The Best Independent Bookshops in Leeds

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About the author: Hi! My name is Jarisse Nunez, a Business Management with Marketing student at the University of Leeds. I am an aspiring marketer who loves all things creative. Outside of my studies, I enjoy keeping memories in my scrapbook, staying active through yoga and going to concerts!

For all the bookworms looking for a good independent bookshop in Leeds, you’re in luck! Leeds takes pride in its thriving indie scene, offering a wide range of independently-owned bookshops all around the city.

Supporting your local indie makes a huge difference to the community. Your support allows small businesses to continue to keep doing what they love, championing ambition and creativity and advocating for the underrepresented. Make sure to give back to your community and shop indie!

Here are some of my top picks to help you find your next great read in Leeds:

Hold Fast Bookshop 🚢

We’re starting off strong with a bookshop on a boat (yes you read that right!). All aboard the Marjorie R (a former coal barge floating on the Leeds Dock) for Hold Fast Bookshop, which offers a wide range of plants, art, and books from all kinds of genres. To get there, try to catch a water taxi to see the incredible sights of Leeds Dock.

The team at Hold Fast are a big advocate of supporting indie stores, regularly highlighting the importance of local independents.

📍The Hold Fast Bookshop, Upper Dock Mooring, Leeds Dock, LS10 1JB

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Colours May Vary 🎨

Nestled inside the Corn Exchange in the city centre is Colours May Vary, an independent bookshop which stocks a range of books, art, and unique trinkets, all perfect for your student home.

Open since 2012, it was the first shop in Leeds to focus on design publications, crafting its own space for lovers of art, illustration and contemporary culture. Every time I walk in, it feels like a Pinterest board came to life! It's also a great indie shop to get presents for your flatmates – from gifts to gift cards, they stock it all!

📍B5a The Balcony, Leeds Corn Exchange, Call Lane, Leeds, LS1 7BR

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The Bookish Type 🌈

Along Great George Street is The Bookish Type, a queer indie bookshop celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community in Leeds. The bookstore prides itself on being not just a shop, but also an active part of the queer community. They stock a wide range of queer literature, from fiction to poetry and graphic novels.

This indie store believes in the importance of representation and having a community that celebrates your true self. Offering regular book launches and events (and even pop-up shows for stars including Maisie Peters), this bookshop celebrates everyone!

📍77a Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3BR

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The Little Bookshop 📚

This little bookshop in Chapel Allerton specialises in literature for the whole family, with a large range of children’s and adult books. From adult fiction to YA and children’s books, you can find almost any book from any genre in this store.

Working closely with schools by providing books, updating their libraries, and hosting author workshops, The Little Bookshop has played a vital role in inspiring the next generation. This indie bookshop also offers many events, including silent book clubs (where you join them for an hour of reading in peace and quiet) as well as book groups for both adults and children.

Since opening in 2017, their community and support to local schools has only grown stronger, with the opening of their second location in Skipton in 2023. Their mission is to provide a diverse range of inclusive books for the whole community, nurturing everyone's love for reading!

📍47 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, LS7 3PD

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Village ✨

If you love fashion zines, contemporary art and design, and photography books, Village is the perfect place for you. This independent offers a selection of books, photobooks, and zines all dedicated to modern art and fashion. They also source self-published and small press zines, shining the spotlight on independent artists all over the world.

The bookshop also supports a not-for-profit gallery. From hosting book events, exhibitions and talks from artists, their main goal is to provide a platform for emerging talent to showcase their talents.

📍10-12 Thornton’s Arcade, LS1 6LQ

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Looking for the perfect student house to keep your book haul?

UniHomes works with letting agents all over the country to showcase a wide range of student accommodation options in your uni city, all on one easy-to-use website. Whether you're after after a cosy 1-bedroom apartment in Leeds or a spacious student house elsewhere, UniHomes can help you find next year's home-away-from-home – and with bills included, too. All you need to do is use the filters at the top of each page to sort by price, area, and number of bedrooms. Easy!

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