Reading is a hobby that never goes out of fashion.
Whether you love classic novels or cosy crime, celebrity memoirs or superhero comics, there is a story out there for everyone.
Whatever it is that you are looking for, Leeds has a brilliant array of independent bookshops which are sure to deliver.
Some of these shops have stood proud for decades, while others are fresh additions to our city.
All, however, offer a fantastic shopping experience.
So the next time your bookshelf needs a refresh, why not check out one of these places?
1. Hold Fast
As a bookshop on a barge, Hold Fast is certainly a very unique destination. Based on the Marjorie R., the floating shop has given the old coal boat a new lease of life. 📍 Upper Dock Mooring, Leeds Dock, LS10 1LJ | Jonathan Gawthorpe
2. Holding Patterns
Hidden in Leeds city centre, Holding Patterns is a cool new bar which serves books, records, and cocktails too. Here you can browse through new and second-hand reads, all while listening to great music. 📍 2 Albion Place, city centre, LS1 6JL | YEP
3. The Bookish Type
The Bookish Type is Leeds bookshop with inclusivity at its core. From memoirs to novels, and from zines to young adult literature, this shop champions authors and characters from the LGBTQIA+ community. 📍 77a Great George Street, city centre, LS1 3BR
4. The Little Bookshop (47 Harrogate Road)
Community-focused, The Little Bookshop specialises in children's and family-friendly literature, alongside a range of adult and non-fiction picks. Alongside serving the Chapel Allerton community, the shop delivers nationwide. 📍 47 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, LS7 3PD | Google Street View
5. Colours May Vary
Entering Colours May Vary is like walking into a rainbow with its immense array of bright books. If you're particularly looking for art and culture-focused reads, this is the place to go. 📍 The Corn Exchange, Call Lane, city centre, LS1 7BR | Justin Slee
6. Pink Lady Books
Formerly a Morley market stall, Pink Lady Books now shares a shop space with Stormcrow Records. The bookshop specialises in pre-loved books and offers bundles and delivery. 📍 91 Queen Street, Morley, LS27 8DW | Google