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| Photo by Paolo Chiabrando on Unsplash |
I have a number of bookshops on my to-visit wish list, if I am ever in that country, state or neighbourhood. I thought this might be the perfect time to share some of them and why I want to visit (beside the obvious reason, of course!)
Book Stop will be an occasional meme that lets me travel and indulge in a good bookshop browse at the same time. A library or two may also make it onto the list.
My first Book Stop is in Bath - glorious, historic, literary Bath!
The city of Bath is one of the few places in the UK that I've managed to visit both times I have been. A big part of that is thanks to Jane Austen. The second part is well, the baths. I'm a history buff as well as a book nerd, and the thought of treading ground (or is that water?) where the Romans have once been, was something I couldn't resist, twice.
When I first visited in 1991, I stayed in the local YMCA with a friend. We trekked up to Alexandra Park to admire the view back into Bath. We strolled around the Abbey, the Pump Room and the Roman Baths, marvelling at how green the water was and how old it all was.We also walked around the Royal Crescent and the Gravel Walk and tried to imagine what it was like in Jane Austen's time. We ended up climbing trees in Royal Victoria Park!
My second visit to Bath in 2007, was a day trip. I re-walked the Royal Crescent and spent the morning in the Jane Austen Centre. Mr Books and I then had a wonderful afternoon relaxing and reviving in the the new Thermae Bath Spa. If you ever find yourself in beautiful Bath, do yourself a favour and book a session at the Spa. It's worth it.
Little did I know at the time, that a new bookshop had recently sprung up in Bath, in the little street just behind the Jane Austen Centre.
John St, Bath, has been home to Mr B's Emporium since 2006. It's online presence has all the quirky, creative and passionate reasons why I love independent bookshops. The story of it's genesis is inspiring and quite romantic. The staff are obviously committed and engaged bibliophiles and the space has evolved and grown over time to include a number of bespoke, inviting rooms. I can't wait to explore it in real life.
The intimate reading nooks, the fabulous reading suggestions from their staff and the amazing author events & live music combo's (that I would love to see for myself one day), make this an Indie bookshop after my own heart. I can almost smell the books and spa minerals from here!
Have you ever been to Mr B's Emporium, where books reign supreme?
Are there any other book shops in Somerset I should explore next time I venture to the UK?
Bath is on my list of places to visit and I would have been there by now if it hadn't been for the lockdown. I'll get there one day. You could always try Edinburgh for a change, there are lots of bookshops there.
ReplyDeleteCovid-19 has disrupted so many travel plans, but Bath will always be there :-)
DeleteDo you have a favourite Edinburgh bookshop that I should check out first?