Forget those faceless online stores and get yourself out to Scotland’s finest independent booksellers. With their gorgeous surroundings, carefully selected titles and expert knowledge, you’ll never want to shop online again.

Looking Glass Books

36 Simpson Loan, Edinburgh
Tables made out of chessboards, cosy sofas, big wodges of cake, cool merch from US brand Out Of Print, kids’ drama workshops, a writer in residence … oh, let us count the ways we love Looking Glass. Their events programme is great too, with a focus on new writers.

Young’s Interesting Books

18 Skirving Street, Glasgow
If you like your bookshops small and quirky, Young’s has got the goods. It’s one of the few non-charity-shop places to buy second-hand books, and there’s a great mix of modern paperbacks and collectors’ editions, from vintage Agatha Christie to Scottish ballads to classic sci-fi magazines.

Golden Hare

102 West Bow, Edinburgh
It’s impossible to go into Golden Hare and leave empty-handed. Every book on their shelves is beautiful, including the brilliant children’s section. Look out for their book club and Pass on a Poem events.

Milngavie Bookshop

27 Douglas Street, Milngavie
Located 20 minutes from Glasgow city centre, the family-run Milngavie Bookshop has been in business for 30 years. It’s traditional and welcoming, with a cosy café and busy events programme mixing familiar faces with local authors.

The Mainstreet Trading Company

Main Street, St Boswells
Come for the selection of 6500 books, stay for the cheese and coffee and gingerbread men and homemade loaves. And don’t forget the books. Definitely worth a trip to the Borders.