Voltaire & Rousseau Bookshop

I started going to the V&R shop in the early 1970s, when it was still in Park Road, and have visited as often as I could in ensuing decades. As I have never lived in the city, those visits have been less frequent than I might have liked, but I can say with certainty, I have never left the shop empty handed. The shop is quite unique in my view, a magical place. I hope it goes on forever.

I've been going here off and on (spent decades in London) for at least 50 years and never found a better bookshop anywhere in Europe, US etc. It is just perfect for me - matches my brain - a bit of everything but not necessarily organised or disciplined. I'm not interested in 1st editions or "prize" captures although I'm sure this is a venue for those too. I just love wandering at random, finding quirky revelations which may have been "cool" once or not. My political/historical education owes more to this place and the Mitchell Library than any school/degree course I attended. I don't believe in heaven but if I did this would be it. We wandered into a bookshop in Eastbourne decades ago (Camillas I think) which had a chaotic but warming ambience and, when I mentioned it reminded me of V&R, the owner admitted that V&R had been an inspiration. Get in there if you haven't been and drag your children, friends and passers-by in too - it is fantastic! Highly recommended!!

Visiting Voltaire and Rousseau Bookstore with your son is an experience like no other. The stacks of books tower high, each one a potential hidden gem waiting to be discovered. The cozy atmosphere and friendly staff make browsing a joy. And let's not forget the resident cat, who adds to the charm. It's a place where you can easily lose track of time as you immerse yourself in the written word. If you're a book lover, this store is a must-visit. Whether you're searching for a specific title or just want to get lost in a good read, Voltaire and Rousseau won't disappoint.

The sort of secondhand bookshop you go to when you want to find an unexpected treasure. The place is literally piled high with books. The books are organised by theme, though with so many books they are not in order so be prepared to sort through to find a gem ... of which there are many.

One of the most romantic book stores in the world. Unfortunately all the really rare books I still found in this shop 40 years ago have disappeard. You need a lot of time and a good condition to find what you are looking for.

It's such a great place. They have an excellent variety of books at very good prices. I only got three because I didn't have more space in my backpack, but I could have easily left with many, many more.

Visited Aug. 2022. Every bookshop should be like this. Piles and piles of books everywhere, vaguely grouped by subject. A big cat that wanders in and out, and a pair of grumpy but lovable proprietors. I asked for Terry Pratchett, and one of them said "Ach, he's for children!" which was ironic, since he looked like Terry Pratchett. Give yourself an hour at minimum. Next time I'm in Glasgow, I will make it a point to come back.

Lovely quaint book shop. Oh the things you can find in these piles! I have found the exact book I was looking for without even knowing it existed. Amazing! It’s well worth the effort of looking through everything.