Edinburgh is famous for some of the world’s most prolific writers and was the first city to be named a UNESCO City of Literature. It is also known to be the home of an elite group of independent book shops, with one of my favourites being Armchair Books.

Armchair Books is a small second-hand bookshop, piled high with dusty titles and overflowing shelves. It’s a cavern containing thousands of whimsical stories and provides quite a magical experience with its antique aesthetic, narrow aisles, cosy feel and an inviting old book ‘smell’.

You can find the shop in the West Port area, which has always been known as the historic home for booksellers in the city. The higgledy-piggledy store, stocks hundreds of publications in what can only be described as a state of organised chaos with titles covering philosophy, history, myths, poems, travel and much more. The creaking floorboards, vintage hardbacks and crooked bookcases create the perfect space for browsing and exploring their vast and unique offering.   

I can guarantee you will find something to whet your appetite, with varying genres and a wide selection of antiquarian tomes at your fingertips. If you enjoy bookshops which are full of character, I recommend setting aside an hour or so to visit and pick up some rare finds for your own collection.