Waterstones: Four floors of books, cafe charm, and castle views in Edinburgh.
Waterstones is a spacious Edinburgh bookstore located at 128 Princes St. Housed in the grand former Jenners department store, this multi-floor shop spans four levels (basement, ground, 1st and 2nd) with a top-floor cafe offering a panoramic view of Edinburgh Castle. Readers can explore fiction, Scottish interest, history, and academic sections, with quiet corners to linger and a welcoming coffee scene.
128 Princes St., Edinburgh EH2 4AD, UK
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Extensive collection of fiction, non-fiction, Scottish interest, history, academic books, and more across four floors in a historic, light-filled setting.
Top-floor café offering coffee, tea, cakes, and light meals with stunning panoramic views of Edinburgh Castle, perfect for relaxing or photo opportunities.
Curated selection of stationery, souvenirs, and gift items, ideal for personal use or as mementos of your visit to Edinburgh.
Loyalty program offering benefits and discounts on purchases, recommended by customers for enhanced shopping value.
Dedicated area featuring books on Scottish culture, history, and literature, highlighted in customer reviews as a particular strength.
Quiet corners and logical layouts designed for browsing and relaxation, with potential for literary events in a grand, historic atmosphere.
Overall rating
Ines Ristovik
Waterstones in Edinburgh by day feels gentle and enchanted. Natural light spills across the shelves, dust motes drifting like something out of a story. The space is calm and unhurried, inviting you to linger—where hours pass softly, wrapped in pages, thought, and quiet wonder. 📚✨ just one problem you need to wait for a table in the cafe in there everything else is perfect
Amy
Really lovely Waterstones! Three stories with a cafe and we particularly enjoyed looking at the Scottish section. I have a mini salted caramel cake in the cafe which tasted delicious. There were loads of books to choose from and I would definitely recommend getting the Waterstones card. You did need to buy something in the cafe to use the bathroom as the code for the door is on the receipt.
Tiara Sivalingam
Such a cute bookstore with a gorgeous view of the castle! We were lucky to get a table by the famous window that’s often featured on social media, and it was perfect for taking lovely photos. The treats and coffee were absolutely lovely and made the visit even more enjoyable. A small tip - check your receipt for the access code to the toilet. Definitely a charming spot to relax and enjoy the view!
Mioma Priora
Housed in the grand former premises of Jenners department store, this Waterstones is a temple for book lovers. You're greeted by a sense of scale and history the moment you walk in. The soaring, light-filled atrium with its central staircase is breathtaking. Despite its size, it manages to feel welcoming, not overwhelming. The layout is logical (fiction, Scottish interest, history, and academic sections are particularly strong), and there are quiet corners to get lost in. The top-floor cafe is a major highlight, offering good coffee, cake, and possibly the best free view in Edinburgh—a stunning panoramic outlook over the gardens to Edinburgh Castle. It's the perfect place to browse your new purchases. A must-visit in Edinburgh, whether you're a bibliophile or not. It successfully blends the grandeur of its historic setting with the warm, inviting soul of a great independent bookshop. You can easily lose two hours here. Come for the books, stay for the castle view.
Ana
A huge place, filled with books, stationary, souvenirs - all the lovely thingsssss ❤️❤️❤️ the location is amazing, with the views to the castle. • there are 4 floors (basement, ground floor, 1st and 2nd). • the famous coffee shop with the tables at the window are on the first floor - but the bigger space, with multiple levels, is on the second one. • you can find everything you might need and everything you didn't know you need ☺️
