Bookstores in Glasgow
Bookstores reward the browsers. Glasgow, Scotland has 49 mapped right now, and 1 of them deal in used books. That's 49 bookshops mapped around Glasgow, 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 Glasgow (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include Balmore Coach House and Forbidden Planet, plus Waterstones. If a bookshop's missing from Glasgow's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet.
The Glasgow bookstore lineup
49 mapped within about 40 km:
Balmore Coach House
Bookstore
Balmore Coach House is Bookstore.
Forbidden Planet
BookstoreRun by Forbidden Planet International
Run by Forbidden Planet International, Forbidden Planet is Bookstore on Sauchiehall Street. Also worth knowing about Forbidden Planet: it has a website with more detail.
Sauchiehall Street
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
GmhB
Bookstore
GmhB — Bookstore.
Bigglestones
Bookstore
Bigglestones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Bigglestones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 11:00-18:00; Su 12:00-17:00.
Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-18:00; Su 12:00-17:00
Oxfam Bookshop
BookstoreRun by Oxfam
Run by Oxfam, Oxfam Bookshop is Bookstore on 79 Murray Place. Also worth knowing about Oxfam Bookshop: it has a website with more detail.
79 Murray Place, FK8 1AU
Hyndland Books
Bookstore
Hyndland Books is Bookstore on 143 Hyndland Road.
143 Hyndland Road, G12 9JA
Caledonia Books
Bookstore
Caledonia Books is Bookstore on 483 Great Western Road, Glasgow. Caledonia Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 12:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
483 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 8HL
Hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-18:00
Phone: +44 141 334 9663
Calton Books
Bookstore
Calton Books is Bookstore on 159 London Road, Glasgow. Calton Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as We-Su 11:00-16:30; it has a website with more detail.
159 London Road, Glasgow, G1 5BX
Hours: We-Su 11:00-16:30
Oxfam Bookshop
Bookstore
Oxfam Bookshop — Bookstore on 5 Royal Exchange Square. Also worth knowing about Oxfam Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 12:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
5 Royal Exchange Square
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 12:00-16:00
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore, found on 351-355 Byres Road in Glasgow. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
351-355 Byres Road, Glasgow, G12 8AU
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-18:00
Phone: +44 141 357 4759
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore on 153-157 Sauchiehall Street. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
153-157 Sauchiehall Street
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
Voltaire and Rousseau
Bookstore
Voltaire and Rousseau is Bookstore on 12 Otago Lane, Glasgow. Voltaire and Rousseau also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
12 Otago Lane, Glasgow, G12 8PB
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00
Phone: +44 141 339 1811
Thistle Books
Bookstore
Thistle Books is Bookstore on 55 Otago Street, Glasgow. Thistle Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 11:00-17:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
55 Otago Street, Glasgow, G12 8PQ
Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-17:30
Phone: +44 141 334 8777
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: it has a website with more detail.
Comhairle nan Leabhraichean
Bookstore
Comhairle nan Leabhraichean is Bookstore on 32 Mansfield Street, Glasgow. Comhairle nan Leabhraichean also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; PH closed.
32 Mansfield Street, Glasgow, G11 5QP
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; PH closed
Magazine Appreciation Society
Bookstore
Magazine Appreciation Society — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Magazine Appreciation Society: the map lists its hours as Tu-Su 10:00-16:00.
Hours: Tu-Su 10:00-16:00
Pauline Books & Media
Bookstore
Pauline Books & Media — Bookstore on 36 St Enoch Square. Also worth knowing about Pauline Books & Media: the map lists its hours as Mo closed, Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
36 St Enoch Square
Hours: Mo closed, Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00
Young's Interesting Books
Bookstore
Young's Interesting Books is Bookstore.
Category Is Books
Bookstore
Category Is Books — Bookstore, found on 34 Allison Street in Glasgow. Also worth knowing about Category Is Books: the map lists its hours as Th-Su 11:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
34 Allison Street, Glasgow, G42 8NN
Hours: Th-Su 11:00-18:00
TGJones
Bookstore
TGJones is Bookstore on 34 Main Street, Largs. TGJones also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
34 Main Street, Largs, KA30 8AL
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1475 674950
The Book Nook
BookstoreRun by The Book Nook
The Book Nook is Bookstore run by The Book Nook on 24 Upper Craigs, Stirling. The Book Nook also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Th-Tu 08:30-17:30; We 08:30-21:00; it has a website with more detail.
24 Upper Craigs, Stirling, FK8 2DG
Hours: Th-Tu 08:30-17:30; We 08:30-21:00
Friends of Wemyss Bookshop
Bookstore
Friends of Wemyss Bookshop — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Friends of Wemyss Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Mo-We,Fr-Sa 10:00-16:00; Th 10:00-19:00; Su off.
Hours: Mo-We,Fr-Sa 10:00-16:00; Th 10:00-19:00; Su off
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. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore, found on 23 Brandon Parade South in Motherwell. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
23 Brandon Parade South, Motherwell, ML1 1RB
TGJones
Bookstore
TGJones is Bookstore on 60/62 Graham Street, Airdrie. TGJones also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 08:30-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
60/62 Graham Street, Airdrie, ML6 6BU
Hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-17:00
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore on 119-121 High Street. Also worth knowing about Waterstones: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 11:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
119-121 High Street, FK1 1ED
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 11:00-16:00
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Księgarna
Bookstore
Księgarna — Bookstore.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore.
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore.
Daydreams Bookshop
Bookstore
Daydreams Bookshop is Bookstore on 38 Stewart Street, Glasgow.
38 Stewart Street, Glasgow, G62 6BY
Waterstones
Bookstore
Waterstones — Bookstore.
Unity Books
Bookstore
Unity Books is Bookstore on 69 Dixon Road, Glasgow. Unity Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Sa 10:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
69 Dixon Road, Glasgow, G42 8AT
Hours: Sa 10:00-18:00
Seagull Trust Cruises Bookshop
Bookstore
Seagull Trust Cruises Bookshop — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Seagull Trust Cruises Bookshop: the map lists its hours as Open unless we're closed.
FK1 1ES
Hours: Open unless we're closed
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
The Wee Bookshop
Bookstore
The Wee Bookshop is Bookstore. The Wee Bookshop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo 11:00-16:00; Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off.
Hours: Mo 11:00-16:00; Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about The Works: it has a website with more detail.
Cooper Hay Rare Books
Bookstore
Cooper Hay Rare Books is Bookstore.
Aye-Aye Books
BookstoreRun by Broadside
Run by Broadside, Aye-Aye Books is Bookstore, found on 123 Allison Street in Glasgow. Also worth knowing about Aye-Aye Books: the map lists its hours as We-Sa 12:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
123 Allison Street, Glasgow, G42 8NE
Hours: We-Sa 12:00-18:00
Good Press
Bookstore
Good Press — Bookstore on 32 St Andrew's Street. Also worth knowing about Good Press: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
32 St Andrew's Street
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00
Balanced Books
Bookstore
Balanced Books is Bookstore.
Castle Comics
Bookstore
Castle Comics is Bookstore.
The Works
Bookstore
The Works — Bookstore.
McLaren Books
Used bookstore
McLaren Books — Used bookstore, found on 22 John Street in Helensburgh. Also worth knowing about McLaren Books: it has a website with more detail.
22 John Street, Helensburgh, G84 8BA
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. Also worth knowing about The Works: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 11:00-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 11:00-17:00
What the map tells us about bookstores in Glasgow
23 of the 49 list their opening hours on the map, which is genuinely useful — bookshops keep civilised hours, so the listed ones are usually reliable.
30 have websites listed. Worth a look for events — readings and signings get announced there first.
The Glasgow bookstore crawl
The efficient Glasgow bookstore crawl strings these together: Balmore Coach House, Forbidden Planet on Sauchiehall Street, Waterstones, GmhB, Bigglestones, Oxfam Bookshop on 79 Murray Place, Hyndland Books on 143 Hyndland Road, and Caledonia Books on 483 Great Western Road — 49 stops, one logical order. 41 more are listed below.
Bookstore tips for Glasgow
A few things worth knowing before you work through Glasgow's bookstores:
- Poetry lives in bookshops at Balmore Coach House. Poetry barely exists online as a browsing experience. The poetry shelf in a real shop is a different world.
- The used section is underpriced everywhere at Forbidden Planet. Books are heavy and slow to sell, so used shelves price to move. First editions hide here regularly.
- Visit during author events. Readings and signings are usually free and turn a bookshop into the best evening out in town.
- Check for a café corner. A bookshop with coffee is a trap in the best way. Plan accordingly; you won't be leaving soon.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around Glasgow — 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 Glasgow can take a while to appear. If you spot one of the 49 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 49 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 Glasgow: 49 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.