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Golden Hare Books

An independent bookshop on St Stephen Street, founded by a former director of the V&A, with a wall of books shown face out like a gallery.

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Welcome

On St Stephen Street, a deep blue shopfront lettered in gold reads Fine Books, and above the door a gilded hare leaps from a curl of ironwork.

Visited and photographed by Simon Hird

New books are propped in the window beneath it.

Inside it is small and warm, with painted shelves under hanging bulbs, a trestle table stacked with new titles, and a stove burning in the corner beneath a framed print. The booksellers write their own recommendation cards and tuck them under the titles they love, so the shelves read like advice from a friend. There is an armchair by the fire, a chalkboard for the next author evening, and a room of books for children. Come on a wet afternoon and take your time.

Before you go

New fiction and non-fiction for adults and children, chosen by the shop's booksellers.

Not every book on its website is on the shelves, so check before making a special trip; most books can be ordered in within 48 hours.

Where
68 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge.
Phone
0131 225 7755

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Did you know

A gilded hare leaps above the sign for Golden Hare Books on an Edinburgh street.
Did you know

A museum man's bookshop.

Mark Jones opened Golden Hare in 2012 after years directing the V&A in London, and before that the National Museums of Scotland.

Shelves labelled 'Best new non-fiction' hold rows of colourful book covers at Golden Hare Books.
Did you know

Books as design.

The wall of books shown with their covers facing out was his idea: like the V&A, the shop was to treat each book as a piece of design in its own right.

Golden Hare Books' shopfront has gilt lettering and a hare motif above shelves of fine books.
Did you know

It began in the Grassmarket.

The shop opened in the Grassmarket, partly selling second-hand books among the old bookshops there, and moved to St Stephen Street in 2014.

Books are laid out on a trestle table beneath tall shelving at Golden Hare Books, a lit fireplace in the corner.
Did you know

A hard time for bookshops.

When it opened, Edinburgh's independent bookshops were struggling. Mark Jones opened it anyway.

Floor-to-ceiling shelving holds rows of paperbacks at Golden Hare Books.
Did you know

Books by post.

Each month the booksellers choose, wrap and post new books to subscribers, fiction, non-fiction or a mix, one or two a month.

Ben Lerwill

From our guide to Edinburgh

Superb indie bookshop with close to 2,000 title on the shelves at any one time, and a full programme of events and author talks.

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Orange walls hold shelves of paperbacks beside a lit stove at Golden Hare Books.
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Where it is

On St Stephen Street in Stockbridge, a few steps from Circus Lane.

Close byThe places nearest the shop, in Stockbridge.
  1. St Stephen Street curving towards St Stephen's church tower.St Stephen StreetA street of independent shops in Stockbridge.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Saorsa GallerySaorsa GalleryA small gallery of bold, bright landscape paintings.Under a mile 1 min by road
  3. Circus LaneCircus LaneA curving cobbled mews of the early 1800s behind Royal Circus.Under a mile 2 min by road
  4. Candle and cocktail on a glass table beside an open fireplaceThe Last WordA cocktail bar in Stockbridge.Under a mile 2 min by road
  5. Stockbridge MarketStockbridge MarketA Sunday market beside the Water of Leith, since 2011.Under a mile 2 min by road
  6. St Bernard's WellSt Bernard's WellA temple over a mineral spring on the Water of Leith, with a statue of Hygeia.Under a mile 3 min by road
Directions
Avery's dining room in Stockbridge, with dark stone walls, a large black and white painting and candlelit tables laid with linen napkins.RestaurantsAveryA step away
The dark front of Skua at 49 St Stephen Street in Stockbridge, with its name in red neon letters down the wall beside the door.RestaurantsSkuaA step away
A large steak on the bone cooking over glowing coals and flames on the grill at The Captain Darling.RestaurantsThe Captain DarlingA step away
The dining counter at eòrna, a curved bar lined with upholstered stools facing the open kitchen, under a high corniced ceiling.RestaurantseòrnaA step away
Glass jars of dried herbs and flowers lined up on a wooden shelfRestaurantsMossA step away
Bicycles parked on a pavement outside Peperino café on a tenement-lined streetWalksStockbridge’s High StreetA step away
Lannan Pantry, EdinburghShoppingLannan PantryA step away
The coral-pink shopfront of Sotto on Deanhaugh Street in Stockbridge, with green awnings, its name in the windows and steps up to the door.RestaurantsSottoA step away
The purple front of Rare Birds Book Shop at 13a Raeburn Place in Stockbridge, its name in white capitals above two wide windows.ShoppingRare Birds Book Shop0.2 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the shop, and when each is next free.

West End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Golden Hare Books
Check datesA hotel studio room with a beige fitted kitchen unit and stainless sink beside a bed dressed in white and teal cushions, a wall of black-framed pictures above a patterned headboard.Old Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Golden Hare Books
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Golden Hare Books
Check datesA turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • 2 miles from Golden Hare Books
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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