Nestled in the Scottish city of Inverness lies Leakey’s Bookshop. Opened in 1979 in an old chapel, it has thousands of books. As you walk in, you’re confronted by a giant black log-burner, perhaps risky in a place with so much paper but there to combat the harshest of Scottish winters. Lining the walls are tall shelves rammed full of books.
Up the spiral staircase, you’ll find a mezzanine floor where you can gaze down at fellow bookworms whilst you rifle through even more books. Books are piled on the floor, on tables; basically everywhere they can be.
Behind a plastic screen, and in front of what used to be the pulpit, sits the owner or one of his assistants waiting for the silent book enthusiasts to cart over their towers of used books, ready to buy.
I’ve been in a few bookshops that were once places of worship. They always seem to me, to be a good use of those spaces, light and airy, where minds can open to all sorts of new experiences.
We had a good look around the place, shuffling past and occasionally stepping over other browsers and digging through the piles. Whilst I didn’t buy any books (we were travelling so I was trying to avoid picking up extra weight), I did pick up a tote bag. Because who doesn’t need an extra tote bag.
Have you visited Leakey’s Bookshop before? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.
Wordland 
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