Voltaire & Rousseau is the book shop of Bernard Black's dreams. There's no chatting, no coffee, no…read morecustomer service, just books; books & books & books (oh and a cat!) I L O V E this shop, to me it's a Glasgow institution, a unique treasure trove of literature that appears to be completely unaffected by the world outside. If you remember seeing Scrooge McDuck diving into his vault of gold coins, I have this image of the owner jumping off the shop's ladder into all those books! What I love about this place is the fact that it's so jam-packed with books, a good number of which are probably at least 20 years old. It's like stepping back in time in the history of publishing. I've bought some of the most enjoyable & informative books I've ever read. Even if you don't like reading, then how about an old Oor Wullie annual for £1? Look up to the wooden shelf to get a (rough) idea of the subject of the books in front of you, just bear in mind that the books are three rows deep & tall enough to bury a child. I noticed a book in the shop today on mountain disasters & I felt a chill run through me, as if the cries of children, trapped behind the rows of books, were calling out to me. It also occurs to me that the current shop cat may not be the original... The two guys running the shop aren't the most animated of shop owners, usually they only move to make a cup of tea or if one of them is rolling a cig. There's a book for everyone in this shop, just don't expect any help finding it. While they're not particularly chatty, they're no Bernards either, so don't let a lack of a welcome put you off coming in to (carefully) rummage through the piles of brilliant, cheap books. Just leave a trail of breadcrumbs or maybe take a GPS marker if you decide to venture in past the first row!

V & R is exactly what a second-hand bookshop should be - it's a decaying old building with books…read morestacked from floor to ceiling so that you feel it can only be the books that are stopping the place from collapsing. The shelves have long ago been filled and are now half-concealed behind the piles of books on the floor. Don't expect an organised filing system here - I'm sure there is one but it's pretty impenetrable. Fortunately the chaps who run it have a positively encyclopaedic knowledge of what they have and can usually point you in the right direction. There are some great finds to be had if you're willing to spend the time looking; in the past I have found some rare esoteric books in here. They're not so good at buying books from you as I discovered recently when I was offered a pittance for 5 boxes of quite unusual books from my library, all in good or better condition. I appreciate they have to make a living and it can't be easy in this age of e-books and Amazon; anyway I declined the offer and I still have the books for the moment. In winter it's a bit chilly and the sole heating appliance appears to be a portable Calor gas fire - not the safest thing to have in room full of nice flammable paper you would think and I'm sure it's an accident waiting to happen. Definitely not the place to visit if you're in a rush; expect to lose an hour or two browsing around in here. It has to be my favourite second hand bookshop in Glasgow and long may it continue to be so.

In the deep dark depths of the West End Market you will find a Bargain Books stall. Well, I say…read morestall, it's actually more of a shop - and it's actually bigger than the Bargain Books stand alone store on Byres Road. It does, however, have the same temporary feel. It's pretty bare inside, and is filled with the same red stack boxes full of books that you didn't know that you wanted. Yes, the books here are cheap. But are they really that much of a bargain when you don't actually want them? I'll let you decide that one for yourself. Overall, though, this place is a nice alternative to the rest of the stalls in the West End Market.

I called from Canada to purchase a gift voucher for a dear Friend in Bishopbriggs for her…read moreChristmas. I spoke with a lovely Lady named Cathy who couldn't have been more helpful. She even offered to deliver her books to her if need be. So kind ! I look forward to visiting this shop next time I am in Scotland & I know my Friend will enjoy having a wee browse in it. Donna H Ontario, Canada

This place is really nice, the staff are super nice and when they don't have the book that you want…read morethen they ask if you want it ordered. They are super cool! The book selection is really big and really good. I would recommend!!!

Why has this place not been reviewed yet? It's so resourceful!…read more It's tucked away off the main street but seriously, swerve left before you hit Tattie Mac's, take a wee right and you're there! And you won't be disappointed. Like a better organised Voltaire and Rousseau or a more reasonably priced Caledonia Books, this place has a large collection of lit crit for the uni student, a ton of sheet music past and present, and a plethora of fiction and non-fiction, all organised into appropriate sections. The guys who own it are really friendly, always eager to ask if you need assistance and will find you what you need in a second flat. Great selection, the books are pleasantly priced and in good nick. I bought A Clockwork Orange today (bit of light reading, ha) and not only was it only four quid but it looks like new! The owners are always very knowledgable of their craft and banter is free. Very useful for uni students but also accessible if you just fancy a new read. Thistle Books are a service to the local literati community!

As much as I appreciate playing a game of potentially life threatening over-sized Jenga with the…read morebooks of Voltaire and Rousseau is part of the shop's appeal, sometimes all you want is a little bit of order. On those occasions, pay a visit to this little gem, which is situated in the lane adjacent to V+R. Like its neighbouring competitor, Thistle is a second hand book mecca, stocking virtually every genre you could imagine at extremely reasonable prices. Unlike V+R, it is set out neatly and something resembling orderly, meaning you actually have a chance of finding a specific title. Don't get me wrong, Thistle is no Waterstones. It retains the tattered, rough around the edges appeal of all second hand book shops in this neck of the woods and, most importantly, offers ample opportunity to uncover hidden gems at a fantastic price. The staff are also very welcoming and content to let you spend the day browsing and reading. Hell, they'd probably even make you up a bed for the night if you wanted to stay.

What a great experience. I consider myself to be an experienced antiquarian book collector from…read morethe US and Caledonia Books of Glasgow did not disappoint. Proprietors Martin and his sister (my apologies for not remembering her name) were just great. Once I explained what I was looking for they were extremely helpful. Nice selection of both contemporary and antique books. Definitely one of the top antiquarian shops in Scotland.

I love second hand book stores, and Caledonia Books is probably the first one you'll meet in this…read morearea since the rest are tucked away doon lanes. It's been here for years and has been the first thing that's met my eye at the bottom of Belmont Street since I was a tot. Thus, I would be distraught if anything ever happened to this store, which has looked the same all my life. I used to go here with my mum who loves reading, but started properly utilising it when I studied English Lit at university. I'll get the negatives out the way first since I don't want to bring the tone down, but it is fairly pricey and the staff study you as you walk in. Unlike Thistle books, where you can engage in a long, lively conversation with the shop owner about the book of your choice (seriously, he knows all when it comes to books) or the erratic, nutty professor approach at Voltaire and Rousseau (which has become treasured by the population of Glasgow for these outstanding qualities), there's a cold breeze that blows through Caledonia. And that cold breeze seems wafted from the general direction of the shop owners. I've felt quite uneasy in here at times, like the shop owners don't think I belonged there. It was like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, but with books and baggy jeans instead of hookers and girls who belonged in magazines. My 18 year old self left with tail between legs, head drooped, but now that attitude just makes me indignant. The guys in here aren't unbearable, but they come across as a bit cold to say the least. It's also quite expensive for books. But there is light at the end of this review, and I'll end it with the glass being three quarters full. The books are in very good condition, they are well ordered, there are loads of different categories, loads of interesting books about art that I want to dive into at every opportunity, and it's a Godsend to lit students. I also enjoy their music category - they always seem to acquire some interesting rock biographies and anthologies. So the attitude of the staff is a bit stuffy, but their book shop is great. So, who cares?

This wonderful branch of Waterstones is filled with gorgeous big bookcases full of every kind of…read morebook you could possibly want. I can easily spend hours in here, browsing the shelves, flicking through a few books and then wandering downstairs for a coffee at their little branch of Costa. Waterstones has managed to make this great big book shop into a comfortable and cosy feeling store that welcomes its customers warmly, with staff that are well read and more than able to advise on your purchases. A good old British book store that will be staying put for years to come.

This is not only Glasgow's largest Waterstones, it's Glasgow's largest bookshop. Actually, scratch…read morethat, I can do one better, it's Scotland's largest bookshop. This is a fact that Waterstones quite rightly takes a little pride in. It's split across five levels and includes a Costa Coffee in the basement. Certain indie coffee shop fans may turn their nose up at Costa, and while I sympathise, any coffee shop that's inside a bookshop automatically becomes a good coffee shop. I'm pretty sure that's a universal rule. I feel like in a good bookshop I browse differently to how I would online. If I'm looking for a book online, chances are I already know which book it is and I'm just trying to get the lowest price/nicest edition/fastest delivery time. In a real book shop you have that joy of exploring and of looking at books that you never knew you wanted (or even books that you never knew existed). It's easy to start on the top floor and lose 20 minutes, lose another 30 on the next floor down (that's non-fiction and reference covered), lose at least another hour on the next floor which contains most of the fiction, 20 minutes one floor below that , which is the level you enter on, the stock rotates a lot here and includes toys, gifts and (inhale sharply) stationary. See? You've already lost over two hours and you haven't even looked at the children's section or the young adult section. You've not even seen the books on travel! Or film! Or art! They're to be found across the next two floors alongside that coffee shop. It's a dangerous thing to enter a bookshop and the larger the shop the more dangerous it gets. Tell a friend to come looking for you if they don't hear from you after a day or two.

How can anyone resist a name like Young's Interesting Books? I've actually been here a few times…read morenow - it's in the Skirving St strip of shops which I love, and Young's is always worth a stop in. It's a second hand book shop, and as the title suggests, you're going to find some interesting gems in here. The window display is always amazing and they tend to have something quirky/unusual in there, or themed (recently they've had Star Wars stuff in the window). It's definitely worth taking time for a browse in here - if you were looking for something in particular you could ask for help, otherwise it's nice just to chill out and have a browse. You never know what you're going to find.

At last an independent book shop that isn't in the west end. In fact at last an independent book…read moreshop. In fact, scratch that, following the recent death of Borders or as my friend and his Northern accent calls it 'Boarders' at last another book shop! The name could be argued as a bit presumptuous.. but it has of course a wide range of second hand books from curiosities to standards and is just the place book lovers love to while away an hour or so. If you like to feel the book in your hand that has likely been all over the world, read a wee bit and judge not by it's cover or the anonymous tips of online book sellers then this is definitely the place for you. The prices are reasonable and they buy as well as sell. Ideal.

It was late one Thursday evening and I had missed the late night shopping due to a rehearsal I was…read moreat. I needed to kill some time and also was still in thinking mode about some Christmas present ideas. I stopped outside Waterstones and though 'ach I'll hiv a wee nosey' so I came across some audio books and a staff member pointed me in the direction to more. I explained I was looking for something my dad and she suggested a couple for me. Well he absolutely loves them. Yay! I just want to thank the kind girl who helped me out. I was struggling for ideas and just didn't know where to begin as there's just sooo many titles. I also asked on the off chance to see if they had the Yo! Sushi cookbook at a cheaper price rather than purchasing it from Yo! Sushi themselves. Unfortunately they didn't have it in stock but the Sauchiehall Street branch did but it was about 9.30ish and it wasn't on my route to the restaurant I was heading to. It was the same price too so was best just to nip round the corner and get it out the restaurant. The staff were very helpful and took their time to help me even though it was near to closing time. Athough not as well stocked as Sauchiehall Street it catered my unexpected needs.

You have to hand it to Waterstones (and also book publishers); in the era of the e-book/Amazon they…read morehave managed to re-invent the book shop experience. I used to love book shops when I was a child and teenager then as I became a young adult I began to favour the music/record shop instead, but it wasn't down to just me being more into music than books it was down to the whole shopping experience. I found music shops exciting and book shops then a bit dull and staid. When the 1st e-books & mighty Amazon/online book shops came on the scene the poor high street book shops had to either re-invent themselves or suffer like the many record shops sadly did with the increase of mp3's/online music. Waterstones were one of the big players in the book shop scene and thankfully they chose to up their game. This particular shop has been very successfully re-invented & I wouldn't have even known had I not decided to pop in one day just out of interest (and admittedly to kill some time before my bus!) I remember it being a bit boring a few years ago when I came in but now it's so much better. It's split over 3 levels and the ground floor now has a really great gift and stationary section. I found some super cute washi tape and wrapping paper that was ideal for some home wall designs I had in mind. Also they had many other lovely greetings cards and gifts of all sorts including Scottish themed bits & bobs for the tourists and your family members or friends who live outside of Scotland. The book displays themselves make you want to engage with the books and touch them; something that I think is SO important when shopping. I hate shops where I feel as though I am browsing a museum with products that have a invisible 'Do not touch' sign in front of them. Bah. Hell no. I'm a tactile person (hello!) when it comes to shopping so I like to FEEL everything and books feel (and smell!) really good. The covers, the embossed/raised fonts, the flick of the pages, the shiny and matte coverings...I know the old saying is 'You shouldn't judge a book by its cover' but damn! A great book cover can make or break a book in my opinion! Another touch I like here is that the staff members have their own tags they can use to put on books they particularly like with a mini review. I know Borders used to do this & I always really liked it. The staff here (and all the other Waterstones too) are also really lovely & friendly. Whenever I've had any questions they've always been super helpful and informative & they've never acted as though I am a nuisance or asking a ridiculous question. They also have a cafe here serving Matthew Algie coffee and they're open most nights until 7pm making this a perfect wee place to stop off after work for a wee swatch at some books, a coffee and wee read too before you head home. They also have book signings and a monthly book group too. You can also order books online if they maybe don't have them in stock and earn some points if you sign up to their card at the same time. If you chose to pick the books up yourself from a store it's free so no p&p to pay. Nice one! Nice work Waterstones, you've made book shopping a truly fun experience again.

Cotswold is without a doubt the best outdoor clothing emporium in the West End. I challenge anyone…read moreto find a better-stocked shop for this kind of stuff without going into town or farther out to the likes of Braehead or Clydebank. They're a bit of a younger upstart to the likes of Graham Tiso, and tend to favour the mid- to upper-end of the market with top brand names at premium prices - although they do often have discounted items so it's always worth a look. I find most of their clothing to be out of my price comfort zone (I'm more the Regatta end of the market), so I seldom do any serious shopping here. However I am a huge fan of their thermawear fleecy baffies (that's slippers to non-natives) in the winter, which cover up your ankles quite a way thus preventing draughts up the trouser leg. They don't last more than a season or two as they're more akin to heavy-duty socks really; but they're lightweight, comfy and good value. Sadly on this particular visit they didn't have them in stock; apparently it's still considered to be summer in Scotland - who knew? I shall have to return later. 150th review!

Nothing scabby about this place. This is the shop that you go for your outdoor gear when you decide…read moreit's time to get fit....you know, when you reach the time in life when your waist size and age appear to be rapidly accelerating at breakneck speed. Not quite an old persons shop, but certainly fluttering around the middle age, middle of the road " comfortable" salary earning bracket, Cotswold is a well stocked, well priced outdoor gear store staffed by knowledgeable friendly staff who are more than happy to give you the time of day as you ask them blatantly stupid questions " just how waterproof is this waterproof....can i wear it in the bath...if i fall in the ocean with a book in my pocket will it stay dry???" ,Anyway, just bought a wee set of reins for the child like wonder that is my daughter form here. Good price, good advice..." do not use to tie child up outside shops, do not use as a means of propelling oneself behind said child on a skateboard or roller blade's"....you know, the usual health and safety crap. Well, imminent social service visit inducing comments aside, this is a proper grown up outdoor store. Get your ass here if you need anything from jackets to child carriers....kick bottom...not of child, page 346 section 4 paragraph 9 of the European "Don't do that, it's just stupid" handbook.