Want to discover your next favourite reading spot? Featuring everything from historic public libraries to independent bookstores, these are the best UK cities to visit for book lovers.
With autumn fast approaching, now's the time to stock up on your must-read list and explore the best cities with a literary heritage. TheKnowledgeAcademy.com has identified the number of bookshops, libraries and public bookcases across major UK towns and cities using Opensteetmap’s API overpass, to uncover which places offer the best facilities for book enthusiasts. Read on for the full list.
Glasgow, Scotland (joint ranked)
In joint-fourteenth position with London is Glasgow, with a score of 6.51. Notable Glaswegians include Alasdair Gray, who set Lanark here, and award-winning Aminatta Forna. There’s plenty for bookworms to see and do, from visiting the Scottish Writers’ Centre at the Glasgow Centre for Contemporary Arts to the Mitchell Library, Europe’s largest lending library (which is also extremely pretty to look at). Get lost in the organised chaos of the Voltaire & Rousseau Bookshop, which sells second-hand and antiquarian books covering topics such as theology, comics and sheet music.
London, England (joint ranked)
Despite its slew of beautiful historic libraries, niche independent bookstores and flagship Foyles store, the English capital ranked in joint-fourteenth position in this poll, with a score of 6.51. Here you’ll find Stanfords, the world's biggest travel bookshop, and there's also plenty of literary heritage to explore in Bloomsbury and around, plus it goes without saying the city has inspired a roster of authors over the centuries, from Virginia Woolf to Zadie Smith.
Northampton, England
With Alan Moore’s international fanbase, it may come as a surprise to learn that his latest novel, Jerusalem, is set in and around the author’s home city of Northampton. At over 600,000 words it’s longer than the Bible and delves into the city’s ancient past, combined with supernatural fiction. The local-born author also wrote the acclaimed Watchmen and V for Vendetta, but Northampton’s literary inspirations go further still. There’s speculation that Castle Ashby inspired the setting of Mansfield Park in Jane Austen’s eponymous novel. The city scored a 6.82 ranking and is home to a few public libraries and a smattering of bookstores.
Cardiff, Wales
Thanks to its trove of independent bookstores and listed-building libraries, Cardiff scored a 6.93 rating. The Welsh capital was the birthplace of Bernice Rubens (the first woman to win the Booker Prize) as well as poets Gillian Clarke and Gwyneth Lewis. Independent bookstores include Troutmark Books, a quintessentially cosy affair specialising in genres like Welsh history; Minotaur Books, squished alongside market stalls in the Castle Emporium; and The Wellfield Bookshop, a family-run store which runs regular book launches and readings.
Chelmsford, England
There’s a clutch of libraries in Chelmsford that contributed to its 7.35 rating. The city doesn’t appear to have many literary alumni – Charles Dickens once described the town as "The dullest and most stupid place on earth" – but Essex Authors Day is celebrated here and there are a couple of cute bookshops, including the newest Foyles branch.
Woking, England
This small town in Surrey managed to bag a 7.4 rating in the list thanks to its celebrtity authors – historical fiction writer Hilary Mantel was born nearby, William Ernest Henley (Invictus) lived here while Booker prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro attended school here. One of the best bookstores to visit is Lionsheart, an independent establishment whose café, serving coffee and cake, simply adds to its charm.
Nottingham, England
Nottingham, which received a 7.92 ranking on the list, is home to one of Europe’s best-known folk legends, Robin Hood, who appeared in manuscript form from the 1400s onwards. This is also the city where DH Lawrence (Lady Chatterley’s Lover) was born. Today, Nottingham is also a UNESCO City of Literature, so whether you’re into prose, poetry or storytelling, there are events, bookstores and libraries to suit every bookworm.
Manchester, England
Manchester has long been an artistic powerhouse when it comes to both its writers and setting. Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange) was born in the city and Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s Manchester Happened depicts life between Manchester and Kampala. The northwestern English city received an 8.39 rating so with that in mind, trawl through tomes of books at Chapter One or pick up a sci-fi title at Paramount.
Portsmouth, England
The birthplace of Charles Dickens, the waterfront city of Portsmouth placed seventh with an 8.49 ranking. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (of Sherlock Holmes legacy) lived here for a short while and Neil Gaiman has even had a street named after his The Ocean at the End of the Lane book. Swing by independent-run Pigeon Books and plonk yourself down at one of the many local-run coffee shops to flick through a few pages (or start penning your own).
Leeds, England
The birthplace of Alan Bennett and Keith Waterhouse, Leeds came in sixth position with an 8.85 ranking. But the university city isn’t exclusive to its students; bookworms can visit the Grade II-listed Brotherton Library with a day pass, granting access to thousands of ancient manuscripts. Meanwhile, dinky Chevin Books covers specialist topics such as art and topography, with titles you’ll rarely find online or in other bookstores.
Brighton and Hove, England
While author Jane Austen might not have been a fan of Brighton, this coastal city ranked 9.32 on the list. Graham Greene’s murder-thriller Brighton Rock was set here and there are plenty of independent bookstores worth supporting, from The Feminist Bookshop to award-winning Afrori Books, Brighton’s first Black-owned bookshop.
Oxford, England
With a literary legacy that rivals any other on earth, Oxford came in fourth place with a 9.43 ranking. Oxford also scored a perfect 10 out of 10 score for its libraries – the only city on the list to do so – with Codrington Library (All Souls College), Duke Humfrey’s Library (the Bodleian Libraries) and Lincoln College Library among the best. Its university alumni include Oscar Wilde, JRR Tolkein, Lewis Carol and CS Lewis. September 2022 sees Oxford host its inaugural James Currey Literary Festival, celebrating the developments of African literature by James Currey.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Standing in joint-second with York is Edinburgh, a firm favourite among book lovers and tourists alike. The city was brought to life by Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting and there are plenty of bookshops to work your way through, from the labyrinth-esque Armchair Books to the queer-owned Lighthouse. The Scottish capital is also home to the world’s largest monument dedicated to a writer; a statue of playwright, novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott.
York, England
Similar to Cambridge, the northeastern city of York is known for its academia and historic architecture. It took second place in The Knowledge Academy’s list with a ranking of 9.53. The cathedral city was the birthplace of some of the UK’s finest writers, from poets like WH Auden to crime novelists like Kate Atkinson. It's easy to lose track of time at The Minster Gate Bookshop, housed in a five-floor Georgian townhouse.
Cambridge, England
Cambridge takes first place as the UK’s best city for book lovers with a rating of 9.74 out of ten. Not only was the university attended by poetic greats like Lord Byron, William Wordsworth and Slyvia Plath, but there’s a plethora of dedicated bookshops to explore. Wind your way through 1876-established Heffers Bookshop, take in atmospheric libraries and support excellent second-hand bookstores like Books for Amnesty. Pack your paperbacks in a Cambridge Satchel Company bag and you’re good to go.
Main image: vichie81/Shutterstock