Brighton has a strong bookshop scene for a city of its size. The range runs from long-running neighbourhood independents to specialist children’s shops, signed-first-edition collectors, community spaces, charity bookshops and comic stores.
This guide covers the best bookshops in Brighton with honest notes on what each stocks, what the atmosphere is like and whether it is worth going out of your way for.
Table of Contents
Brighton bookshops at a glance
| Bookshop | Area | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Books | Hove, Western Road | Independent new books | Largest indie, all genres, events |
| Kemptown Bookshop | St George’s Road, Kemptown | Independent new books | Three floors, local feel, adults and children |
| Goldsboro Books | Ship Street, The Lanes | Signed first editions | Collectors, gifts, rare and special editions |
| The Book Nook | Hove | Children’s specialist | Families, story times, author events |
| Afrori Books | Brighthelm Centre, North Road | Books by Black authors | Diverse shelves, events, community |
| The Queery | George Street, Kemptown | LGBTQ+ bookshop and community space | Queer literature, zines, sober space |
| Cookbookbake | Victoria Terrace, Hove | Specialist cookbook shop | Cookbooks, food writing, demos |
| Dave’s Comics | Sydney Street, North Laine | Comics and graphic novels | Comics, manga, graphic novels |
| Books for Amnesty | Sydney Street, North Laine | Charity second-hand | Bargain browsing, charity support |
| Oxfam Bookshop | Kensington Gardens, North Laine | Charity second-hand | Organised second-hand books, music and gifts |
| Last Bookshop | Gardner Street, North Laine | Discount books | Books priced at £5 or less |
| Waterstones | Clock Tower, central Brighton | Chain bookshop | Specific titles, five floors, Café W |
Independent new bookshops
City Books
City Books is one of the strongest independent bookshops in Brighton and Hove, spread over two floors on Western Road in Hove.
It has been shortlisted twice for Independent Bookshop of the Year, and the stock covers a broad range of fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, cookbooks, politics, history and current releases. Staff recommendations are worth following because this feels like a shop run by people who genuinely read.
They also host regular events, including author talks and signings. If you only visit one of the bookshops in Brighton and Hove, this is a strong choice.
Kemptown Bookshop
Kemptown Bookshop has been part of Brighton since 1976 and is often described as the city’s oldest independent bookshop.
It has three floors of books for adults and children, plus stationery, cards, gifts, art, coffee and cake. Located on St George’s Road, slightly away from the central tourist areas, it has more of a neighbourhood feel than some of the city-centre options.
The staff are knowledgeable, and it is worth the walk from the centre if you like proper independent bookshops with space to browse.
Goldsboro Books
Goldsboro Books originated in Cecil Court, London, and now has a Brighton shop on Ship Street.
Its unique selling point is signed hardback first editions, rare books and collectable editions. If you see a book on the shelves, it is more likely to feel like a special purchase than a casual paperback.
The Brighton shop also has a curated range of fiction, non-fiction, LGBTQ+ shelves and local authors. It is not the cheapest bookshop in the city, but if you are buying for a collector or want a gift that feels memorable, Goldsboro is unlike most other bookshops in Brighton.
The Book Nook
The Book Nook is a specialist independent children’s bookshop in Hove.
The stock is diverse, inclusive and carefully chosen, covering all ages from babies to young adults. There is a child-friendly café, a pirate ship for children to play in, regular story times and author events.
If you are a parent, grandparent or buying for children, The Book Nook is one of the best places in Brighton and Hove for finding something that feels thoughtful rather than random.
Afrori Books
Afrori Books is an award-winning Brighton bookshop specialising in books by Black authors.
Based at the Brighthelm Centre on North Road, it is both a bookshop and a community space, with a curated selection across genres and generations. You will find fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, parenting, art, book clubs and events.
It is one of the most important specialist bookshops in Brighton, and it deserves a place in any proper bookshop guide to the city.
Cookbookbake
Cookbookbake in Hove is Brighton and Hove’s independent specialist cookbook shop and demonstration kitchen.
It is a good choice if you love food, cooking, baking, wine writing, food memoirs or regional cuisine. The shelves are more focused than a general bookshop, which is the point. You are not browsing everything, you are browsing one subject properly.
It is especially useful for gifts if you are buying for someone who cooks, or for finding a cookbook that goes beyond the usual celebrity chef shelf.
Community and specialist bookshops
The Queery
The Queery on George Street in Kemptown is part bookshop, part café, part art gallery and part community space.
It is deliberately alcohol-free and drug-free, offering a sober alternative to Brighton’s queer bar scene. The bookshop focuses on queer writing, with fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, poetry, academic books and zines by, for and about LGBTQ+ people.
People come here to read, work, meet friends, attend workshops or just spend time somewhere welcoming. It is one of the most important community-led bookshops in Brighton.
If you are planning a wider Kemptown visit, our Brighton LGBTQ+ nightlife guide is useful for nearby evening options.
Dave’s Comics
Dave’s Comics is one of Brighton’s longest-running specialist shops and a proper North Laine institution.
It covers graphic novels, comics, manga, children’s books and posters, with new comics arriving every Wednesday. The shop is welcoming whether you already know exactly what you want or need someone to point you towards a good first graphic novel.
It is also very close to several other North Laine bookshops, so it works well as part of a short bookshop crawl.
Second-hand, charity and discount bookshops
Books for Amnesty
You will spot Books for Amnesty by the bright pink shopfront on Sydney Street in North Laine.
It sells second-hand books in good condition at charity prices, with proceeds supporting Amnesty International. The stock changes constantly and includes fiction, non-fiction, social sciences, art, poetry, drama, history and children’s books, plus ethical gifts and Amnesty products.
It is not the place to find a specific title, but it is a brilliant place to find something unexpected.
Oxfam Bookshop
Oxfam Bookshop on Kensington Gardens is another useful North Laine stop for second-hand browsing.
It is more organised than many charity bookshops, with a good mix of books, music and fair trade items. The stock changes regularly, so it is worth popping in even if you have visited before.
It pairs well with Books for Amnesty and Last Bookshop if you are doing a low-cost bookshop wander through North Laine.
Last Bookshop
Last Bookshop on Gardner Street is an independent discount bookshop where the appeal is simple: books are priced at £5 or less.
The stock is eclectic, with fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, history, music, art and more. It is not quite a second-hand charity shop and not quite a traditional new bookshop, but it is very easy to browse.
If you like leaving with a small pile of books without spending much, this is one of the most satisfying bookshops in Brighton.
Chain option worth knowing
Waterstones
Waterstones is a chain, but the Brighton branch opposite the Clock Tower is useful because of its size and range.
There are five floors, a large children’s section, fiction, non-fiction, gifts, stationery and Café W on the third floor. If you need a specific new title, a recent release or somewhere central to browse on a rainy day, it does the job.
It does not have the personality of the independents, but it is practical, well stocked and easy to find.
A good walking route
If you want to visit several bookshops in Brighton in one trip, the North Laine circuit works well.
Start at Books for Amnesty on Sydney Street, then visit Dave’s Comics nearby. From there, walk to Oxfam Bookshop on Kensington Gardens, then continue to Last Bookshop on Gardner Street, opposite Komedia.
The whole loop takes around 20 minutes without browsing, although it will obviously take longer if you start digging through the shelves.
From there, you are a short walk to Waterstones at the Clock Tower, Goldsboro Books in The Lanes, or Afrori Books at the Brighthelm Centre.
If you are making a low-cost day of it, our free things to do in Brighton guide pairs well with a bookshop crawl. If you want coffee stops between browsing, our best cafes in Brighton guide is also useful.
Bookshop events in Brighton
Several Brighton bookshops run regular events.
City Books hosts author talks and signings. Kemptown Bookshop runs events and has a strong local bookshop feel. The Book Nook is excellent for children’s events, story times and family-friendly author sessions.
Afrori Books runs book clubs, author events and community events focused on books by Black authors. The Queery hosts workshops, groups, talks and gatherings in its sober community space.
Brighton Book Festival is also worth watching. The 2026 festival runs from 17 to 21 June and brings authors, poets, illustrators, musicians and other creatives together across the city.
FAQs
Are there any children’s bookshops in Brighton?
Yes. The Book Nook in Hove is the standout, with children’s books, story times, author events, a café and a pirate ship for children to play in. Kemptown Bookshop, City Books and Waterstones also have good children’s sections.
Where can I find second-hand books in Brighton?
Books for Amnesty, Oxfam Bookshop and Last Bookshop are the main central options. Books for Amnesty and Oxfam are charity bookshops, while Last Bookshop is an independent discount bookshop with books priced at £5 or less.
Which is the best bookshop in Brighton for a gift?
Goldsboro Books is best for a special signed first edition. The Book Nook is best for children’s gifts. Cookbookbake is ideal for keen cooks, and Afrori Books is a strong choice if you want a thoughtful, community-focused independent bookshop.
Do any bookshops in Brighton have cafés?
Yes. The Book Nook has a child-friendly café, Kemptown Bookshop serves coffee and cake, The Queery has a pay-as-you-feel vegan café, and Waterstones has Café W on the third floor.
Are there bookshop events in Brighton?
Yes. City Books, Kemptown Bookshop, The Book Nook, Afrori Books and The Queery all run events. Brighton Book Festival also brings literary events to the city each year.
Where are the best bookshops in Brighton for LGBTQ+ literature?
The Queery in Kemptown is the strongest dedicated option for queer literature and zines. Goldsboro Books has LGBTQ+ shelves, and Afrori Books and City Books are also worth checking for diverse contemporary fiction and non-fiction.
Where should I go for comics and graphic novels?
Dave’s Comics on Sydney Street is the best local specialist for comics, manga and graphic novels. Waterstones also has graphic novels and manga, but Dave’s has the stronger specialist feel.
Is there a bookshop near Brighton station?
Afrori Books at the Brighthelm Centre is very close to Brighton station. Goldsboro Books, Waterstones, Books for Amnesty, Dave’s Comics and Last Bookshop are all walkable from the station too.
Final thoughts
The bookshops in Brighton are one of the things that make the city feel genuinely different. The independents and specialist shops here survive because people use them, and because each one offers something you cannot get from an Amazon search.
Whether you want a signed first edition, a £5 paperback, a queer zine, a cookbook, a children’s picture book or a graphic novel, there is a shop for it.
Visit in person, talk to the staff, and buy something if you can. That is how these places stay open.
