Reviews of Waterstones. (Shop) in Edinburgh (Edinburgh).

Waterstones

0 Reviews

391 Comments

Shop

Book store

128 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 4AD, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Waterstones, Shop in Edinburgh (Edinburgh)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

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Open hours of Waterstones

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Reviews of Waterstones

A. J.

I do not go into this shop often, however excellent choice of books whatever you are into reading. Great shop to get children to explore books. My little grandchildren enjoyed looking at some of the books and I spent time at a table doing an activity sheet with a picture to colour in and puzzles to do ,which my little grandchildren enjoyed.

D. P.

Amazing book shop,clean and everything so well organized,the coffe shop on top it's very nice and if you get one of the books of the month you get a free coffe.

F. M.

This is a chain retailer and normally those are not my go to bookstores as I prefer to support independent booksellers. But this branch of Waterstones truly has such a wide selection and variety with four floors of books. It’s well organized with the perks of having a cafe on site as well. Don’t kid yourself if you think you’ll only pop in for a few minutes!

E. F.

I just love this shop. I like touching the books to see how they feel to be held and read. The selection is awesome and upstairs is a coffee/tea shop for a peaceful introduction to your new purchase. I usually pop in here for a wee look before heading home on the bus. Oh yes and I need something to read on the bus. .............Ah well!

L. Z.

Always busy but that's part of the charm. Friendly and helpful staff. They have also expanded the games section which is great. There is a cafe upstairs but it would be good if there would be more seating opportunities in the rest if the building, just for browsing some books.

R. H.

Nicely laid out store, as always from Waterstones LOTS of choice. My daughter enjoyed spending a world book day gift card she had! Nice friendly till staff too, the lady was talking to us about her child's interests in minerals and fossils too (in relation to a book she chose!).

N. U.

Possibly one of my favourite places in all of Edinburgh. I love the actual building with its double staircase. It has a huge range of books from history and politics to fiction and fantasy. They also sell board games and toys. I really love the atmosphere of the place and the staff are lovely and very helpful.

A. A. M. G.

I came to this place at least once per week. Of course I love Waterstones, their offers and the card with the stamps system. Just wanna write this review today to thanks the worker Jasper who has been with me for a long time making suggestions and gods reviews of the different and recent releases. It's really good when you're going to buy something as books to find someone who knows what it's selling and you can really feel that enjoys with the job.

r. s.

Just checked in to see if my nephew's book had been released, Laura the assistant was lovely and shop was well stocked

J. C.

Love this shop. It's done on the 'olde worlde' style but what a place. If what you are looking for is not there the staff will help you by looking for and ordering it in. You can also sit back read a book or news paper with a lovely cup of coffee in their cafe. Great place, 100% recommended.

M.

Beautiful sightseens of the Edinburgh Castle, that I could see illuminated beautifully in different colors in the evening & night like the Beautiful LUCEROS SQUARE in the Joaquin Sorolla’s painter of The Mediterranean, Valencian Community’s City of Alicante in SPAIN( ESP) EU. Last Christmas 2021 Holidays!!! You can have a coffee, read your favorite book and admire the sightseens from the windows that look out onto the ANCIENT EDIMBURGH CASTLE that evoques me the EPIC HEROES such as ROB ROY or WILLIAM WALLACE & the film based in the historic events in Mel Gibson’s, starring, «Brave Heart » Or Liam Nison, Scottish actor’s, starring in the film with the same name:” Rob Roy”❤️🥰🦋🦋🦋.

D. D.

I love Edinburgh Waterstones, you can spend quality time browsing each floor and then have a treat in the cafe. Today I visited with some of my kids and they had a great time exploring. I want to give top marks to the male cashier in the basement who dealt with us all. Also a special thanks to the female cashier at the front of the store for her kind nature and patience with my daughter. This was at about 2:15 on Sunday 30 May 2021.

C. P.

I love it here, and so do my two little people. There’s a great selection of kids books, all neatly categorised into age groups and topics.

V. C.

Most lovely cafe on Upper floor...looking out onto Princes Street...loose tea in teapots...perfection...a fantastic bookshop...the children's area especially is so child friendly...a wonderful space to spend time with children of all ages.Val Clapton

S.

If you love books you will love waterstones. Across three floors with many genres to browse. Great kids section, cafe with a wonderful view of the castle and friendly helpful staff.

J. N.

Always love bookstores for their selection even though I also read a lot on Kindle. Nothing much to review - it is a typical Waterstones with knowledgeable staff who love books as much as I do.

h. c.

Not much to dislike about this waterstones. Although if you are going to promote a new 2nd of the series hardbook by an author you should have the first one there as well so you could have bought both. Being told the first one was upstairs on a table was not helpful as I couldn't find it. Loved the staircase.

C. J.

Just great! There is EVERYTHING here.

J. S.

Excellent quality for books and games. Great shop for relaxing with a snack and coffee while reading a good book.

L. O. (. J.

As usual it seems this Branch is 3 levels like the one in my own city of Derby. Cafe is on top floor. Coffee and cake was good but sadly the cake selection behind the glass counter was not covered and two flies were enjoying a feast on the pile of scones displayed !!

S.

Used to be lovely place to have a snack. They only had sultana scones which I don't like. Used to love their cheese and herb so was disappointed. Lemon cake was nice but not filling.

S. M.

Great bookshop, wide selection of books, bookshop staff knowledgeable and helpful. Coffee section very busy with a long line for service. By the time I reached the end of the queue there were no seats left. Many tables were occupied by people clearly working on laptops rather than by customers ( no sign of food/drinks on tables). I had to stand at the corner of a bench and drink my coffee and eat quickly which was a pity as the coffee was excellent and I would have liked another cup.

M. J. A.

A really good place to go to if you are wanting to grab a good book. They offer a very wide variety of books, including graphic novels from Marvel and DC and Manga. Very easy to find location, whether you are commuting or driving (depending on where you are residing), I highly recommend this place to all who love reading books and other resource materials... And yes, nothing beats the smell of a new book while flipping through its crisp pages.

J. R.

Very beautiful. For American tourists, it looks like Barnes and Noble, and (ps) the prices reflect it. Lol, worth going for the displays alone

D. J.

Quick snack and toilet break while wandering around Edinburgh. Hot chocolate and cake nice but toastie had a clinical taste, like made on a freshly wiped bench, may just be the cheese. We came away with some books including a nice folio cover of Poe's short stories.

A. M.

Great book shop. Very spacious with every genre easy to find. Good selection of Scottish books on a variety of subjects. Staff excellent.

J. H.

Staff very very very helpful. Help me pick out my third book mayflies. Reading it now. You are very lucky to have people like this working for you

i. m. b.

Bit pricey, has most books, good cafe veiws

G. G.

Great place. Massive and very well maintained, books were all in order and has a great view of the castle in the cafe if you're lucky enough to get a seat at the window!

O. K.

Huge bookstore with comfy cafe in the top level. There are beautiful high windows with the view of the castle. You can grab/borrow a book and start to read or just hang on the internet with your laptop. The coffee was quite okay. I can say it is worth to stop by.

Y. A.

Amazing friendly staff conveniently located and plenty of books. One of the warmer more welcoming Waterstones I've been into.

Y. Y. C.

Maybe one of the best spots to view Edinburgh Castle. Waterstones on Princes Street may be one of the best spots to appreciate Edinburgh Castle. Located on the lower hill of the city town, its 2nd floor balcony provides greater and clearer view of the castle than any other tourist spots. If I had visited earlier, I would spend a few hours sitting in the building and just seeing the castle. The atmosphere of the bookstore itself is good, too. There are special corners for Scotland related books. They displayed books beautifully. Hand-written introductions of each book were also remarkable. If it's your first time to visit UK, I would recommend to visit here and feel peculiar atmosphere of British bookstores.

J. G.

Great store. I didn't realise how big it is until we went upstairs! There's a lovely old staircase in the middle of the store, it's in need of a little tlc but is still a great feature. They have a huge selection available and a small cafe inside too. I managed to find a book from a favourite author of mine that I really didn't expect to see, and it was a signed edition!

M. B.

Great bookshop to browse in & find the book you didn't know you wanted. Friendly, helpful & above all knowledgable "switched on" staff who both care about their customers & know about what they sell. Yes; I'd prefer a local independent bookseller on principle, but for variety of stock in a physical location Waterstons is unbeatable.

A. T.

Has a decent selection of books in a good location along Princes Street. I bought a guide to the Scottish monros in the hopes I'll actually climb a few more, and was able to get a bit of practice due to the large central staircase!

S. L.

Wonderful store and great café on the top floor.

P. B.

My favourite book shop. Really well laid out and inviting and very friendly staff.

A. B.

Great place to pick up a good selection of books. I had a great time to choose lots of musical books for my 2 year old daughter. The cafe on the 2nd floor is great and very good place for a nice cup of coffee and overlooking Edinburgh Castle 👍

N.

Has a decent selection of books, and for anyone desiring a cup of tea, there is a good cafe.

M. M.

Good selection of books. Wide range. Decent cafe.

p. d.

Brilliant book buying establishment, I don't have words to describe it

D. K.

It is good if you have an idea on what you are looking for. The books are categorize as young adult, poems, science fiction, fiction, crime,etc. The books are in alphabatical order based on the author's last name. Great ambience. It would have been great if the categories extends to romance, etc.

C. A.

Super beautiful and organized book store. The choices are so big one doesn't know where to begin, but you easily find what you are looking for as the staff is super friendly and helpful too. There is also a cafe in the first floor where you can enjoy sitting drinking a coffee and reading your newly bought book.

C. C.

An absolute cant-miss for book lovers!

B.

Wonderfuly set up shop plenty of books available

N. T.

Just the place any book lover would love to be in. Well maintained and beautiful collection!

A. M.

Astounding... a really great place to sip your drinks..in style

n. l.

A brilliant store. Every time I am in Edinburgh I stop in and find some hidden gem, often thanks to the little postcards put up by staff. But this last visit was especially delightful when my wife also got a recommendation from a staff member that told her about a book with 'characters that had been living in her head rent free for weeks. ' 😀

C. A. W. W.

Beautiful bookshop with ample choice of book, including comfy chair to read.

G.

Well located and it has a vast variety of books and even smart gift for children. I love going there to get inspired for what to give as present to my nieces and nephew.

N. H.

Always well organised so that finding the book you want is easy. If you still need help the staff will come to your aid. Coffee and a snack and time to relax whilst enjoying your purchases in the shops cafe. Lovely

L. S.

Great place to shop or just spend time with friends

C. F.

Great selection of books and I can get lost for hours if allowed.

K. G. (.

Best bookstore in the city. Beautiful presentation and selection of books.

P. B.

One can't give this place 5 stars only because there are better out there... saying that, it's brilliant, clean, well organised and very efficient. The staff, the same!!

M. M.

One of my spiritual homes in Edinburgh. Several levels of books, everything is well signposted, the kids section is great, junior fiction and younger children's books are prominent. There's a good selection of local Scottish books too if you're after something a bit more Caledonian.

J. C.

Always pop into shop and always seem to come out with something.thumbs up

F. A.

Beautiful cafe, especially when you walk down the stairs and sit by the windows. Great layout and such a magical place to find new books. Only improvement would be chairs to sit and read!

L. J.

Great bookshop on Princes Street on two floors. The range of books is extensive and should suit all tastes. In lockdown jigsaw popularity has increased and the store has an excellent range of 500 & 1000 piece puzzles with interesting themes. Also the internal central timber staircase is worth admiring.

A. D. M.

The cafè at the last floor is so cosy and has a wonderful view ❤

A. M.

Helpful friendly staff, fantastic selection of books. This is what a proper bookshop should be.

T. T.

Nice place and quiet place to study. It has a coffee shop as well.

T. w. I.

A great place where you can rent books and there is a big selection of it. You can also use WiFi which makes it more comfortable to spend alot time there. What I also like is there is a cafe and you can order drinks while you having a great view over the princess Street. I ordered an American I was just unlucky that they were closing 25 min later. The taste was good and the staff friendly. I also recognised great cake selection and I will definitely come back again. If you are looking for a place to have a coffee in a silent atmosphere then you need to come here. See you soon

K. H.

Wonderful bookshop facing the castle with a large selection of books. The store is nicely laid out with a big choice of books including multiple editions of classics.

L. R.

They cater for every aspect of my book fetish. Outstanding customer service with an in depth knowledge of all my needs , hope's and aspirations. I then followed the edwardian wooden staircase to fondel a delicious capachino overlooking the Edinburgh castle. Warm and dry I gazed at a mystic yet ominous cloud of moisture and depression creeping toward me from the onset battlements

W. J. C.

Too busy today to find a seat with a view, hot chocolate tasted great!

K. P.

Nice layout & nice café. Good selection of books, with a great children's section.

J. M.

Disappointing lack of stones, but made up for by the vast array of ex-trees covered in ink (colloquially referred to as "books"). The selection is more varied than the laser field scene in Ocean's Twelve so you could spend hours in here and not get bored. Think that's all? That's not all. There is a beautiful cafe above the staircase (contrary to popular mythology, the staircases do not move like at Hogwarts), with a landing area (for sitting not for aircraft) boasting a jawdropping view of some castle or other. Maybe that's where the eponymous stones are? What's more -- much more than this -- the staff are fantastic. In the bookstore itself they are pleasant and well-informed, and the cafe, they are so helpful and polite. Their carrot cake is also the toppest of notches.

W.

The staff is nice, great selection of books. The cafe compromises great view of Edinburgh castle, the baristas are well knowledgeable of coffees. It can be pricey.

T. v. d. W.

Excellent book store. Very sad coffee.....

D.

Typical Waterstones in many ways. Wide range of books, well organised, knowledgeable and helpful staff who seem to have read, or at least learnt about, every book in the shop somehow. It also has a nice café.

G. G.

This is a gorgeous Waterstones, set over three floors, with an enormous range of books as well as stationery, gifts and a coffee shop. We spent a lovely couple of hours browsing, buying and drinking coffee :)

K. M.

Favourite place to go and study. Cafe is great with amazing views. Love it

A. P.

Such a lovely place to wander and find new gems. There’s a wide variety of books and games and little gifts here. Whenever I have time to spare or just need a wee boost I find myself here, reading inside covers abs flipping through pages. Plus, there’s a nice cafe & the employees are knowledgeable and kind!

G. C. g.

A great choice of books to suit all tastes and helpful staff.

A. R.

Wide selection of books, very friendly and helpful staff, wonderful interior. 2 hrs click & collect service available. Cafe on a 2nd floor is now open.

K. W.

My favorite bookstore to visit anytime I'm in the UK. Such a huge selection of books, some great deals and special editions, as well as a nice assortment of games, cards and gifts. If I lived here, I would probably LIVE in one these stores.

G. C.

Well laid out great selection of titles and authors helpful well-informed staff

A.

Extensive choice in a large store all very pleasantly laid out. Usual coffee shop. Great place for a serious bibliophile

T. M.

Good selection of books.. though we used coffee shop.. which lovely choice of cakes etc

R. M.

Absolutely love this book shop, there's something for everyone in there and plenty of scottish history books which I am excited to read. Can't wait to spend hours in there the next time I'm in Edinburgh.

K. H.

always a fantastic place to spend time looking at books. staff don't rush you. Nice feel to the store.

N. F.

Great bookstore. If you are visiting Edinburgh you can find a great variety of books about Scotland and Edinburgh! Staff is very friendly and there are great book deals

J. R.

Love this shop. Staff very helpful.

K. B.

Extensive book store. My goto for those times when you're not sure what to get. Prices are higher than online shops, but staff is very helpful.

T. W. -. A. G. D.

They Have All The Best Selections, And They Order Special Requests for You... Wonderful People & Place👍👍... Readers are the Future of The World... The Mind A Terrible Thing To Waste...

B. W.

Really nice cafe and excellent selection of books. Staff knowledgeable and shop was covid secure

O. F.

The bookshop itself is always incredible. It’s a flagship store I think so it’s huge and has tons and tons available. I sat upstairs at the cafe and wasn’t impressed at all. I ordered a tea and the cup it came in was filthy. Didn’t even end up drinking the tea. And the floor of the cafe was also filthy. They were sanitising the tables and chairs as people were leaving but I just think practicing a good general level of cleanliness would also be advised.

J. J.

Loved our stay in this beautiful hotel. Can't fault it.

P. T.

Plenty of books well signposted and beautiful coffee shop with best view of castle. Dog friendly.

M. P.

Amazing bookstore atmosphere. Great kids section, to attract young readers. Knowledgeable, polite and helpful staff. Amazing coffee shop! Nothing more to ask from a bookshop!

D. C.

Comfortable, clean, vivid complaint and great coffee.

q. m.

Three floors of books and a lovely cafe. I could spend hours here! Friendly, helpful staff too.

J. B.

Great first visit to this bookshop yesterday with family. Lovely atmosphere, helpful, knowledgeable staff, couldn't recommend enough and got a book I cant wait to read.

K. C.

We were recommend to this bookshop as it has a Cafe looking out on to Princess Street and the Castle. Service was good, and swift with added bonus of being reasonably priced. Recommend on a visit to Edinburgh.

l. a.

Fantastic library and there is coffee shop in the second floor which is perfect place for studying with wonderful view to prince street

J. L.

If you like books this is the place to go, well stocked with most genres, what more can you say.

M. F.

Very well stocked bookshop with lots of interesting books. Much better than Blackwalls that used to be its equal but now has a very limited stock.

t. k.

Great bookstore with a lovely coffee house upstairs.

N.

I love this book store, it's so big yet so organised. It's easy to find your way around and the service it's on point. Can't wait to go there again soon to buy myself more books!!!! :)

H. H.

You cannot go wrong with Waterstones. To browse the shop; the promises of intrigue, interest, learning, entertainment, escape. Just the turning of a cover away. To top it, a nice café; if you're lucky grab a table with a marvellous view onto the castle on the mount.

D. K.

Staff are attentive and helpful. Wish cafe seating had power outlets.

F. C.

This is a great bookstore on 3 levels. Plenty of books to choose from. A massive selection of children's books. A nice café on the top floor, especially if you can get a view out of the window. Easy wheelchair access into the shop, and lifts to upper floors. Could use some more comfortable chairs for tired parents.

A. A.

Hands down one of the best bookstores in the town. The children's floor is a great place for some story time and the cafe has a variety of hot and cold beverages. The selection of books is versatile and impressive. Had a good time there. Cheers!

Q. _.

Good selection of books in general but lacking in certain areas: don't go looking for a computing book unless you only want the basics as the section had been really pared down. I expect this could be said by people looking for specialist books in any area though, and there's only a limited amount of space so they can't really be faulted on too much on that. Fairly large cookery section, with an improving vegetarian/vegan selection; children's section looks pretty large too, although I have no direct experience of that. Can always find something of interest, and it's nice to have a bookshop that you can actually walk into and pick them up physically, rather than buying online.

E. &. C. W.

Multi floor shop on Princes Street part of Waterstones chain of stores. Books for all ages with a coffee shop too.

L. G.

Lovely bookshop but the cafe isn't what it used to be. The cafe is now corporate and bland. The selection of cakes and food has been greatly reduced. The cake I had was stale and nothing special. Still nice views but as a local I won't be back to the cafe again. The bookshop itself is still great and worth a visit.

L. L. Y.

Lovely book store. Complete selection for all ages. They have an area for reading for the little ones.

G. T.

One of my favourite bookshops in this city. A great variety of books, beautiful, elegant and spacious interior, a café on the second floor with some stunning views of the Castle. There are lovely cakes and patisserie to have with your coffee, unfortunately they don't have any gluten free options.

C. F.

One of the most beautiful bookstores. It has a great atmosphere, and the stately staircase leading up into the various levels in the gorgeous historic building, and coffee shop overlooking the castle - magical! The books are treated with love and respect, well stocked and a great selection in each genre, and the staff are very helpful. You get a proper "bookstore" feeling, not just a clinical "retail feel".

R. C.

I can spend hours in a Waterstones - this one being no exception. Three floors of an incredible selection of books and a cafe. It's very warm and welcoming, same as most Waterstones. It's a great place to kill some time and end up spending £20 on books and a coffee.

R. H.

It's Waterstones, it's a cool bookstore. I love it. Have coffee here often. Has expanded it's games and stationery section.

J. S.

The newly refurbished store is bright and a joy to be in. It has great staff, book choice and a beautiful view.

B. F.

As ever a fantastic choice of books both hard and paperback - a must visit shop

F.

Dog free and helpful staff most of the time.

E. L.

Blissful place for readers of all types. Lovely tearoom there too.

H. P.

Staff are always really helpful and there is a great selection of books, including an excellent selection of Scottish Books.

L. C.

Bring me in this shop and I can spend here my whole day. The book selection is very good, and I love the space on two levels, with the travel section on the first floor being my corner of paradise. The cafe inside is also very nice, and we never miss a stop for coffee and cake. This time I had a cinnamon swirl, which was delicious :)

B. P.

Three stories, jam packed with a wide range of books, with very helpful staff. Cafe / toilets on top floor.

F.

Great book shop with a wide range of books distributed over three floors. The staff are friendly and helpful able to offer advice on alternative authors when asked. In this instance I'd bought a book by an different author, similar to CJ Sansom's material.

K. G.

Great place to find a book, the cafe is nice and quiet, great to sit down and read a book or just sit by the window and enjoy the view of the castle

S. A. (.

Love this place always books for everyone

A. d. P.

Been there several times. They have a wide variety of books on Art, Photography and Fashion. Love the Cafe at the top floor, where I can relax and read the books I've chosen. This way I know exactly which books I need to buy and which ones are similar to ones I already have. Friendly staff.

I. S.

Good bookshop on several floors in the city centre. Large selection of books covering most topics including good selection of fiction. First floor large children's section is attractive and welcoming. Good café on top floor selling cakes and hot snacks. Toilets on same floor. Staff are pleasant and helpful.

M. R.

Amazing staff. Very friendly and know what they're talking about. I briefly gave an author's name and they were reeling off books etc. And they weren't a well known author. The layout of the store is amazing and really nice for kids too. Really can't fault their service.

S. M.

I love this Waterstones. In the heart of the city it has a great selection of books. My favourite thing is the cafe on the third floor. Massive windows with a great view onto the castle. A nice range of food and drink, although a little bit pricey

G. M.

Great selection of books.

J. D.

Good stock and very helpful staff .

M. P.

Beautiful shop with amazing staff - and an absolutely endless variety of books!

M. B.

Great bookshop and excellent cafe. Three floors of well stocked bookshelves, well laid out so that it is easy to both browse and to find specific titles. An impressive collection of board games and a modicum of stationary and other supplies add to the appeal. The cafe provides good food and drink, though the savouries are a little on the expensive side. The views are excellent, looking out onto Edinburgh Castle.

K. Š.

Amazing collection of books on different topics - a heaven for any book lovers! You can easily spend hours going through the pages, sipping a great coffee made in-house and nibble on a muffin or a sandwich. Not to forget, the huge glass wall offers an outstanding view on the castle and green parks around. And if you are looking for a nice gift or souvenir this is exactly the place to go. Here I found a book I could not get anywhere and since it was a little bit worn out they gave me a discount. Love the place and the staff!

M. A. J.

Waterston's has an extensive selection of books from many genre's. This west end store also as a very busy cafe with a good selection if snacks along with a good variety of hot and cold drinks. Service in bookshop and cafe is excellent and the staff friendly and helpful. I'd strongly recommend you try it. You won't regret a visit.

D. L.

This Waterstones does not sell books, it is a bookstore. If you know the difference you will quickly flock there. If you don't, come and visit and enjoy the difference knowledgeable staff makes to visiting a bookshop. The selection tables are amazing, full of gems; you will always find something new and something you will end up wanting to read. Plus in 5 seconds, staff will know which book you should be reading now.

H. T.

Great selection of books. Nice coffee & helpful staff.

H. H.

Friendly, efficient staff who do everything to make finding that book you want to buy easier. Nice cafe and facilities, the multiple floors and seating areas are great for families. Always happy to visit, even when busy.

F. M.

Wide selection of books and friendly staff. Lovely place to browse and find new books and old favourites.

c. A.

Brilliant choice of books for every reader. They can order for you if your book is not in stock. Good little cafe too. Nice place to spend a couple of hours away from the real world.

L. S.

Love this place, such a good variety of books, gifts and the best view from a coffee shop in Edinburgh. The view is of the castle and a nice space to work from. Good selection of cakes and lunch time snacks, coffees and drinks. The book store is just nice to hangout in and read. The staff are all very friendly and helpful around the book store and in the café. Highly recommended

D. H.

This is a nice bookshop which offers an excellent selection of books, gifts and toys. There is also a delightful little cafe on the top floor which serves an excellent vegan chilli and locally made Union of Genius soups. With a good location and excellent access to and from public transport its a nice place to shop and to spend some time.

V.

The cutest Waterstones. You can get lost in here for a little while, buy a book (or a suitcase full) and enjoy it in the cafe in the second floor. Enjoy it over a coffee, and look out on Edinburgh castle, the busy shoppers beneath you, the gardens under the castle, and of course, the overcast sky. In all seriousness, a really nice bookstore.

R. S.

One of the few bookshops left in Edinburgh. It's a pleasant place to browse and have a cup of coffee although the stock is a bit predictable due to the fact that it's not an Independent. Well worth supporting though or we won't have any bookshops left...I could have bought the new Lee Child for £10.00 on my Kindle but I deliberately went to Waterstones to buy it in hardback. Guess what? £10.00! Much nicer to read a proper book than a screen.

K. B.

Magical children's section, and friendly atmosphere.

C. A.

Peaceful and beautiful location, nice staff as often in Scotland ! (from France)

C. R.

Huge Waterston with a cafe on the top floor, views of the castle are brilliant if you're lucky enough to get a window table!

P. M.

This store is my kryptonite. I always end up buying more than I wanted because they have a lot of offers and I'm a massive book nerd. While having great sections like Design, Photography and tons of others, they also have a part with bits and bobs that are making great little presents for anyone and yourself. I'm fond of the Waterstones bookstores because the feeling in these stores is very welcoming, even if you just take a look! Also staff is helpful with any questions or if you look for something certain!

S. C.

I have to admit that I rarely purchase anything here (feed my book addiction with charity shop purchases and a healthy library borrowing rate) but it's a great place for browsing and getting ideas. The quite grand and usually calm surroundings make for a pleasant shopping experience, it's the sort of shop you wouldn't mind getting locked in overnight. Spread over several floors, there is a lift for those with access issues. The cafe has great views.

G. Z.

Huge book shop with a café with stunning view of Edinburgh Castle

I. C.

Great shop and cafe. Wonderful choice of books.

C. L.

I love to take dates here for a coffee and light bite then a peruse of the many books. The books are categorised well. The classics come in many editions - hardback, soft-sleeves, arty covers. Just so much to see. I've seen authors at Q&A's which were fun and insightful. You can keep up to date on their social media. The staff are cute and helpful. Honestly, go here for a browse. Take an hour- have fun.

M. K.

I love this Waterstones. It has always had the book I'm looking for and the staff are endlessly helpful plus it's very comfortable and neat. You can spend hours in this Waterstones browsing and reading into books which is the essence of a great book shop. Additionally if you want to find a quirky gift you can grab one from here.

E. T.

Really welcoming environment for book lovers. The abundant wood (staircases, floors, etc) create a warm atmosphere. Very nice cafe overlooking Princes Street. If lucky, you can even sit in the bay window (few spaces ). Good stock on 4 floors. Definitely recommended if you are into books.

D. G.

Waterstones has a good selection of books however as a born again Christians my husband and I and, we are sure countless others, including my family would have loved to see, browse and buy Christian books at Waterstones. It is also a good place to have a bite and sit down and enjoy looking through the books one wishes to purchase. Thanks!

I.

Great store with really helpful staff. It also sits within a multi-storey building and has a vast range of books in every area imaginable. The children’s collection deserves special mention because of how it is laid out and it was fantastic to see reading spaces available for parents and children.

T. w.

Great selection of books, well organised and very helpful staff. The cafe is great as well nice but of food and great hot drinks. Strangely it's fully licensed for alcohol so if drinking in a bookshop is your thing you're in luck. Good coffee though. Cosy atmosphere with a decent view of Princes Street.

E. R.

Great selection over three floors, always worth a visit.

C. R.

Spacious. The shop is spread out over so many floors, but there is are very helpful boards which make navigation easy. The staff at the cashiers where polite and friendly. Also used the cafe. Soy milk was available which is appriciated. Coffee was personally better than what I'd get in Costa.

G. G.

Lovely view of the castle from the cafe, if you're quick enough to catch a window seat...!

c.

Always a pleasure to visit Waterstones when I'm in Edinburgh. I just love that space, with the books and the beautifully carved wooden stairs, the cafe upstairs, the comfortable places to read. And not to forget a superb view towards the castle from the 1st floor windows. Awesome!

L. O. C.

Selection of books is fantastic. All genres available. Staff were friendly and helped us in all the right directions. Small sit down area for children to read and relax. Lifts also available to all floors.

J. C.

Great views of the castle from the cafe

J. S.

Too many students sitting on laptops taking time and space for other people to enjoy!

L. B.

This is a beautiful book store with three floors of books. They will definitely have what you're looking from and even stock board games and a wide range of graphic novels. There is a cafe upstairs but it is very busy but good.

B. D.

Spent a good couple of hours here keeping out the wind and rain. Excellent branch with 3 floors packed with hundreds of excellent recommendations. I could not stop browsing. Bought two books I had no intention of getting when I walked in, and had finished one of them in the café before I left. Pity it wasn't a library in that respect... I tried to get a friend's book free promotion by putting it in a highlighted place, but like the little elves in the David Bowie film, 'Labyrinth' , the book shelf had swapped itself back to how I originally found it whilst my back was turned. The shop apparently runs on magic. The café and the toilets were on the top floor, and had an amazing view towards Edinburgh Castle. The breakfast tea, was worth the trip here alone, and it wasn't too pricey. Staff left me alone, which was good when browsing, and were friendly and helpful in the café.

W. B.

This store is huge!! Multiple levels, each one dedicated to a different Genre. Staff are helpful when asked for assistance. Each area is clearly marked with what it covers. Shelves are kept tidy by staff and books are easy to find on the shelves. The only down side I found to the store is that they don't give student discount.

A. P.

Great place to have a hot chocolate in the morning, looking at the window while reading a book. The bookshop is really big and you can find books of all sorts. I really like going there.

N. S.

I adore this place and it is always my to go to location when I am in that area. This Waterstone is spread out onto 3 floors, and there are clear signs indicating what each floor is used for and what books and genres you could find there. The staff are also super friendly and always happy to help! The coffee shop on the top floor also offers a great study or reading spot. There is a range of comfy sofas and chairs to great table space to study on. Although the food is quite pricey, they have special lunch deals that come with the soup which is a lot more budget friendly. They also offer a wide range of drinks! To top it all off, the castle view by the window is definitely great, especially for tourists :)

A. K.

Nice shop with wonderful aesthetics!

S. B.

Great bookshop. Not loads of tables in the cafe, but lots of books.

M. S. (.

Absolutely great. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable and there is a lot of variety in their stock, especially in their non-fiction, basement, area. I recommend checking their website as you can purchase books sometimes at a cheaper price and collect them at the store. I used this click and collect option for the first time recently and received an email within 10min to tell me that the books were ready to collect!

P. V.

It seems like a reader's paradise. A great collection of books.

J. W.

Fantastic selection of books for adults and a great kids area with lovely independent coffee shop upstairs. The coffee shop does great coffee and has an amazing selection of scones, cakes, biscuits.

H. J.

They let dogs in! The staff are really friendly and helpful, can't believe they let dogs in. Big range of books for wood carving and whittling. My new favourite place to chill out while looking for interesting books for hobbies.

c. C.

A bookshop with a good range but much the same as every other Waterstones. The cafe within is why I'm really writing this review. Very nice views of the castle outside, nice staff and good coffee. A nice peaceful atmosphere surrounded by books. I would have given 5 stars but take a star off due to the several students sitting with empty cups, on their apple MacBooks studying, while everyone struggles to find a seat. If I were the manager I would ask them to move on if they're not consuming anything. Otherwise Great cafe!

J. M.

This Waterstones is actually the bomb. Lovely sweeping staircases and a great cafe with big windows overlooking the castle. 3 floors, so plenty selection of books, and the ground floor has lots of games/crafts items etc as well. Good place for coffee, not easy to find a plug though, if you're using a laptop. They sell Cuckoo's Bakery cupcakes etc. which is a bonus.

S. B.

Great shop and staff are very knowledgeable and helpful

C. S.

Really enjoy this Waterstones - it's well set out, well stocked and has a pleasant café with a Castle view. Only fly in the ointment today was a random group of 20-30 somethings dressed as pirates who took over the children's area. It really limited space to explore books with the kids and the group was so noisy it made it difficult to talk and hear. Not sure it was a great idea to give over that area for this purpose. However, generally it's really worth a visit.

D. P.

Best book shop I've ever been to. Not only was there every book I was looking for, but the whole vibe of the place is delightful. I would happily spend an entire day here reading and sitting in the cafe. Can't wait to come back when I'm next in London.

L. B.

Nice place to chill out , lovely little café.Lots of great books too

S. S.

Perfect place to get lost on a rainy day, I always end up leaving with a new book! Cafe on the 2nd floor is actually quite nice. Staff are very welcoming and selection of cakes/cupcakes (from Cuckoo's Bakery) is quite impressive considering the size of the place. Highchairs and baby changing facilities available. If you're lucky you'll get one of the tables with views to the castle!

A. O.

This has been a special spot for book hunting, and meandering, in Edinburgh for a long time. The layout feels like walking through a grand old Victorian house, but with new books and decor to compliment. Floor to ceiling, filled with great bits and bobs - including a wealth of wee review/recommendation cards by visitors and employees in each section of literature. The cafe is also a particularly lovely spot to relax, and view the city. Perfect vantage point for watching people on prince's street, and the flow of the day sky behind the castle. There's often great art and photography collections on the walls, too.

E. M.

Hard to put a finger on it. Situated in main shopping street in Edinburgh, it's this calm place where books seem to be grouped according to topics that made browsing sense to me. Naturally, the fact that I love bookshops skews this review, but there does appear to be something extra here, be it the rather leisurely browsing experience, unobtrusive staff, the fact that I rapidly found books for 3 different family members, and also that I left floors unexplored for my next visit here...

R. M.

Impressive selection of titles, good atmosphere + a very cozy café.

M. E.

It's a really good bookshop that is in the heart of the city. Has an amazing range of books (especially by Scottish Authors). I also love the cafe upstairs on the 2nd floor. Lovely warm atmosphere.

C. F.

Large bookstore for these days. Beautiful interior. Quiet so you can have a browse in peace. It can sometimes be a little confusing finding the location of the books category. Once your in the right section it's the simple A-Z. The staff are friendly and helpful, if your having trouble finding anything, I'm sure they would be happy to help. With an accurate answer too, which I don't always find in shops regarding location/availability of products. There is a cafe on the top floor. There are snacks, cakes and hot drinks available. The seating is pretty much always limited. Not there's a lack of seating, it's just always busy. No such wonder as the views you get of the castle are exceptional. I'd say it's a tranquil atmosphere to sit and watch prince's street and the castle while having a coffee. For others too keen to wait to get home before starting to read their desired purchased literature, the cafe provides such a place to do so. The seating next the the window, I wouldn't be 100% sure in saying those seats are wheelchair accessable? There is a lift to all floors. The stairs are grand and a lively feature of the shop I think. There's a sign to direct you to which floor you might want to be at too on each level. The shop is spacious enough, quiet enough and of a good standard of cleanliness. The staff are approachable. The shop looks in order, neat and tidy. I don't think I'd like to be responsible for the dusting in this shop. Whoever's responsibility the dusting is, does an impeccable job. Well done!

K. U.

Love to ponder over the new books.

E. z.

I came here looking for a very specific book (the name of the wind). The staff were super helpful in pointing out where it was as the store was quite large. When I got to the counter my server knew the book and told me that there are only two and it’s been a long time coming for the third just to let me know so I’m aware and not disappointed when I get to the end :) Good to know they are big book lovers and know their products.

t. b.

What an amazing range of books and maps. The top floor coffee shop has enlarged conciderably. Helpful assistants. One bad point, the stairs and banisters need a urgent clean as they are covered in dust!

A. M.

There don't seem to be many truly comprehensive book shops around these days, but Princes Street, Edinburgh branch is a Waterstones from the 'good old days' when a book shop covered at least four large floors. The Children's section is HUGE, and when the Art books section is that large, I know I am in a serious book shop!!!

s. p.

Great shop and very easy to find the sections and books in which you are looking for. Very clean and definitely a bookstore in which I enjoy being in.

E. C.

A large shop across four floors, with a sizable cafe. There is a wide selection of books about Scotland and by Scottish authors

G. W.

Very nice staff. We got a new game on the recommendation of a staff member and loved it.

R. R.

Large bookshop over four floors with a very pleasant cafe on the highest level. Some tables have a view over Princes St Gardens to the castle. Very large range of books both Did too and non fiction and open into the early evening.

M. M.

If I could live anywhere Waterstones would be a serious contender!! The choice of books is exceptional & the staff are extremely helpful. Recommend a visit but beware you can lose many hours browsing!

N. R.

Located in Princes Street and having a fantastic view of the Edinburgh castle, it's a pleasure for book lovers of all ages to read and buy books of all genres. The 3 floor authentic library feel building, is nicely organised and would mostly have any book you would want. Staff is friendly. It also has a cafe on the top floor adding to the already lovely view for a short stop to your drinks and snacks.

W. M.

I went to Waterstones with a £15 gift card and bought £48's worth of books. Not because the gift card was magical, but the Waterston's shop is. It is a joy to visit and be tempted by the thoughtful displays, the informed notes, the obvious love of books, and the slower pace at which time passes.

S. w. M.

Not been in along time the store has been done up "looks good" and great looking cafe on the 2nd floor

R. M.

This is a real delight. They have a wide range of literature and gifts for all types of people. The prices are reasonable. The staff are kind and friendly. On the rare occasions they don't have what you're looking for they can source it quickly. It's well worth a visit.

D. M.

It was always a dream of mine to visit Waterstones and believe me it was totally worth it. The bookstore is huge and it even has a cafe on the top floor that offers a stunning view of edinburgh castle! To be quite honest I found the prices to be a tad bit higher than what I usually buy from Book Depository but the instant access to every book I could possibly want recompensated me! A bookworm paradise indeed :)

D. F. (.

A very good book store indeed. My only gripe is the political bias when it comes to advertising books near the entrance and the window. Ideally we want to hear both sides of the story, not just progressive dogma.

B. G.

May be the best library in Edinburgh. Nice cafe, big, nice building overall. Can improve with organising a bit more the bookshelves and get a broader variety of books about the ancient history of Scotland (which I didn't quite encounter there, and had to buy somewhere else).

M. A.

It’s a lovely place. Really crowded though. Customer service is very impressive. I was looking for a special edition of a book they looked all up and down for me. Definitely recommend to visit at least.

M. D.

Very chilled would recommend, you can pick a book and take it to read without having to buy it! 🤔🥰

D. R.

Always pleasant staff, good range of books and only 10+year old books that I look for I need to order which the staff are more than happy to do for me. All that's missing is a pin in the basement

S. N.

Best one of the chain in the U.K. I have spent some hours in hear over the years. Has 3 excellent floors of all different sections. Very good for fiction, crime, biographies & travel writing. Excellent location

F. K.

Great variety in all genres and the staff are all lovely and friendly. Excellent social distancing measures in place with plenty of hand sanitiser around for customer use.

J. K.

Really nice employees. Felt very welcome there and they helped me with every question I had. Beautiful bookstore too. Can recommend 1000%

T. B.

Tasty enough food at the cafe, albeit a bit overpriced. My biggest issue is that staff clear plates etc. from tables quickly (good) but are also aggressive about trying to clear people away as well. Quite rude to be told I need to buy something or leave when I've just bought lunch in the cafe less than half an hour ago.

j. c.

A beautiful store in a great location on Princes Street. Many floors packed full of an enormous range of books for literally every and any taste or requirement. Quiet but lovely cafe upstairs also and helpful, friendly staff.

E. P.

This place got better this year with bigger crime fiction section. But main problem persists: slow waitresses can 't clean the tables fast enough, and their English is hard to understand. Secondly, done chairs hard to sit on. Thirdly, philosophy suction could be richer.

n. b.

Great range, cafe has a fabulous view and wasn't too busy when we visited

P. Y.

I love Waterstones, Prince's Street Edinburgh. It's wonderful to still have a book shop in the city center where you can browse at your leisure. Staff always friendly and helpful. Nice cafe too.

I. T.

Good range of books and well laid out

F. H.

Went looking for books for my daughter, found the store staff very pleasant and helpful. Clearly i looked a little lost and someone noticed this and came to my rescue and helped me with my search. Maybe more staff would help them with the number of customers frequenting the store would help them approach more customers.

L. S.

Cafe is busy but usually has seats with great views of the castle and Princes Street. Good choice of veggie and vegan food. Staff book choice notes are cute

S. R.

Absolutely love going here. Books to your heart's content, amazing coffee and snacks, and a whole host of speakers (authors, often quite famous ones) who come along to speak about their work -- entirely free, for us at least! Also a number of other activities that I haven't yet taken advantage of yet. There's a regular Lindy Hop kinda dance event that I'm pretty sure is still going, and a number of other things which I can't actually recall, haha. Tis an urban oasis, in my humble opinion. 😊

d. s.

Excellent selection of books to peruse. Nice atmosphere in Starbucks cafe ( upper floor) too. A pleasant way to idle away and hour or two

M. N.

Great selection of books including Scottish literature and history. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. To be honest I could spend all day browsing in here.

M. C.

Quite possibly the most impressive Waterstones I've ever been in, aside from the absolutely cavernous architectural splendour it's packed with a vast amount of books and really friendly staff. The children's section was particularly impressive.

J. d.

Great shop for books and very helpful staff

T. S. C.

good selection of books, nice store and lovely employees. Though unfortunately they have exorbitant prices.

R. G.

Large book shop right on Princes Street with views of the castle and the gardens. Good selection of books (4 floors people!) and a cafe. Regular readings from authors and friendly staff.

C. N.

I always love Waterstones shops and this one had a lovely selection and was well decorated. I particularly liked the Agatha Christie section! The staff were very friendly.

D. B.

Great selection of books, comfy layout, plenty of chairs about, easy to spend s few hours in here, nice coffee shop too

K. H. M.

Loved this bookstore. It’s huge and they have a cafe so you can just sit and read and enjoy everything this bookstore has to offer ☺️ the staff was also super helpful.

T.

An excellent chain bookshop over four floors, stocking a wide variety of popular and specialist books. Helpful staff who are more than happy to direct you to the correct section and order in any books if they are not in stock.

A. G.

Had coffee and cake then got my Waterstones loyalty card changed for the new improved version. Both assistants were extremely competent and helpful. Love books love Waterstones.

N. P.

One of my favourite bookstores in Edinburgh. Huge variety in books and everything is well organised and neat. On the last floor you can find a cafe with great views or f Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens!

P. M.

Good bookshop. Best selection of Horror and graphic novels of a Waterstones in edinburgh. Dodgy lift however and on three floors it can be a trek to the top.

S. M.

Nice looking bookstore with friendly and helpful staff.

I. G.

The perfect place for booklovers! It has a nice selection of books and the staff is super nice and well read. It also has such a beautiful view of the castle!

S. K.

Exceptionally nice Irish lady served me very helpful and pleasant store is very good at getting you books in I require always lovely and a clean shop, good selection of books thanks

E. H.

Massive bookshop. Could get lost in there for days. I travel to this one because if I want it they usually have it on the shelves. Great kids section. Also has a coffee shop with great views of the castle.

C. E.

Waterstones is always a wonderful place to visit. Full of wonderful titles, its workers are lovely, interesting and welcoming. It has a cafeteria in the second floor and an excellent sci-fi section.

f. l.

Gorgeous layout as always and super helpful staff giving advice and recommendations for all my purchases.

B. S.

Staff, as always, were friendly and efficient. My son asked for a book, as we couldn't see it on the shelves, and they checked their system for it, found there should be one in store and then found it for us, all under 5 minutes. All on a busy Saturday afternoon.

J. M.

Nice view of Edinburgh Castle. Coffee excellent. Spoiled for choice of reading material

r. g.

Enjoy the relaxation of looking for a good book in a calm atmosphere. I can get lost in here for hours and usually do. Not a bad selection of maps as well.

E.

A lovely bookstore in several floors, where you can feel free to sit down and peruse before you purchase. The café at the top is a charming must-visit!

L. G.

Wonderful big bookshop with handy little coffee shop on the 2nd floor.

S. L.

Excellent cafe and hige range of publications

C. W.

Love this book shop , could spend all day in here

M. v. E.

Bookshop is beautiful and a really a lot of choises. The coffeshop: The person who helped me was not so friendly. There was other guy who knows what friendliness is. Also the older nice lady. The drinks were OK. The panini also. Not that I run again to this place. Know better places and cheaper.

C. W.

Great four story book shop with in-house cafe that even sells beer. Also children's events and book signings. Quite a clever combination. However, toilets could use more attention.

M. J.

Great bookshop. My girls enjoyed browsing in it.

m. I.

Well the store is lovely in itself but i strongly recommend against their chocolate brownies! YUK! they honestly where the worst ive ever had! and thats something! they were really granular and dry i couldnt even eat it and it was presented burnt in a microwave type try not at all a delight to eat. plus the cafè was quite messy with unwiped tables, therfore the reason ive rated it three rather than five stars wich is rather dissapointing since its a lovely store overall otherwise. 😒

p. w.

Got the books I needed for my daughter starting school and the staff was helpful and friendly

S.

Stopped for a drink and had a lovely leisurely afternoon browsing through the fantastic choice of books. Staff are very helpful and friendly and would certainly recommend if you're a bibliophile.

G. R.

A well signposted jumble that ensures a serendipitous discovery. Delightful employees. The pervasive aroma of coffee wafting through the store from the 2nd floor is both challenging and enticing. Stop a while and soak it up; don't let Amazon crush it.

A. Y.

Fantastic place for some knowledge! Best book shop in town

D. F.

The largest Waterstones I have been in.great selection,the coffee bar good choice helpfull staff

D. D.

The biggest Waterstones in Edinburgh. An excellent selection of books; you could spend hours here browsing. They have a nice cafe on the top floor with decent coffee and a great view of the castle.

j. m.

Great place to visit, huge selection of books and the staff are always happy, friendly and smiling

A. R.

One of the absolute best places to spend time in Edinburgh. You can while away the hours by getting stuck in a good book, or spending time in the café on the top floor. Fantastic place, lovely staff, and a great selection of books, food, coffee, and seats!

C. G.

They need to tidy up their displays in the fiction section it is not easy to find some authors.

J. W.

Any bookstore that can maintain a comprehensive and good quality service on the high street deserves five stars. I will not follow my normal policy of "four stars because I actually know a better bookshop".

N. L.

I used their 'click and collect ' this morning and it worked perfectly. It's the easiest to use that I have seen. Then spent a pleasant half an hour on the tea room mezzanine balcony looking out at the castle. Probably the best reading room in world.

A. A.

Cafe review: Nice place and good coffee, but the options are mainly vegan (not for those who like their cakes with milk and egg) and they serve alcohol (some people like to keep their coffee and reading and alcohol separate).

S. F.

While I have mixed feelings about the big chain bookstores this one has a decent selection in most departments. Best bit though is the lovely bay window mezzanine between the children's dept (1st floor) and cafe (2nd) -- best view of the Castle and Gardens in town, and a cozy spot to browse books with a cuppa.

I. v. d. B.

Very, very big collection of books on all kinds of topics, from gender studies to mathematics. It's a very quiet store too, with a nice and calm atmosphere and plenty of seating as well.

R. D.

This is one of my favourite places to come and spend my time.

T. R.

Great bookshop. Very wide selection across 4 floors. Great cafe with a view over the castle and Princes Street Gardens. Always clean, well presented, with friendly staff.

G. W.

Normally, I like to buy my books from independent retailers like Looking Glass Books or The Edinburgh Bookshop, but sometimes you need to go to the chain stores if you need a few new books but don't really know what you are looking for. Waterstones are excellent for this as they always have a Buy One Get One Half Price offer on a load of their books and you are almost guaranteed to get a chart book or a Waterstones Book Club book for about £3-4 pounds (if you buy another one at full price, obviously). All of this makes it an excellent addition to Princes St because if you can't find anything else to buy on your day out, you can always guarantee yourself that you will find something in here.

C. J.

As usual with Waterstones a pleasure to shop in; a great range of books and related items. If you get roped into colouring with the children you have a lovely view of the castle!

M. L.

Great book shop lots of floors, lots of books. Some art/ writing stuff and random toys too. Friendly staff, a café with pricey but decent food and a chilled atmosphere.

D. L.

Love the atmosphere. 4 stars because it get very busy not enough seating. So popular as it has amazing view of Edinburgh Castle.

B. w.

Love this book shop and coffee house. I like the different levels and it feels grand without being pretentious with lovely views of Edinburgh castle. I spent hours in here looking for books.

W. o. S.

The shop itself has nice, bright interiors and is nicely laid out, but the staff are a bit slow at serving and seem somewhat disorganised in general.

N. W.

Probably the best bookstore in town. Well arranged and you can find almost everything here. The cafe, on the top floor, is also nice.

C. O.

Amazing book shop and and lovely coffee shop. The food with great value. And the view to the castle breathtaking. Ideal to read the new book you just bought

N. C.

Great to ponder around all the various subjects of book, spread over 3 floors, especially the books of local interest. I love visiting this shop, though this visit was marred by a rather unpleasant female member of staff serving on ground floor.

J. M.

Large bookstore with an excellent selection of titles. Great kid’s section and a lot of Scotland-specific books. The most impressive bookstore I saw during my time in Scotland.

G. P.

Branch of the major bookshop chain on Princes St, Edinburgh with good selection of books over 4 floors. The ground floor features popular selections of recent fiction and non- fiction in hardback and paperback, books on offer, a Scottish selection designed to appeal to tourists, gift books,cards and a small selecton of magazines and periodicsls. There is a small cafe on the top floor.

K. T.

If you love books go here

L.

Excellent book shop,exciting childrens dept with table and seats available for crafts.We stayed for over an hour and every book we wanted to look for was available. Highly recommended

S. P.

One of my favourite place in Edinburgh, you can find all sort of books or indulge in a typical scone having a beautiful view of the Castle at the top floor-café!

K. G.

Had the book I wanted. Covid-19 safe. cafe upstairs

G. M.

Usually a great place to visit but let down a little by the complete lack of atmosphere. I appreciate this isn't all their fault as covid has removed alot of their options. But it's still a bit disappointing.

M. M.

Extensive collection of just about every genre of book imaginable. The usual first class service from the most knowledgeable of staff. So much more rewarding than making a purchase from Amazon.

R.

Very friendly and helpful staff. Managed to get everything I needed quickly and with ease.

J. K. S.

Oh so many books! Cute cuddly toys, good cafe and super friendly staff. Very happy with our visit!

M. G.

Lots of fun book suggestions, signings, talks make this place. The staff are fabulous, the selection and they sell a decent selection of board/card games too. Lovely place.

G. W.

Waterstones is a great bookshop you can get any book you want. Staff very friendly and helpful could not do enough for you

J. P.

Large multi floor bookstore. Well laid out. Plentiful supplies. Excellent cafe with views of Edinburgh Castle. Frequent author talks (often free). Helpful staff.

S. S.

I'm not a great lover of books but when I'm needing a present of a musical reference book, this is where to go. Such brilliant stock. 😆

d.

A fantastic building, with visiting even if not looking for a book. Once you are in there is an amazing selection and the staff are always helpful and knowledgeable.

I. G.

Café was nice, great selection of books. Very busy though and check online retailers for the book you want. You'll likely find it cheaper 🤷‍♀️

b. d.

A great selection of books in this prime location. Use the lift if u have difficulty with stairs and easy atmosphere makes it must visit place for the book lover

F. C.

I was able to get some good books. The shop is well laid out and staff very helpful

D. M.

Great place for books and if they don't have it in stock, they'll order it for you. No problem.

S. M.

No atmosphere in shop given covid 19. Used to love going to browse but ambience gone for now. Toilets and cafe also closed

I. H.

Waterstones continues to hold up the physical book shop market, this one has a great location on Princes St with a really nice coffee shop with fantastic views of Edinburgh Castle.

N. A.

Great book shop on Prince's Street and lovely views of the castle. Get a book and a coffee in the cafe and watch the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh's busiest street below.

j.

Great Waterstones, 4 levels, cafe in amongst the books at the top. Friendly staff and a great collection of book. A favourite stop if I need to pass some time.

Y. M.

As far as bookshops go, they were good. Had copies of all three books I was looking for. Coffee house upstairs was good too. I hope the novelty a book never fades.

K. C.

Brilliant bookstore, knowledgeable staff and so friendly!

J. R.

Great staff, good selection of craft books, which is what I was looking for. Coffee shop roomy and lovely view over Princes St Gardens.

R. M.

Excellent Princes St venue for books and coffee opposite Castle so lovely outlook.

B.

Nice store. Big and has lots of things, not only books. Went there the check their board game selection, a few interesting titles but most of them very expensive.

M. D.

Great traditional bookshop of Waterstones chain. Very handily located on Princes Street, it is easily reached via bus since it is on the West side of Princes Street. As well as an excellent selection of books available in store, the helpful staff can help ordering books for you, and delivery is pretty fast. On the top floor there is a new W Cafe. Friendly staff make a tasty hot chocolate, and there is a decent selection of cakes and snacks. Free WiFi is available, and requires a quick web browser registration and login. If you plan on returning, don't delete your cookies as this speeds up the login process. While functional, the WiFi struggles if you have many tabs open in a web browser, as the network recognises them as separate connections. Great place for browsing and purchasing/ordering books, excellent cafe with free WiFi and a few power points too.

M. R.

Waterstones book shop in Edinburgh city

A. G.

Waterstones is heaven for people who love books!

S. A.

Lift was broken last time I was in, but they got it fixed as fast as they could. Pretty good selection of books and gift things, and they will order in any book you want too.

M. W.

sometimes I forget just how nice it is to be in a bookshop, but then I walk into a waterstones and it seems clearer then ever: it's to wander around, looking at books, picking a few with interesting names and reading half a chapter from each, finally finding the right book or 2 or 3, the ones you are really excited about, and buying those. not every bookshop does that, but waterstones are smart and interesting with thier selections as to which books are more and less visible.

F. S.

Books, cafe, more books. Love this place.

B. D.

We love going to this Waterstones. A peaceful and calm environment, lovely and helpful staff and shelf upon shelf of beautiful books!

R.

Lovely bookshop with a really big assortment. I liked how books were presented. The little cafe is very nice too.

S. v. B.

Awesome book store, prepare to spend some time here if you love books! Really surprising collection and a nice café.

A. S.

One of the best bookstores in Edinburgh. There are kind and knowledgeable, and the staff there were happy to help you, even by calling other branches to reserve the book for you. Many thanks. ✌

E. B.

Love this bookshop and the coffee shop. A great reading place! But it can get very busy on weekends

J. W.

Its Waterstone's, it's perfect. Calm, friendly atmosphere, with a nice cafe. Any book lovers dream place or anyone looking for a calm spot to relax in a busy city

A. S.

Amazing selection of books. A must visit for any book lover. The shop is in 2 floors and also have a café on the 3rd floor with a fabulous gview of the Edunburgh Castle.

B. W.

Great range of books but books are pricey.

L. F.

Nice cakes and they do vegan too. It's a lovely place to sit and drink coffee whilst enjoying the views of Princes Street and the castle.

M. C.

A free coffee when buying book of the month. Plus I love how Waterstones have unique and beautiful cover art for many books.

j. c.

Waterstones is what a bookshop should be. Great experience, knowledgeable, friendly advice, warm coffee place on top. Amazon killer!

G. A.

Exactly what you want from a bookshop.

R. H.

A good layout, nice selection of books and the cafe upstairs is cozy with great food and coffee. I would spend all my days here if I could.

D. F.

Went looking for a book but they didn't have any by the author I was looking for so ended up with a Colouring Book for my granddaughter. Beautiful shop and well laid out

P. C.

Great book store and nice cafe but lost a star for not having any hot chocolate!

M. c.

Books real books you can touch smell read and full sensory experience even taste if you have a coffee and why not!

s.

A Real bookstore. Wonderful

T. P.

Very relaxing experience. Had some food and coffee, and browsed the fiction collection. Left store, both feeling refreshed by our visit.

G. G.

Very peaceful library where you can enjoy a wee cup of coffee with biscuits

C. W.

One of the most beautiful and friendly places in town. It is about books and it makes you feel so welcome. Seats and armchairs everywere, a great hub.

K. H.

Poor Waterstones. Squeezed between the greater range and convenience of the online retailers and the superior service and specialisation of the small outlets, they are doomed: utterly doomed. In a desperate attempt to stave this off, they diversify into more and more stationery and games and the rest, managing to import a desperate hint of WH Smiths, but without the comedy traction engine magazines.

J. D.

Edinburgh store is a larger than expected bookstore and cafe offering a good browsing experience. Lift and great to look at staircase to access upstairs floors.

J. C.

Stunning shop and central location. Cafe served lovely food and drinks. Very extensive selection of books over three floors.

H. C.

Friendly, pleasant shop. could only be improved if it had a separate horror section since horror mixed in with sci-fi & fantasy makes browsing it effectively impossible.

s. l.

I use Waterstones the Bookshop regularly, and I really like it, I buy all my books from Waterstones, and the staff are very helpful, if you can't find what you are looking for.

A. K. M.

Love this old-fashioned beautifully kept well furbished boom shop. Could browse for hours. Don't miss the coffee shop where you can sit gazing at the Castle.

S. R.

Not as good as it used to be. Less logical organisation so it feels smaller and when its busy it feels claustrophobic... but still a physical bookstore so I put up with it.

P. D. L. N.

Waterstones in Edinburgh is one of my favourite buildings, Georgian, selling one of my favourite items, printed knowledge and serving one of my favourite beverages, coffee. Staff is well informed and helpful, shelves are pretty well assorted and if you cannot find what you need, well…they can order it for you. Waterstones is surviving the e-Book revolution by embracing it and in this particular Edinburgh branch...the so un-needed tram works… There is always a place to seat, read and browse and to enjoy your coffee and snack from Café W while connected to their pretty strong WiFi with a direct view to Edinburgh Castle. Waterstones is a haven for those who want to unplug from the daily nonsensical fast life carousel to pause and feed their minds. Recommended.

I. K.

Like the shop and all it sells in gifts etc - obviously great books and relaxing atmosphere in cafe with pleasant staff throughout.

A. M.

I love it here! Friendly helpful staff, a peaceful yet vibrant atmosphere, and books books books.... more than I can carry!

G. V.

Great bookshop. Building has many memories for me

T. M.

Great books, good layout, easy to get around, friendly stafg

A. S.

Wonderfull place. Everything I need to be happy! 😉

M. P.

Brilliant bookshop full of books for any age

T. V.

fabulous bookstore. if you don't find what you want here you just ain't looking hard enough cause it will be there plus a coffee shop with superb views

A. M.

Just love this place. Books to read. Great cafe. Great view. Friendly helpful staff.

L. D.

Excellent and pleasant service in relaxing environment. Young assistant in children's department went out of his way to find the books I was searching for. Thank you

L. M.

Staff great searching for a book I want to pre order

N. W.

I love this branch, amazing kids section!

R. S.

Great shop, great to browse through

D. G.

Pleasant staff and wide range

P. H.

Very well laid out and lots of children's books variety including local stuff to take a story about Nessie back to my daughter after a trip away.

V. M.

Great store! Enough seating to do some research on books. Nice cafe on the top floor!

M. A.

Wonderful layout. Book Recommendations are always concise and accurate and upstairs cafe is a great place to relax whilst thumbing through the pages of your book

I. S.

Ordered a book, which arrived at the store 3 days ago. Only found the time to pick it up today. Polite shop assistant went and got it for me. No problems.

J. H.

Excellent place for an escape from the busy streets. The best part are the views - soup is supplied by Union of Genius and the cakes are from Cuckoo Bakery - both excellent!

D. P.

Great bookstore with a wide range of books! Staff friendly and helpful!

R. D.

Great choice of books and knowledgeable staff. Could do with a coffee area to sit, peruse and read your latest purchases.

g. c.

Really good layout of the store, more comfortable than my local shops Nottingham Peterborough. Wish I could have stayed longer... Was with non book types!

S. C.

Best view

I. M.

Amazing bookstore, huge and with great variety. The staff is very helpful and they often make lots of great suggestions on books!

D.

Well organised and great selection of books over multiple floors. Nice cafe with view of castle and staff are helpful and low key.

J. J.

Decent book selection although a pity they've forced out the independent sector. The cafe is very good!

R. N.

good coffee very busy with table huggers

L. C. N.

A great bookstore with a lovely café, the selection of books is amazing and the café on the top floor offers a nice selection of hot and cold, and even alcoholic drinks

A. v. W.

Great bookshop with huge selection and clearly grouped. Also has a very nice coffee shop on top floor.

D. B.

This is where I go to read a new book and chill, Cafe always busy but you can always find a space to curl up on a chair and chill out with a good book and great coffee

J. M.

Extremely friendly, knowledgeable, polite staff. A huge multi-floor layout with a huge range of books. A regular venue for "Book Signing by Authour" events.

f. r.

Cafe within. Love the basement with language and history sections. Travel and photography sections also worth perusing. A little light on manga.

F. F. x.

A nice large Waterstones on Princes Street. Come here for friend's book launches and to browse and buy. Watch out can get quite busy, but the have a good collection.

P. J.

Amazing collection. Get immersed in the world of books Everytime I visit.

J. P.

The staff at Waterstones are always helpful and the cafe has a good range of food and beverages. Well worth a visit if only for browsing!

L. T.

Brilliant selection and the staff are very helpful

J. D.

Lots of books and activities, very good. I'm hoping to be famous writer one day happy to have my writing sold there.

C. G.

The best book shop in town! They have a lovely cafeteria upstairs and a good selection of books.

R. H.

Love waterstones. Not many staff on the tills whixh meant a little too much standing around.

S. B.

Very good book store and nice and helpful staff members.

C. R.

They have a good, big anime section, which is great cos my daughter really likes anime

M. S.

I love spending time here, browsing the floors and shelves. I didn't find what I was looking for, but came away with 5 books, I didn't know I needed 😂

t.

A nice and spacious waterstones

V. T. (.

Great bookstore where you can grab a afordable coffee on the third floor. They got everything from child, fantasy, history and crime books.

R. B.

Waterstones West End Edinburgh has well trained and extremely helpful staff. Top marks for help offered to me while shopping with a disabled friend!

J. S.

Fantastic cafe in the Livingston branch

R. S.

A nice little coffee shop with an exceptional view if one can get one of the tables near the window. Ideal for those rainy days.

J. E.

Best high street book chain there is. Staff are extremely friendly and helpful, if what you're looking for isn't in store they do their absolute best to get it for you.

S. S.

Really good collection of books. Especially like the basement floor where many popular science, religion, history, psychology, mathematics and engineering books are present.

B. C.

Very tidy and quiet. Don't hesitate to ask at the till if you are looking for something specific, they are really nice

A. H.

This is a good idea Waterston's store. The are nice places to sit and look at the books; cafe; toilets. Nice atmosphere.

S. D.

Good selection of books over various floors, I went here for a bite to eat, there was a good selection of coffees for breakfast, always a winner.

K. K.

Great selection of books, nice athmosphere, friendly staff

N. W.

A lot of books. You can find out any kind books what you want. There is also a coffee shop on the top floor. Nice.

P. Z.

Tremendous book store, coffee on the top floor. A great place to buy your books.

S. F.

Love wandering around Waterstones & getting lost in books. Then popping to the cafe for a hot cheese sarnie & drink before round 2 of reading & looking

C. C.

Beautiful store, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Every book lover's dream place to relax into a good book.

K. S.

This is a well stocked bookshop with all the newest and popular titles on the shelves. It still survives in these days of electronic book downloafs and Kindles.

G. T.

Beautifully laid out book store, large sections helpful staff and lots of choices.

J. A. K.

I love the layout of this shop so many beautiful staircases and the view from the cafe (if you are lucky enough to get a seat) is Edinburgh Castle amazing

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