Buxton Books on King Street is everything you want in an independent bookstore and more. From the moment you walk in, it's clear this place is thoughtfully curated and deeply rooted in the Charleston community. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely friendly--the kind of booksellers who actually listen to what you like and then point you to something you end up loving. Their recommendations are spot-on, whether you're looking for a well-reviewed new release, a literary classic, or something a little off the beaten path. The selection is excellent, with a standout focus on local authors and Southern voices. It's one of the best places in town to discover Lowcountry history, regional fiction, and signed copies you won't easily find elsewhere. You can tell real care goes into what makes it onto the shelves. What really elevates Buxton Books is their community involvement. They regularly host author events, readings, and conversations that make the store feel like a true cultural hub rather than just a retail space. If you're a reader--or even just book-curious--Buxton Books is absolutely worth a visit. A Charleston treasure and a reminder of how special a great independent bookstore can be. read more

Lovely indie bookshop on King Street! Cozy, welcoming, nice staff, clean, well organized, great book selection, some are signed by the author, I could spend hours and hours in here. I didn't have lots of time, but my visit was enjoyable, although short. They were holding a Literary Festival in Charleston and Buxton Books was part of it! One of the best bookstores in town! read more

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If you're cruising down King Street, you have to check this place out! It's a cozy little shop right in the heart of downtown. The staff is super friendly and always ready to help. They've got books for everyone--seriously, all kinds of genres for all ages. It's small but packed with great stuff! Plus, they do this cool 'blind date with a book' thing; you pick a wrapped book that has only a short description, and it's priced lower than usual. You could easily spend a good chunk of time here! read more

A wonderfully amazing couple owns this bookstore. And every year for their anniversary they celebrate with their customers and have a festive party complete with carolers, nog and noshes! From the moment you pass over the threshold you feel like family and are greeted with service and a smile helping you to find whatever you might be looking for. With their fantastic selection of even signed editions of books, you can't go wrong here. Support local as they give back to the community constantly! If they don't have it they can get it for you. Love the options of local vendors and authors and what a gem in the heart of Downtown Charleston! read more

Buxton Books - Buxton Books Storefront - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Was THRILLED to stumble into this beautiful bookstore when most other places were closed at night. The staff were knowledgeable, had great recommendations, and offered wonderful customer service. I also appreciate how their inventory really captured interests that appeal to everyone (local history, children's lit, new and trending books, as well as a comprehensive collection of classics to name a few!) If I were local I would be very happy to attend some of their author events. If you are visiting, please stop by and support this gem of a place. read more

Buxton Books - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Buxton Books is an independent bookstore in the heart of downtown Charleston. If you go on a ghost or Black history tour, many of them start and end here. That gives you a chance to buy a book to learn more about the subject of your tour. While it is not a large store, they have a good selection of local books- including signed editions. I believe they do custom orders, so if you want to shop local, it's a much better option than a big box retailer. Along with books, Buxton books also sells cute gifts. I visited over the holidays and loved how the store was decorated with plushies around the books and Christmas trees. All of the ornaments were for sale, and I bought a 1920s suffragette ornament that benefits women around the world. It took me a few years to discover this gem, but I will return to support independent, small bookstores and local authors. read more

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I don't know why I've never been here, as I'm an avid reader... but my mom asked me to go to a "Murder Mystery Party" there with authors Rick Acker + Colleen Coble and even tho that isn't my jam, I jumped at the opportunity. First arriving, they were finishing up painting the outside, and wow it was gorgeous and bright, fresh looking white. When we got inside, I was in love. I have forgotten how much I LOVE tangible books. May sound silly, but in the era of eBooks and audible books (I drive like 1k miles per month minimum, so listen to audible books a lot), I haven't been in a small, independent bookstore in forever and it felt like home the moment I stepped over the threshold. Not only do they have a GREAT selection, they have such cute book-inspired art! So cute, and I'm still curious as to the stories behind the pieces (we didn't have time to ask, so definitely going back when there isn't an event to ask). The event was SO FUN. If you ever have a chance to participate in something like that, I'd strongly recommend it! I laughed so hard the entire time, which was nice. And the staff had it set up so sweet for everyone, with bevies available for the event too, and it was mobility accessible for my mom (we all know that not everywhere in Charleston is easily navigated for those with mobility issues). Loved it and can't wait to go by on a normal, non-event day too. read more

Buxton Books - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Love buxton books!!! Great spot in Charleston!! They have a great selection for being a small store and the library is next door in case they don't have what you need! read more

A great local bookstore with a wide selection. Parking is easy with a city garage right next door. The staff are super friendly. Their events are so fun and reasonably priced - there's always wine too! read more

Buxton Books - Author event - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Love me a local bookstore and it's rightfully off the main drag of King street by the city library. A small shop, but packs a punch! It's quaint and homey with a warm cozy feel. My librarian wife had no trouble finding a local book of haunted Charleston. Staff was friendly at checkout. Would return. read more

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Buxton Books has taken the literary scene DOWN!!! DOWN!!!DOWN!!!! Author luncheons are no longer something to look forward to!! Events are at night when it is not safe in Charleston. The luncheons at Halls put the reader at safety. As an elderly customer, night driving and parking garages are not fun for us!! Amazon and Barnes and Noble are protective of the elderly NOT BUXTON Books. read more

Independent bookstores are a treasure celebrating the importance of reading and literary education. They are the backbone for humanity and offer a safe haven of dialogue, conversation and reflection. Buxton is no different, but they take it step beyond. Buxton Books is a celebration of the value and importance of reading and writing through the lens of local authors throughout the Lowcountry. Not only do they do author events, they feature them live on Instagram live so that if you are not able to attend or do not live near downtown Charleston, you can still take part. We love that. The fine selection, perfect lower King Street location and elegance make for a charming experience. We love to celebrate Buxton Books!!! read more

I come here probably once a week to look at the new books, browse the selection, and sometimes even go on their downtown tours. Staff is always friendly. The books are well priced and carefully set up to show really interesting options. read more

Our party of seven took their ghost tour. Brian was our guide and we were in for a true treat. Not knowing what to expect, we were entertained for the next hour and a half with different ghost stories in a 1 mile area. We learned so many facts about Charleston, and so many fascinating facts about the ghost who haunt the city. He was not only entertaining, but incredibly knowledgeable about the history and the facts of the ghosts. The walk is delightful and passes many historical sites. The last one being the Unitarian cemetery where Annabel Lee is buried. I highly recommend this and if possible, try to get Brian. Also, bit the book it is signed by the author and is one of the things we regret we did not buy. read more

Small, local shop right in the heart of the artsy area of downtown King Street. They manage to pack a lot of literature into the space, so you will likely find something interesting. A heavy focus on local authors and book readings/signings. Not much space for sitting and reading. read more

Really cool little local bookshop to visit while enjoying Charleston. They had a great selection for adults and kids. Would definitely recommend for locals and tourists alike! read more

The bookshop was easy to find on King street, with a great selection of books across all topics. It was hard to pick just one book- pesky suitcase weight limits! We also took the ghost tour with Joe as our guide. We had never been on a ghost tour before and had no idea what to expect. Joe has set the bar for all other guides for our family from here on out. Joe was friendly, knowledgeable, respectful of the subject matter he relayed to us, and genuinely enthusiastic with keeping everyone engaged and safe. Highly recommend this ghost tour and I hope everyone gets Joe as their guide. Fantastic end to our trip- and truly a great night. read more

Great, classic independent bookstore on King Street. The staff is friendly and well read and just a pleasure to be around. Looking for a new book, just ask the staff. I could stay here all day! read more

Good selection of books? Check. Friendly staff? Yep. Amazing ghost tour guide? Yes, they have a ghost tour and we had an AMAZING guide! So, whenever we travel, we always look for a bookstore because we love books. Buxton Books has a good selection of books. It has the small bookstore feel that left us thinking we found some hidden gems we wouldn't have found elsewhere. The staff were very friendly. While there, we learned that Buxton Books offered a historical ghost tour. We had never experienced one and thought it would be a good experience. it was! We learned some things about Charleston, but more to the point, we had the absolute best tour guide in Big Joe! Joe made the tour with this acting, his knowledge, and his interaction with the group! Thank you, Big Joe! read more

The cutest little bookshop! The people are so sweet and helpful. Highly recommend going. read more

Buxton Books - Inside - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Signed up for the Ghosts of Charleston tour through Buxton Books mainly because it was not by the main tour companies. Best choice! This was a great tour with a passionate guide. I highly recommend it. read more

This is a great little bookstore in downtown Charleston with a curated selection of books. My friends and I stopped in here and had a great chat with a bookseller named John (or Jon? I don't know because he didn't have a business card) who made some great recommendations. Buxton Books provided all of the books at the Charleston to Charleston Literary Festival. I highly recommend stopping in here. read more

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I adore bookstores and I've learned there are lots of different types. Excluding the mainstream cookie cutter types (like B&N), the small ones tend to be either clean cut, spotless establishments ORRR crazy outrageous stacks of books everywhere and the slightly odiferous scent of decay (a smell I happen to love....too much info?!?). Buxton Books falls into the first category. It is a clean, soft space with lots of sparkly titles and clean, crisp covers. As a result, the prices are newsstand level. There is a great variety and lots of look at though I did feel there was a slant toward local and regionalist works. Which is good. If you're local, it's a chance to get your hands on relevant information. If you're a visitor, it gives you a chance to get something to remember your trip. And like any good bookstore, the titles hinted at challenges for today's intellectual minds. They were titles that should get people to converse on gender, race, women's rights, and equality. Great place. read more

Cute little book shop I've passed by a dozen times but finally made time to walk in. Good kid books selection. I found one book that I already had in my Amazon cart but this was signed by the author so I bought it at Buxton instead of Amazon. read more

WOW, take their ghost walking tour. It was incredible, such a treat. Walk through historical sites of Charleston and hear spooky stories. End it walking through one of the most haunted graveyards in the city. I was enthralled. Tour was supposed to be 90 minutes; and I did t even notice we had gone into over 2 hours! The best. read more

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So nice to be able to walk into a book store and enjoy touching and reading jacket covers. Added bonus...went on their ghost tour into the graveyard and enjoyed some great Charleston ghost stories. Our tour guide was great to listen too. She was great! read more

Buxton Books is an excellent bookstore downtown. Their shop is near the Charleston Library Society, and there is usually ample street parallel parking nearby in this area of King Street. They seem to focus mostly on current bestsellers, but they also have plenty of local and Southern books. This is more akin to a boutique Barnes & Noble as opposed to a funky local bookstore with history. Staff are friendly and helpful, and they partner with Charleston Library Society for book giveaways. Buxton Books also hosts author events and book-based walking tours, although I have not attended either yet. read more

I ordered a book signed by Brad Taylor and they had it nicely packaged and mailed out right after it was personalized! Great group of people doing business! read more

Buxton Books - Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

ghost tour was amazing, and joe was a great guide! definitely recommend going on the tour :) . Joe was very funny and knowledgable about the ins and outs of ghosts in Charleston. read more

Very quaint little hole in the wall book store. They have a lot of book options ranging from fiction to no fiction to sci-fi as well as a range of authors. The front desk will always look up an author if needed and are very helpful. read more

What a lovely store with charming employees! Do the Ghost Tour, you will love it. Our guide was Glynnis (sp?), so knowledgeable. And buy the book, for sure. read more

Buxton Books on King Street in Charleston is a really good book store that is unique to the Charleston area. I like the selection of books that they have available and the experience the they provide. The staff here is very helpful and provides assistance when you need it. This is a good place to go to find a book as a gift. read more

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We did the evening ghost tour and had such a great time! Rhett was our guide and he was awesome! He is very knowledgeable and a very good storyteller. The tour was the perfect mix of history and ghost stories. Going through the cemetery at night was such a cool experience. I highly recommend the Buxton Books ghost tour, and I'm sure their other tours are worth trying as well. read more

Buxton Books - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Having lived in Charleston for roughly a decade -- my excursions have taken me up and down and all around. I always feel a true peace and excitement at this section of East Bay. Excitment of what? I'm really not sure exactly what. A possible influence of the supernatural, either way, I'm most certainly taking the ghost tour when I have more time. Fore Buxtons is where the ghost tours actually began, a ghost tour pioneer. Once inside my visual senses hit high gear and due to time constraints, I had only moments so I resorted to reading many rear ends and inside covers. During my breif interaction with the young counterlady, the Kindle topic did arise and we both shared a commonality chuckle, then chatted printed paper quality of older reads, artistry of bindings and covers. It was awesome..!! read more

Went on a ghost tour with Greg. 10/10 would recommend--Greg is the BEST. Spooky vibes for sure

Went on their ghost tour with Joseph ("Big Joe" if you will). He was an absolutely fantastic guide. Very entertaining and knowledgeable. 10/10. read more

Loved this place!! Has a great atmosphere and a fabulous staff picks section! Such a wide selection of books and the staff was super friendly read more

Buxton Books - Cute little shelf - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

What a gem of a store. Great selection and a few comfy chairs to review the choices. Staff well read and offer helpful guidance. Will make it a "must" on return visits. read more

We had an excellent ghost tour from here. Based on the book Ghosts of Charleston, we were guided to several sites. Sean was an excellent tour guide. He played the part perfectly, but given he is an actor, that was expected. The highlight of the tour was the Unitarian church graveyard that has several bone chilling stories. We explored Philadelphia alley and a few other spots along the way for some other great stories. Be prepared for the heat and humidity if going in July or August. It's hot and you'll be walking a lot. That's the expectation I had going in. Overall it was a great tour and I'd definitely recommend booking here. read more

Now that I know this place is here, located right across from Fleet Landing, I'm bound to come in more often to check out the books. There aren't many, but what they do have are all geared towards the lowcountry and local authors. The young man working the counter when I came in wasn't too social, especially when he found out that I was local and not interested in a ghost tour, but I can't hold that against him (this time). I'll be back again to check out the books though, and the few nik-naks that have on the shelves. Honestly, it was the sign on the outside with the ghost that got my attention and drew me in. Signs will do that to me from time to time. read more

Buxton Books - Ghost Tours... - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina