The best independent bookshops in the UK have been announced

The best independent bookshops in the UK have been revealed, from centuries-old sellers to new small businesses.

Each year, industry magazine The Bookseller hosts the British Book Awards, with categories celebrating authors, publishers and booksellers.

Ahead of the awards ceremony on 11 May, the magazine has announced the top independent bookshops across the country, selected from 76 finalists.

In the Scotland category, Edinburgh’s Book Lover’s Bookshop triumphed. The romance-only store was financed by crowdfunding only 18 months ago, but already has a high profile and a diverse stock selection, the judges say.

Griffin Books in Penarth, Wales, has been named the best in the region for the fourth time in six years, winning the title this year for expanding its offering for children and teens.

Meanwhile, The Secret Bookshelf in Carrickfergus won the Northern Ireland category for the second time in three years. A hidden gem inside a courtyard, judges say that it has recently overhauled its children’s room to better meet the needs of those with autism.

The winner of the South West category was awarded to Dorset’s Folde, a nature-specialist bookshop that recently expanded its building for more space on its high street.

Over in the South East, P&G Wells in Winchester came out on top. Thought to be Britain’s oldest bookshop, having traded from its site since the 18th century, this bookshop hosts author talks and children’s storytimes.

Trading for considerably less time than P&G Wells, equally as impressive, was the winner of the London category, Backstory. Opened in Balham in 2022, the shop also has a bar that serves barista coffee, wine and snacks.

The Rabbit Hole in Lincolnshire won the accolade for the Midlands category, a quirky shop with a large children’s area with play tables and an adults section upstairs with preloved vinyls, CDs and books on offer.

North England’s crown was given to Truman Books in West Yorkshire, with adult and children's books on offer alongside coffee and cake. The store also holds a monthly book club social.

Norwich’s The Book Hive won the East England category. The shop foregoes traditional book displays and instead curates their collection based on the booksellers’ best picks.

Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller’s deputy editor, said: "Our record year of submissions speaks to the fine fettle independent bookshops are in, despite the myriad challenges small businesses face.

“In an incredibly competitive year, these nine winners are the best of the best: kings and queens of local high streets, pillars of communities and – crucially in this National Year of Reading – champions of helping others discover the joy of books.”

The overall winner of Independent Bookshop of the Year will be picked from this list and revealed during The British Book Awards ceremony in London on 11 May.

Read more: We quit jobs to travel and find purpose – now we’re facing a ‘job-apocalypse’