Bookshops in Bath: Independent, Second Hand and Antiquarian
Twelve bookshops in Bath, from Topping & Company and Mr B's Emporium to Persephone Books, the George Bayntun bindery, a comic shop and the charity shops for second-hand books, with opening times from each shop's own website.
In short: the best bookshops in Bath are Topping & Company on York Street, open 8.30am to 9pm every day, and Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights on John Street, twice named the UK's best independent bookshop. For old and finely bound books, go to George Bayntun on Manvers Street, open weekdays only.
Bookshops in Bath are a reason to visit on their own. This guide covers 12 of them, from two of the country's best known independents to a bindery, a comic shop and the charity shops for second-hand books. Nine are in the city centre; the rest are in Walcot, Larkhall and Oldfield Park. Opening times come from each shop's own website, checked on 28 October 2026. Where a shop has no website we could read, we say so.
| Bookshop | Best for | Area | Sundays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topping & Company | New books, signed firsts | City Centre | Open |
| Mr B's Emporium | Recommendations, children | City Centre | Open |
| Waterstones | Bestsellers | City Centre | Ask the shop |
| Persephone Books | Gifts, women writers | City Centre | Closed |
| The Beaufort Bookshop | New and second-hand | Larkhall | Ask the shop |
| The Oldfield Park Bookshop | A neighbourhood shop | Oldfield Park | Ask the shop |
| American Dream Comics | Comics, graphic novels | Walcot | Ask the shop |
| George Bayntun | Antiquarian, fine bindings | City Centre | Closed |
| Bath Old Books | Old books | City Centre | Ask the shop |
| Skoobs Books | Market browsing | City Centre | Ask the shop |
| Dorothy House | Charity, books and vinyl | City Centre | Open |
| Oxfam Bookshop | Charity, books and music | City Centre | Ask the shop |
What are the best bookshops in Bath?
Topping & Company and Mr B's are the two bookshops people travel to Bath for, and both are in the city centre. Waterstones on Milsom Street is the third big shop in the centre.
Topping & Company Booksellers of Bath
A family-run bookshop in the former Friends Meeting House, built in 1818, with space for 80,000 titles. It runs over 200 author events a year and is strong on signed first editions. Of the shops in this guide that publish their hours, it is the only one open after 6pm.
- ⏰ 8.30am to 9pm every day
- ✍️ Signed firsts, subscriptions
- 📍 York Street, City Centre
Good to know: after 7pm part of the shop can be closed for an event, so check its events page for a late visit.
Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights
Opened in 2006 and twice named the UK's best independent bookshop, Mr B's is a warren of rooms with a children's room called The Wood Between the Words. Ask for a recommendation and you will get a good one. It also runs Reading Spas and Reading Subscriptions, and can order most in-print books for the next day.
- ⏰ Mon to Sat 9.30am to 5.30pm, Sun 11am to 5pm
- 🧒 Children's room
- 📍 13-15 John Street, City Centre
Waterstones
The national chain's Bath branch, on the main shopping street. Good for new releases and bestsellers. We could not read its website, so check its times before a special trip.
- 📖 New books
- 📍 4-5 Milsom Street, City Centre
Where are the independent bookshops in Bath?
Beyond the big two, independent bookshops in Bath include a publisher's own shop on Edgar Buildings, two neighbourhood shops and a comic shop.
Persephone Books
The shop of a publisher with 155 titles: neglected books, mostly by women and mostly from the mid-twentieth century. Each comes in a grey jacket with a patterned endpaper and a matching bookmark, so they make easy presents.
- ⏰ Mon to Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 11am to 5pm
- 🎁 Box set of six books
- 📍 8 Edgar Buildings, City Centre
The Beaufort Bookshop
A hand-picked mix of new and second-hand books in Larkhall. A former Head of English also tutors here, from Key Stage 2 to A-Level.
- 📖 New and second-hand
- 🛒 Online through Bookshop.org
- 📍 1 Beaufort Place, Larkhall
The Oldfield Park Bookshop
A community bookshop on Moorland Road that posts its own book reviews online. Its website lists no stock, so call 01225 427722 to check a title is in.
- 📖 Community bookshop
- 📍 43 Moorland Road, Oldfield Park
American Dream Comics
Trading for 26 years, with comics and graphic novels from big and independent publishers. It also sells Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards and runs community events for players.
- 📖 Comics, graphic novels
- 🃏 Trading cards
- 📍 72 Walcot Street, Walcot
Where can I buy second-hand and antiquarian books in Bath?
Second-hand books in Bath range from a bindery with fine leather bindings to charity shops in the centre. Two of these shops have no website, so call before a special trip.
George Bayntun
An antiquarian bookshop near the railway station, home to the Bayntun-Riviere bindery. It sells fine bindings, old and new, and first and illustrated editions, mostly English literature. The bindery also rebinds and restores books.
- ⏰ Mon to Fri 9am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm
- 📞 Book ahead for valuations
- 📍 23 Manvers Street, City Centre
Bath Old Books
A bookshop on Margaret's Buildings, the quiet street near the Royal Crescent. It has no website, so call 01225 422244 before you go.
- 📖 Old books
- 📍 9C Margaret's Buildings, City Centre
Skoobs Books
A bookshop inside the Guildhall Market. It has no website, so drop in and see what is on the shelves.
- 📞 01225 463133
- 📍 Guildhall Market, City Centre
Dorothy House Broad Street Book Shop
The hospice charity's book and media shop, with pre-loved books, vinyl records, DVDs and music. Every sale helps pay for the charity's end of life care.
- ⏰ Mon to Sat 9.30am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 4pm
- 💿 Books, vinyl, DVDs
- 📍 37 Broad Street, City Centre
Oxfam Bookshop
Oxfam's charity bookshop, with second-hand books, vinyl, CDs and DVDs; the shop says history books do particularly well. Oxfam asks you to contact the shop for its opening times.
- 📖 Books, vinyl, CDs
- 📞 01225 469776
- 📍 4-5 Lower Borough Walls, City Centre
Which bookshops in Bath are open on Sundays?
Topping & Company (8.30am to 9pm), Mr B's (11am to 5pm) and the Dorothy House shop on Broad Street (10am to 4pm) are open on Sundays. Persephone Books and George Bayntun are closed; for the rest, ask the shop.
Good to know: nine of these shops are in the city centre, so one walk covers them. Go on a weekday to find George Bayntun and Persephone Books open, and finish at Topping & Company, which stays open until 9pm.
Bookshops in Bath: questions
What is the best bookshop in Bath?
Topping & Company on York Street has the biggest choice and is open 8.30am to 9pm every day. Mr B's Emporium on John Street, twice named the UK's best independent bookshop, is best for a recommendation.
Is there a Waterstones in Bath?
Yes, at 4-5 Milsom Street in the city centre.
Where can I buy second-hand books in Bath?
Try the Dorothy House shop on Broad Street, the Oxfam Bookshop on Lower Borough Walls and The Beaufort Bookshop in Larkhall. For antiquarian books, go to George Bayntun on Manvers Street.
Which bookshop in Bath is open latest?
Topping & Company, open until 9pm every day, including Sunday. Of the shops in this guide that publish their hours, it is the only one open after 6pm.