Bookstores in Bristol
Bookstores reward the browsers. Bristol, England has 95 mapped right now, and 2 of them deal in used books. That's 95 bookshops mapped around Bristol, each with its own shelves and specialties. The used sections are where the real bargains hide.
This guide covers every bookstore we could verify in and around Bristol (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include Wessex Books & Prints and Arnolfini Bookshop, plus Waterstones. If a bookshop's missing from Bristol's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet.
The Bristol bookstore lineup
95 mapped within about 40 km — showing 60:
Wessex Books & Prints
Bookstore
Wessex Books & Prints — Bookstore.
Arnolfini Bookshop
Bookstore
Arnolfini Bookshop is Bookstore. Arnolfini Bookshop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Su 11:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
Hours: Tu-Su 11:00-18:00
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore on 29 Borough Parade. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
29 Borough Parade, SN15 3WL
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Phone: +441249446760
Book Extra
Bookstore
Book Extra — Bookstore.
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on 27 Broadmead Gallery, Bristol. WHSmith also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
27 Broadmead Gallery, Bristol, BS1 3XB
The Corsham Bookshop
Bookstore
The Corsham Bookshop — Bookstore, found on Unit 16 New Place in Corsham. Also worth knowing about The Corsham Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Unit 16 New Place, Corsham, SN13 0HL
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-17:00
Phone: +441249715988
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:30-20:00; Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 11:00-17:00.
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-20:00; Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 11:00-17:00
American Dream Comics
Bookstore
American Dream Comics is Bookstore on 72 Walcot Street. American Dream Comics also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
72 Walcot Street, BA1 5BD
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore. WHSmith also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
Buzzard books
Bookstore
Buzzard books — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Buzzard books: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 11:00-16:30.
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-16:30
WHSmith
BookstoreRun by WHSmith
WHSmith is Bookstore run by WHSmith on High Street, Chippenham. WHSmith also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
High Street, Chippenham
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on 159 Commercial Street in Newport. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
159 Commercial Street, Newport, NP20 1JQ
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Phone: +44 1633 223977
The Bookshop
Bookstore
The Bookshop is Bookstore. The Bookshop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo 03:00-20:25; Tu 03:00-19:50; We 03:00-20:20; Th 03:00-21:10; Fr 03:00-20:15; Sa 03:00-20:55; Su 03:00-19:50.
Hours: Mo 03:00-20:25; Tu 03:00-19:50; We 03:00-20:20; Th 03:00-21:10; Fr 03:00-20:15; Sa 03:00-20:55; Su 03:00-19:50
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 76-78 High Street in Weston-Super-Mare. Also worth knowing about The Works: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:30-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
76-78 High Street, Weston-Super-Mare, BS23 1HS
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:30-16:00
Phone: +44 1934 628413
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on 11 The Mall, Cwmbran. WHSmith also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 08:30-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
11 The Mall, Cwmbran, NP44 1PX
Hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Phone: +44 1633 484 021
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 2-4 The Parade in Cwmbran. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
2-4 The Parade, Cwmbran
Beacon Christian Books
Bookstore
Beacon Christian Books is Bookstore.
Yellow Lighted Bookshop
Bookstore
Yellow Lighted Bookshop is Bookstore on 17 Fountain Street, Stroud. Yellow Lighted Bookshop also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
17 Fountain Street, Stroud, GL6 0BL
Phone: +44 1453 832555
Clevedon Community Bookshop
Bookstore
Clevedon Community Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 29 Copse Road in Clevedon. Also worth knowing about Clevedon Community Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Tu-Su 10:30-16:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
29 Copse Road, Clevedon, BS21 7QN
Hours: Tu-Su 10:30-16:30
Phone: +44 1275 218318
Wellfield Bookshop
Bookstore
Wellfield Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 16 Wellfield Road in Cardiff. Also worth knowing about Wellfield Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 11:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
16 Wellfield Road, Cardiff, CF24 3PB
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 11:00-16:00
Phone: +44 2920 483106
Stella Books
Bookstore
Stella Books is Bookstore.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 1b Central Avenue in Newport. Also worth knowing about The Works: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
1b Central Avenue, Newport, NP19 4QQ
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-16:00
Phone: +44 1633 739 911
The Comic Store
Bookstore
The Comic Store — Bookstore, found on 39 High Street in Glastonbury.
39 High Street, Glastonbury, BA6 9DS
The Hollow Hills
Bookstore
The Hollow Hills is Bookstore on 5 High Street, Glastonbury.
5 High Street, Glastonbury, BA6 9DP
Courtyard Books
Bookstore
Courtyard Books is Bookstore on 2-4 High Street, Glastonbury. Courtyard Books also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
2-4 High Street, Glastonbury, BA6 9DU
Labyrinth Books
Bookstore
Labyrinth Books — Bookstore, found on High Street in Glastonbury.
High Street, Glastonbury
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 171 Commercial Street in Newport. Also worth knowing about The Works: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
171 Commercial Street, Newport, NP20 1JN
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Phone: +44 1633 213802
Second Hand Bookshop
BookstoreRun by National Trust
Second Hand Bookshop is Bookstore run by National Trust on Tredegar House Drive, Newport. Second Hand Bookshop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 09:00-17:00 open "subject to volunteers"; it has a website with more detail.
Tredegar House Drive, Newport, NP10 8TW
Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-17:00 open "subject to volunteers"
The Titfield Thunderbolt
Bookstore
The Titfield Thunderbolt is Bookstore on Studio 4 Toll Bridge Road. The Titfield Thunderbolt also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
Studio 4 Toll Bridge Road, BA1 7DE
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on 44 High Street, Weston-super-Mare. WHSmith also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:30-16:30; it has a website with more detail.
44 High Street, Weston-super-Mare
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:30-16:30
The Frome Bookshop
Bookstore
The Frome Bookshop is Bookstore on 18 King Street, Frome. The Frome Bookshop also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
18 King Street, Frome, BA11 1BH
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore. WHSmith also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00.
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
WHSmith
Bookstore
WHSmith is Bookstore on Kings Chase Shopping Centre, Bristol. WHSmith also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Kings Chase Shopping Centre, Bristol, BS15 8LP
Phone: +44 117 961 2251
East Bristol Books
Bookstore
East Bristol Books is Bookstore on 12 West Street, Bristol. East Bristol Books also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
12 West Street, Bristol, BS2 0BH
Barn Owl Books
Bookstore
Barn Owl Books — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Barn Owl Books: it has a website with more detail.
Dreadnought
Used bookstore
Dreadnought is Used bookstore on 125 Saint Georges Road, Bristol. Dreadnought also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
125 Saint Georges Road, Bristol, BS1 5UW
Winstone's Hunting Raven Books
Bookstore
Winstone's Hunting Raven Books is Bookstore on 9-10 Cheap Street, Frome. Winstone's Hunting Raven Books also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
9-10 Cheap Street, Frome, BA11 1BN
The Small City Bookshop
Bookstore
The Small City Bookshop is Bookstore on 201 Church Road.
201 Church Road
second page
Bookstore
second page — Bookstore, found on Union Street in Bristol.
Union Street, Bristol
a very small book shop
Bookstore
a very small book shop — Bookstore, found on 1 Willway Yard in Bristol.
1 Willway Yard, Bristol, BS3 4AZ
Lost in the Reads
Bookstore
Lost in the Reads is Bookstore.
Bookbarn International
Bookstore
Bookbarn International — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Bookbarn International: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Hallatrow, BS39 6EX
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1761 452178
Geo Bayntun
Bookstore
Geo Bayntun is Bookstore.
The Haunted Bookshop
Bookstore
The Haunted Bookshop — Bookstore on 43 Stokes Croft. Also worth knowing about The Haunted Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 12:00-18:00; Sa 11:00-18:00; Sa 12:00-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
43 Stokes Croft
Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-18:00; Sa 11:00-18:00; Sa 12:00-17:00
The BookCellar
Bookstore
The BookCellar is Bookstore on 100 Stokes Croft, Bristol. The BookCellar also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-We 10:00-21:30; Th 10:00-22:30; Fr,Sa 10:00-23:30; Su 11:00-21:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
100 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3RJ
Hours: Mo-We 10:00-21:30; Th 10:00-22:30; Fr,Sa 10:00-23:30; Su 11:00-21:30
Phone: +44 117 985 0988
The Beaufort Bookshop
Bookstore
The Beaufort Bookshop — Bookstore on 1 Saint Saviour's Road. Also worth knowing about The Beaufort Bookshop: it has a website with more detail.
1 Saint Saviour's Road, BA1 6RP
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore on 4-5 Milsom Street. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
4-5 Milsom Street, BA1 1DA
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 8 The Horsefair in Bristol. Also worth knowing about The Works: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
8 The Horsefair, Bristol, BS1 3HT
Phone: +44 117 922 1780
Lions Bargain Books
Bookstore
Lions Bargain Books — Bookstore.
Persephone Books
Bookstore
Persephone Books — Bookstore on 8 George Street. Also worth knowing about Persephone Books: it has a website with more detail.
8 George Street, BA1 2EE
Last Bookshop
Bookstore
Last Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 60 Park Street in Bristol.
60 Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5JN
Bookmarked
Bookstore
Bookmarked is Bookstore on 47 Henleaze Road, Bristol.
47 Henleaze Road, Bristol, BS9 4JU
British Heart Foundation Books & Music
Bookstore
British Heart Foundation Books & Music is Bookstore on 148 Whiteladies Road, Bristol. British Heart Foundation Books & Music also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:30-17:00, Su 11:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
148 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2RS
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-17:00, Su 11:00-16:00
Phone: +44 117 973 9274
Christian Science Reading Room
Bookstore
Christian Science Reading Room is Bookstore on 51 North View, Bristol. Christian Science Reading Room also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo,We,Fr 10:00-12:30; Tu,Th 13:30-16:00.
51 North View, Bristol, BS6 7PY
Hours: Mo,We,Fr 10:00-12:30; Tu,Th 13:30-16:00
Amnesty Bookshop
Bookstore
Amnesty Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 103 Gloucester Road in Bristol. Also worth knowing about Amnesty Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:00-16:30; Sa 10:30-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
103 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8AT
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-16:30; Sa 10:30-17:00
Phone: +44 117 942 2969
Gloucester Road Books
Bookstore
Gloucester Road Books — Bookstore, found on 184 Gloucester Road in Bristol.
184 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8NU
Oxfam Bookshop
Bookstore
Oxfam Bookshop — Bookstore, found on 1 Queen's Road in Bristol. Also worth knowing about Oxfam Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00, Su 12:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
1 Queen's Road, Bristol, BS8 1QE
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00, Su 12:00-17:00
Phone: +44 117 9294890
Heron Books
Bookstore
Heron Books is Bookstore on Regent Street, Bristol. Heron Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 08:30-16:30; Su 11:00-16:00.
Regent Street, Bristol, BS8 4HW
Hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-16:30; Su 11:00-16:00
What the map tells us about bookstores in Bristol
37 of the 95 list their opening hours on the map, which is genuinely useful — bookshops keep civilised hours, so the listed ones are usually reliable.
55 have websites listed. Worth a look for events — readings and signings get announced there first.
There's a cluster: 2 of them sit on High Street, so you can string those into one walk and drive between the rest.
2 of the shops are tagged as selling used books — the second-hand shelves are where out-of-print gems and first editions turn up for pocket change.
The Bristol bookstore crawl
Plot these on a map and the day plans itself: Wessex Books & Prints, Arnolfini Bookshop, Waterstones on 29 Borough Parade, Book Extra, WHSmith on 27 Broadmead Gallery, The Corsham Bookshop on Unit 16 New Place, The Works, and American Dream Comics on 72 Walcot Street. That's 95 stops on the Bristol bookstore crawl. 87 more are listed below.
Bookstore tips for Bristol
A few things worth knowing before you work through Bristol's bookstores:
- Learn your editions at Wessex Books & Prints. A first edition, first printing is the collectible one. Booksellers will show you how to check the copyright page.
- Poetry lives in bookshops at Arnolfini Bookshop. Poetry barely exists online as a browsing experience. The poetry shelf in a real shop is a different world.
- Check the events board. Book clubs, writing groups, story times — bookshops are community centres that happen to sell books.
- Gift buying? Ask for wrapping. Many independents wrap beautifully and free. It beats a gift bag every time.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around Bristol — that covers the town itself plus the surrounding communities you'd reasonably drive to. Listings come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by local volunteers, so a brand-new bookstore in Bristol can take a while to appear. If you spot one of the 95 that's closed, or a great bookstore we missed, the fix is to update the map itself — that's where this guide reads from.
We don't list prices — they change constantly and vary by edition. What we list is the where: real shops, verified by real mappers, in alphabetical order with no favourites.
If you run one of the 95 listed here and something's wrong — a closure, a move, new hours — the fix is the same: update the shop on OpenStreetMap and the correction flows through to this page on the next daily refresh.
Bookstore listings for Bristol: 95 mapped from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos from Wikimedia Commons contributors; individual photo credits appear in captions. Listing data was last refreshed automatically — verify hours before visiting.