bath Every Book Lover Should Visit] (COMING SOON!)
[Self-Guided Literary Walking Tour of Bath] (COMING SOON!)

🎬 Bath for Movie & TV Lovers

[Bridgerton Filming Locations in Bath] (COMING SOON!)
[Movies & TV Shows Set in Bath] (COMING SOON!)
[Movie & TV Filming Locations in Bath] (COMING SOON!)

🏛️ Bath Experiences

[Visiting the Roman Baths: Is It Worth It?] (COMING SOON!)
[Thermae Bath Spa: What to Know Before You Go] (COMING SOON!)
[Best Tours in Bath] (COMING SOON!)
[Bath Bucket List: Must-Do Things to Do] (COMING SOON!)

🫖 Eat, Drink & Stay

[Where to Eat & Drink in Bath] (COMING SOON!)
[Where to Stay in Bath] (COMING SOON!)

🗺️ Plan Your Bath Trip

[One Day in Bath: An Itinerary for Book & Movie Lovers] (COMING SOON!)
[Two Days in Bath: The Perfect Book & Movie Lover’s Weekend] (COMING SOON!)
[Is Bath Worth Visiting?] (COMING SOON!)
[Best Time to Visit Bath] (COMING SOON!)
[Christmas in Bath] (COMING SOON!)

✨ Start Here

Not sure where to begin? Head to my [Ultimate Guide to Bath for Book & Movie Lovers] (COMING SOON!) for everything you need to plan your trip.