Leakey’s Bookshop in Inverness – A Church Full of Books!

What do you get if you turn a church into a bookshop? You get Leakey’s Bookshop in Inverness.

Often hailed the most beautiful bookshop in Scotland, and quite possibly the UK, I couldn’t wait to get inside.

A paradise for bookworms

Back in 1982, Leakey’s stock was spread out in two small shops in Inverness (it’s a small city in the Scottish Highlands if you’re wondering). In 1994, they began the process of converting an old Gaelic church into their present business of one huge, magical bookshop.

Thankfully, little changes have been made to the building since its days as a place of worship. Looking from the outside it appears like a regular church complete with pretty stained glass windows.

It’s not until you walk inside that you realise everything isn’t how you imagined it would be. Intially, you discover a treasure trove of second-hand books, maps, and prints. These are all things you might expect inside a bookshop. However, the more you look around, quirky and interesting features start to appear. I mean, it’s not everyday you walk inside a bookshop only to find a wood-burning stove and a pulpit, eh?

Inside Leakey’s Bookshop

If it weren’t for a day of sightseeing ahead, I could easily have sat by the cosy fire all day just reading and occasionally getting up to peruse the aisles.

Adorned with comfy chairs and a stove fire surrounded by freshly chopped wood, it’s easy to forget this is even a shop. It looks more like the home of a retired school professor.

Though features of the church still exist, including the pulpit, so you have constant reminders that you’re in a church. My friend couldn’t resist getting up and proceeding to pretend to give a sermon for a photo opportunity. I’m not sure if the shop keeper saw, probably not since he has his nose buried inside a book. 

Getting cosy

It’s incredibly cosy inside. The whole place feels like an invitation for you to curl up and make yourself at home with one of the many second-hand books available to you.

To my surprise, I even spotted goose eggs for sell inside. How cute! This definitely added to the charm of being inside an independent bookshop and brings a whole new meaning to ‘shop local’. 

Leakey’s Bookshop spans across two floors that are joined together by a stunning spiral staircase. The top floor would have been the choir area but now books are scattered everywhere, from top to bottom, left to right, and arranged thematically.

One of the charming things about second-hand bookshops lies in what you might unexpectedly find. It could be a first edition or a cover you’ve never seen before.

What I love the most is opening up a book and seeing it inscribed with Birthday wishes from decades ago, or finding an old postcard wedged between the pages. It’s not only the author who’s telling a story, sometimes the previous owner of a book. 

I ended up leaving with A Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, a play I feel I ought to have read by now, and my brother bought a collection of poems by T.S Eliot. 

Leakey’s bookshop is a treasure chest waiting for to be discovered.

If you find yourself in the Scottish Highlands, this place located fittingly on Church Street, should not be missed, especially if books are your religion.

General Information

Address: Church St, Inverness IV1 1EY.
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5.30 pm

See their website for up-to-date information: www.leakeysbookshop.com

Looking for more literary locations and bookshops around the world?

Read more below:

• 14 Most Beautiful Bookshops in Europe
• Word on the Water: the Boat That Transformed into a Bookshop in London
• Discover London’s Literary Locations – Alternative City Guide

Would you like to visit Leakey’s Bookshop in Inverness?