My favourite independent bookshops in Kent – for your next holiday read

The Folkestone Bookshop, Folkestone

This is my favourite bookshop in Kent because of the calm, welcoming, and inclusive vibe, as well as the lovely location, situated just a short walk from the harbour. Every time I step into The Folkestone Bookshop, I find something new and unexpected- it is the perfect place to just browse, as they keep some great stock that you definitely wouldn’t find in other bookshops. As a graduate of social anthropology and a keen reader of social theory as well as queer literature, this radical bookshop is always the perfect space for me to find some interesting reads. It’s not only the books that I love about this place, but the atmosphere too; they have a dedicated reading room with comfy spaces to sit and free drinks to help yourself to, as well as a communal desk at the back of the bookshop which anyone is free to use, and a children’s bookshop area.

They also have some really unique, and helpful events on offer such as a paper-cutting workshop, and publishing help for aspiring writers. All of this combined, makes The Folkestone Bookshop a place where you can feel safe to hang out for a while, be yourself, and enjoy the company of the fantastic books, as well as the friendly booksellers.

Sevenoaks Bookshop, Sevenoaks

The epitome of cozy bookshop vibes to me, is the Sevenoaks Bookshop. The lighting is always perfect for chilled book-browsing, and they have a really nice selection of reading material, with the addition of recommendations/ thoughts from the booksellers which I always love to read. One of the cool things about this bookshop is ‘The Writer’s Cafe’ which is attached to the side, a cute place to sit and enjoy a drink and read a new book! They even host ‘The Writer’s Cafe Podcast’, which features lots of interesting talks with authors, and is a great new way to interact with as well as support the bookshop, encouraging us readers to learn even more about the books we buy.

A bonus- Sevenoaks Bookshop has the best selection of greeting cards with the most beautiful art!  

Store 104, Rochester

I was so excited when this bookshop opened in Rochester, and I have been visiting regularly for the past few years. A family run business, Store 104 stocks a carefully curated selection of books, as well as yarn/knitting supplies, cards and gifts. Also, something which I very much appreciate is their amazing range of Jellycats! The little cafe ‘Leonard’s’ at the back of the shop, has such a comforting vibe, and definitely some good vegan options too.

Upstairs at Store 104 is perhaps my favourite area, as it plays host to a great variety of non-fiction titles, as well as a poetry section which I always enjoy browsing whilst the light streams in from the big windows at the front of the building. As someone who effectively grew up in Rochester, Store 104, despite being fairly new, almost feels nostalgic to me because of the classic Rochester building, and the chilled, community atmosphere. I feel like I can always find a great gift for others or myself in this bookshop!  

Station Books, Tunbridge Wells

Station Books is a new, independent bookshop in Tunbridge Wells, which opened at the end of 2024! It’s such a cute little space and I am really excited to see an indie bookshop open in a town I often visit. It’s so nice to see that the owners are genuine book lovers, which is something I feel you only get to properly experience in an independent bookshop.

Ross and Laura have their own youtube channel ‘Hardy’s Books’, where they talk about their love for reading, more specifically the fantasy and science fiction genres. I particularly enjoyed the videos they have shared about the experience of opening an independent bookshop- it’s very cool to get to know indie bookshop owners better, and creates a lovely book-lover community feel. Also, the “books and snacks” tote bags that they sell at the shop are iconic!  

Harbour Books, Whitstable

There’s nothing better than a little bookshop by the sea… and this one is so cute! Harbour Books   is in Whitstable and is definitely loved by everyone who visits. I love the layout of the shop, there’s this ‘homely’ feeling to the space (especially the upstairs which is pictured) and this is the perfect vibe for a bookshop. I find that they always stock the latest up and coming books, so if you are on the hunt for a brand new release, you will most likely find it here!

I was also really pleased to see that they have recently launched a ‘QueerLit book club’, which runs once a month- it’s great to see more bookshops spotlighting, as well as encouraging readers to delve into queer literature. If you are in Whitstable, definitely pay this classic bookshop a visit.

The Little Green Bookshop, Herne Bay

I only recently visited The Little Green Bookshop for the first time, and I have to say it’s definitely a new favourite of mine… and not just because of the cute dog I made friends with inside! There is a really cool selection of fiction as well as non-fiction here, and it has that lovely independent bookshop vibe, where you feel comfortable to just browse leisurely and enjoy the cute little space.

Whilst visiting, I bought a copy of ‘The New Dress’ byVirginia Woolf, which I had never heard of before, and was just one of the many mini penguin archive books they had on offer. I also discovered that they offer a book subscription, where you can receive monthly hand-picked books sent to you- such a nice idea!

The Margate Bookshop, Margate

One of the things I love most about the Margate Bookshop is the view of the shop from the street. That iconic mint green exterior with an almost vintage feel, especially on a sunny day, makes you feel like you’re stepping into somewhere special- and you are. The Margate Bookshop, when I last visited on a Wednesday, was buzzing with book lovers perusing the well-stocked shelves.

They sell both new and second hand books, and I saw so many good titles that I wanted to buy! If you are in Margate, the bookshop is just a few minutes walk from the seafront in the old town, and definitely worth a visit. A fun idea if you are a little bit bookshop obsessed like me: you can do a mini seaside bookshop tour from Whitstable, to Herne Bay, and then to Margate- they are within about a 10 minute train ride of each other!

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I hope you find the time to visit some of these amazing, peaceful spaces, maybe even as part of a solo day out like me! If you enjoyed reading this post, make sure to follow me on instagram @girlaboutsolo to keep up to date with my adventures. Also, if you are a fellow book lover, check out my podcast ‘The Hopeful Reader’ on Spotify or Apple. Thanks for reading!

By Finola Stowe