Bookstores of New Hampshire: Independent Shops Worth a Detour

A good independent bookstore is one of the best reasons to stop in a New Hampshire downtown. It is where you find the local history shelf, the trail guide you did not know you needed, the staff pick that turns into the book of your trip. New Hampshire has a strong run of independent shops, and many sit on walkable main streets close to coffee, lunch and other local stores. This guide to bookstores in NH covers shops in our directory across the state, arranged so you can fold one into a day trip in any region.

Why plan a trip around a bookstore

Bookstores make good anchors for a day out for a few reasons:

• They sit on main streets. Most independents are downtown, so a stop pairs naturally with a walk, a meal and other shopping.
• They carry local knowledge. Regional shelves stock hiking guides, town histories, maps and books by New Hampshire authors that are hard to find elsewhere.
• They work in any weather. On a rainy or mud-season spring day, a bookstore is one of the better places to spend an hour.
• They host community events. Author readings, storytimes and book clubs are common. Check each shop's events page for current listings.

Merrimack Valley

Gibson's Bookstore, Concord

Gibson's Bookstore is the first stop on any New Hampshire bookstore list. According to the store, Gibson's was founded in 1898 and is the oldest continuously operating retailer in the Concord area, and it describes itself as the largest independent bookstore in northern New England. Beyond new books, it has a used books section and a large children's collection, and in 2013 it brought in a cafe partner and absorbed a local independent toy store, so families can easily spend a long visit there.

Concord is the state capital, so a visit pairs well with a walk past the New Hampshire State House and lunch downtown.

The Bookery, Manchester

The Bookery in downtown Manchester combines a bookstore, gift shop and cafe. The shop runs storytimes for kids and monthly book clubs, which tells you something about how it sees itself: as a gathering place as much as a store. It is an easy stop if you are in Manchester for the Currier Museum, the Millyard or a show at the Palace Theatre. See our Manchester town guide for more ideas for a day in the city.

Balin Books, Nashua

Balin Books in Nashua is an independent shop with a broad general selection, including children's books, hardcover and paperback fiction, nonfiction and memoir, and bargain books. It also features art by Beth Krommes, the children's book illustrator. Nashua is New Hampshire's second-largest city and close to the Massachusetts line, so Balin Books is a natural first stop for visitors driving up from the south.

Monadnock Region

The Toadstool Bookshop, Keene

The Toadstool Bookshop in Keene is one of The Toadstool Bookshops, an independent bookstore in downtown Keene. Keene's wide Main Street is one of the most pleasant downtowns in southwestern New Hampshire for walking, and a bookstore stop fits well into a day that also includes a hike or a drive around the region. The shop regularly hosts author events, including signings; check its events page before you go.

Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee

Left Bank Books, Hanover

Left Bank Books is located upstairs at 9 South Main Street in Hanover, in the middle of the downtown that faces Dartmouth College. A second-floor shop is easy to walk past, so look up. Hanover is compact and walkable, and the bookstore is a good stop between a walk around the Dartmouth Green and lunch on Main Street.

White Mountains

White Birch Books, North Conway

White Birch Books is the independent bookstore in North Conway village, the busy center of the Mount Washington Valley. If you are in the valley for hiking or skiing, a bookstore is a sensible place to pick up a trail guide or a map, and a good refuge on a day when the weather on the summits is not cooperating.

How to get the most from a bookstore visit

• Ask for the local section. Staff can point you to New Hampshire history, natural history, regional hiking guides and local authors.
• Check the events calendar. Readings and signings are scheduled well ahead. A visit timed to an event makes a good evening out.
• Order ahead if you need a specific title. Independent shops can usually special-order a book for pickup.
• Pair it with a meal. Every shop in this guide is in a downtown with places to eat within walking distance. Browse our directory for restaurants in each town.

A bookstore loop through southern New Hampshire

If you want to visit several shops in one trip, the southern cities are close together:

1. Morning: Balin Books in Nashua.

2. Late morning: The Bookery in Manchester, with coffee in the cafe.

3. Afternoon: Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, with a walk past the State House.

A western loop works too: Toadstool in Keene, then north through the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region to Left Bank Books in Hanover.

For bookstore owners

If you run an independent bookstore in New Hampshire, check that your listing in the New Hampshire Travel Guides directory has the right name, address and town. You can claim your free listing through the site and keep your details current.

FAQ

What is the oldest bookstore in New Hampshire?

We have not verified a statewide answer. Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, founded in 1898, says it is the oldest continuously operating retailer in the Concord area.

What is the largest independent bookstore in New Hampshire?

Gibson's Bookstore in Concord describes itself as the largest independent bookstore in northern New England.

Are there bookstores with cafes in New Hampshire?

Yes. The Bookery in Manchester combines a bookstore, gift shop and cafe, and Gibson's in Concord has an in-store cafe partner.

Where can I find a bookstore near Dartmouth College?

Left Bank Books is upstairs at 9 South Main Street in Hanover, a short walk from campus.

What bookstores are good for kids?

Gibson's in Concord has a large children's section and toys, The Bookery runs kids' storytimes, and Balin Books in Nashua carries a strong children's selection.

Sources

• Gibson's Bookstore, About page (founding 1898, oldest retailer in the Concord area, largest independent in northern New England, cafe and toy store): https://www.gibsonsbookstore.com/about
• The Bookery, official site (bookstore, gift shop and cafe; storytimes; book clubs): https://www.bookerymht.com
• Balin Books, official site (sections; Beth Krommes art): https://balinbooks.com/
• The Toadstool Bookshops, official site: https://toadbooks.com/
• Left Bank Books, official site (9 South Main Street, Hanover): https://www.leftbankbookshanover.com
• Concord, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (state capital): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord,_New_Hampshire