5 Outdoor Bookstores Around the World That We Love

When you think of the outdoors, you probably think of sunshine, chirping birds, and the sounds of lawnmowers and kids playing. Well, after reading this article, we hope you will think of bookstores. You read that right: bookstores.

While most bookstores are located inside warm, insulated buildings perfect for a good read and a cappuccino, there are a few around the world that are conveniently situated outside. Below are bookstores around the world that offer great books as well as the sounds of nature and natural lighting as a breath of fresh air.

1. Bart’s Books — Ojai, California

The beauty about California is its year-round sunshine, which works perfectly for outdoor businesses like Bart’s Books. Located in Ventura County about an hour and a half to two hours away from Los Angeles, the outdoor portion of Bart’s Books sells not only used books, but collectible editions, magazines, and documentaries.

2. Southbank Centre Book Market — London, England

Tourists frequent the Southbank Centre Book Market often as it is a staple destination. Located underneath the Waterloo Bridge, the market offers an array of used books to choose from and is open rain or sunshine. It’s also located near an annual holiday market, a food market, and the iconic River Thames.

3. Brattle Book Shop — Boston, Massachusetts

Other than being known as America’s oldest and largest used bookstore, the Brattle is also known for its discount selection located outside adjacent to the shop. Since 1825, this beloved bookstore has been satisfying the likes of book lovers from around the world with rare and antiquarian books. You might even find a few out-of-print volumes and first editions!

4. Les Bouquinistes — Paris, France

Described as an “open air bookshop” on their website, Les Bouquinistes offers more than 300,000 old and modern literary works to peruse. You will also have a lot of natural beauty to take in too as the bookstore is located near the Siene river banks in northeast France.

5. Honesty Book Shop — Hay-on-Wye, Wales

The Honesty Book Shop has been serving the Hay-on-Wye community since the 1960s. This small market town is located near the English border and known as the “town of books.” The bookstore offers an inviting outdoor space to read, relax, and enjoy the buzz of the town center. They operate on an honor system where patrons pay for books by leaving cash in a collection box.

Do you know of any outdoor bookstores or libraries? Share them with us @meetcopper so we can share them with our Copper Community.

Photo by L’odyssée Belle on Unsplash