Don’t believe the rumours. Independent bookshops are thriving, not dying. In America, about 422 indie bookshops opened in 2025, showing a 31% increase from 2024. In the U.K., “more independent bookshops [are] opening than closing”, reported Meryl Halls, managing director of the Booksellers Association (BA), in early 2026.
And if there was ever a time to shop local for your romantasy, your true crime, and your heartbroken poems, it’s this week – Independent Bookshop Week. To celebrate, the bookish of us at Cold Magazine including our editors, contributors, and author friends shrugged off our cardigans and set our introvertedness to the side to shout out some of our favourite indie bookshops from around the U.K.
The Book Hive in Norwich
Lexi (Literature Editor): Housed in a circular little beehive of a building, painting a step-stopping seafoam green, The Book Hive is where I’ve found some of the weirdest books I’ve read in recent memory, like Silicone God by Victoria Brooks, published by Moist Books, where mushrooms are gods and a woman with tentacles time travels. Plus, it was named East England’s Independent Bookshop of the Year at the 2026 British Book Awards!
Burley Fisher in East London
Valeria (Film Editor): They have a fantastic selection of books, a great stash of zines you could spend hours leading through, and the best bookshop T-shirt I’ve ever seen (it says hooked on books because of the fisher!)
Lauren (Art & Culture Editor): I was shown this book shop on a date and always make time to stop in when I’m passing by. Their selection of contemporary literature is always up to date, but the exciting part of this spot is the independent zine collection. Inside, it’s cosy, vibrant, and the friendly staff are soooo knowledgeable.
The Open Book in Richmond
Penelope (COO & Managing Editor): Despite its modest, deceptively small frontage, The Open Book in Richmond rewards anyone curious enough to venture in. A neighbourhood institution since ‘87, this self-described “Tardis” stretches back much further than you’d expect, with books crammed into every available nook and cranny. For 1960s rock enthusiasts, there’s an added piece of local lore: the premises once housed Pete Townsend’s (The Who) Magic Bus bookshop.
Author and poet Dakota Warren’s top 3:
Can I be greedy and say three? London Review Bookshop for its very esteemed curation, wide selection of poetry and always the greatest staff recommendations (and the tote bags, if you’re awfully ostentatious, I say with a London Review tote bag on my shoulder).
Toppings & Company in Edinburgh for its three floors of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, signature rolling library ladders, and the sheer amount of time one can spend lost in there. My current record is three hours, summer of ‘23.
Finally: Treadwell’s Books, Bloomsbury way, for all things esoterica. Incredibly niche curation – fiction, zines, biography on some very strange characters, how-to-manuals on some very fascinating things, classics including some unbelievable first editions, and I always find what I’m looking for – if you’re into that kinda thing.
Madeleine Dunnigan, author of Jean, says, “I have two!”
Everyone knows The Yellow Bittern on Caledonian Road in London as a delicious restaurant, but it also has a wonderful bookshop in its basement. Alongside front-list titles they have the most incredible collection of second hand books, spanning art, design, photography, food, gardening, literature. I get all my Christmas presents from here. A favourite was a Beryl Cooke book I picked up for a beloved friend. Also a novel on libraries.
I grew up in Stoke Newington and have been going to the Stoke Newington Bookshop for all my life. My father, the first reader in my life, who is essentially a walking Wikipedia, buys all his books here. Going in feels like going home.
Rebecca Perry, author of May We Feed the King, says “very cheekily I’ve included two recommendations”:
Local-ish to me is the wonderful Lala Books in Camberwell, which is just the most beautiful welcoming space, with a regular programme of inventive, varied events, and brilliant booksellers.
Further afield is Dormouse Books in Belper, a small but perfectly formed shop with a basement for its horror section, and champion of free-to-all community events.
Jill Dawson, author of Pixie, says her favourite is “Topping & Company in Ely of course!”:
I love this bookshop for many reasons: the breadth of knowledge both local and far and wide, the consistency of their brilliant events, and wonderful friendly staff for – oh and my book Pixie is currently in their window!
