Top 5 Independent Bookshops in Bristol
Whether you're looking for crime thrillers, sci-fi space operas, quiet introspective novels or a spine-tingling adventure, you are sure to find it in one of Bristol’s Independent book shops.
Storysmith
236 North Street Bristol BS3 1JD
Storysmith is an award-winning independent bookshop in South Bristol, stocking a curated selection of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. They also serve locally roasted coffee, and encourage browsers to linger while enjoying it. They were named Independent Bookshop of the Year for the South West at the British Book Awards in 2023 and again in 2025.
The shop opened in October 2018 at 49 North Street and after three very happy years they moved to the current location at 236 North Street in November 2021. The shop is precision-designed to make discovering new books as easy as possible for everyone and everything stocked in the shop is also available to buy on line. Regular events with contemporary writers make this Bristol bookstore worth a visit, wherever you live in the city.
The Small City Bookshop
201 Church Rd, Redfield, Bristol BS5 9HL
The Small City Bookshop is an independent bookshop on Church Road, serving the communities of Redfield, St George and East Bristol. It’s a great place for avid readers east of Bristol, offering adult & children's books from a diverse range of voices and storytelling & author events.
The community bookshop was opened by two friends who share a love of reading Christie & Sarah. They chose the shop so that they can put on events that will support & encourage literacy, reading and the love of stories in the community. They work with local schools, parents & community groups to bring a range of events for everyone and want the space to be somewhere to come for both book obsessives & reluctant readers.
The Haunted Bookshop
43 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3PY.
The Haunted Bookshop is a female-owned witchy bookshop and venue in Stokes Croft, Bristol. The shelves are filled with a diverse array of eerie, occult and outlandish items, promising something for every curious soul. Whether you're seeking spine-tingling thrills, fantastical adventures, or a deeper understanding of the occult, you are sure to find it here.
However it’s not just trading in ghost stories and folk tales, The Haunted Bookshop stocks numerous “witchy items” like candles, sage, incense and many more gifts. You can even get your hands on pumpkin-spiced lattes all year around (alongside a selection of coffees, teas, and soft drinks to enjoy while you browse). Downstairs, there is a comfy seating area ready to start hosting your spooky events – ideal for a Stephen King-themed book club, Tarot card readings, or coven meeting every full moon.
The shop has already become one of Bristol's coolest haunts and it is growing bigger by the day.
Beware of the Leopard Books
St. Nicholas Market, 66-69 St Nicholas St, Bristol BS1 1LJ.
Beware of the Leopards Books – named after a quote from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – is by far the oldest of the bookshops in Bristol, even one of the oldest in the South West. Home to over 25,000 second-hand books, you’ll find history, fantasy fiction, and everything in between in this overflowing space. They also have some very rare books for collectors.
This is the perfect store for anyone looking for a summer read or students trying to save some money as the poetry, classics and plays sections are always well-stocked. If you have a spare hour to spend bargain-hunting in St Nicholas Market this is definitely worth a visit.
Heron Books
7a Regent Street, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4HW
Heron Books is a wonderful independent book shop stocking a range of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books, 4000 of them in a carefully planned cosy space. Heron Books offers personal recommendations and the creation of bespoke gift lists for those special occasions, and runs events, including a monthly poetry series and several book groups. If not already on the shelves, books can be ordered for home delivery and, if you live really nearby, staff have been known to occasionally cycle over and deliver them personally.
The shop is a welcoming space and staff love nothing more than talking about books and if the book in question features a heron, all the better.