A READER'S PARADISE

York is not just a city for lovers of history - it's the UK's indie bookshop capital. Local Rory Buccheri is your guide to the best hangouts for those who enjoy getting lost in a good tome

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What do the UK's most haunted pub, Matt Haig's Midnight Library, and Guy Fawkes Night have in common? These riveting stories all originate in York - a paradise for lovers of storytelling and independent bookshops.

This status has recently been cemented by the fact that the family-run bookstore chain Topping & Company has chosen York as the location for its largest store – set to open in January 2026. With dozens of indie bookstores, and thousands of years’ worth of local stories to be told - from histories of the Romans who built the city walls, to tales of the Victorians who almost tore them down - York is the ultimate destination for a reading holiday.

For BookTok lovers and lifelong reading nerds, holidays with a focus on reading are on the rise. Vrbr’s 2026 travel report suggests “readaways” will be one of next year’s biggest trends. And it’s not just people behind on their “To Be Read” lists that embark on them; relaxing, finding community, and discovering a location’s literary history are all popular reasons to take one.

Those choosing York for their reading break will find bookshops specialising in everything from crime to graphic novels to LGBT+ history. And, as a bookworm who calls the city home, I’ve spent hours trawling the shelves of these stores, and know exactly where my fellow bibliophiles can find their next page-turning thrills.

While the city’s picture-perfect medieval street the Shambles, with its award-winning Christmas market, may be the reason many flock there, it’s well worth looking beyond York’s most famous landmarks to discover a novel side.