Devon is home to four different UNESCO sites: The North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Dorset and East Devon Coast: The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, The English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, and Exeter UNESCO City of Literature.
Devon is also home to more than 50 independent bookshops that can be found in the county’s northern most stretches in Ilfracombe, to as far south as Kingsbridge. Exeter UNESCO City of Literature works with these independent bookshops in a variety of ways to promote the county’s rich culture of independent sellers, including a presence in the Literary Map of Exeter and Devon and the opportunity to take part in the yearly Book Market in Exeter.
To learn more about some of the independent bookshops in Devon, we are highlighting a shop that you can discover at each UNESCO site in Devon!
Directions: Take a GWR train to Barnstaple station, then a bus ride on the Stagecoach 21 to Bideford Quay.
Located within the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve area, Tipsy Books is a fairly new bookshop in Devon that is already building a dedicated community thanks to its intriguing niche of fantasy books, wine, and cheese. Alongside a winning combination of a brand new book and a cheese plate, readers can head to Tipsy Books in the evening for a variety of book clubs, open mics, fantasy author talks, and games evenings.
Owl and Pyramid Bookshop, Seaton
Directions: Take a GWR train to Axminster station, then a bus ride on the Stagecoach 885 to Seaton sea front.
Nestled in the middle of The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site between Sidmouth and Lyme Regis, Owl and Pyramid Bookshop in Seaton offers a collection of books for readers of any age, and is a stone’s throw away from the beautiful cliff faces of East Devon’s coastline.
Directions: Take a GWR train to Exeter Central station, then walk to McCoy’s Arcade on Fore Street.
Bookbag is Exeter’s independent bookshop, and has had its home in the South of England’s only UNESCO City of Literature. As one of 63 UNESCO Cities of Literature in a global network alongside cities like Rio De Janeiro, Melbourne, Jakarta, and Reykjavik, it should come as no surprise that Bookbag celebrates stories from global majority writers on their shelves. After hours events at Bookbag include book launches and author talks from writers across the local, national, and international publishing worlds.
Directions: Take a GWR train to Torre station, then take the Stagecoach 31 to the bookshop.
The English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark also has plenty of literary connections given that Torquay is the birthplace of Agatha Christie, the world’s bestselling novelist. A few minutes away from the beautiful red cliffs of Babbacome, Fables The Book Shop offers an equally appealing mix of local stories, children’s books, and bestsellers.