Wigtown Book Town

Wigtown was officially designated as Scotland’s National Book Town in 1998 and is now home to a wide range of book-related businesses. A book lovers haven – and with over quarter of a million books to choose from, old and new … it is impossible to escape empty-handed.

Wigtown’s Location

Situated in the southwest of Scotland, with the Central Belt & Ayrshire to the north, Cumbria & the Lake District to the south, the Scottish Borders & Northumberland to the east, and Ireland to the west, this kaleidoscope of beautiful pastoral landscape, rugged coastline, woodland and forest, moorland and mountain is a rich cultural melting pot.

Please take a moment to fill in this online survey if you attend any of the events at the Wigtown Spring Weekend. Thank you. CLICK HERE

Wigtown Spring Weekend 2023

Wigtown Spring Weekend 2023

Friday April 28th to Sunday April 30th Join Wigtown's booksellers for the first spring weekend festival since 2019. Events include readings, talks, exhibitions and music. Please add the dates to your diary and look out for the full programme which will be announced...

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Wigtown is Honorary Quidditch Town

Wigtown is Honorary Quidditch Town

Wigtown has been recognised as an Honorary Quidditch Town in celebration of the new book, Quidditch Through The Ages Illustrated Edition, an essential companion to the Harry Potter series and guide on the wizard’s favourite sport. To mark the release of the book...

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Wigtown Book Festival

The annual Wigtown Book Festival offers more than 200 events for adults, children and young people including literature, music, film, theatre, arts and crafts. The festival takes place for 10 days each autumn and has welcomed speakers such as Ian Rankin, Clare Balding, Celia Imrie, John Simpson, Joanna Lumley, Douglas Hurd, Sally Magnusson, Richard Holloway, Mairi Hedderwick, Nick Sharratt and Cathy Cassidy.

For more information please visit the Festival website: www.wigtownbookfestival.com

Shopping can be a relaxing day out

With easy access and easy parking in the town’s wide streets and market square, shopping is a pleasure in Wigtown. It’s an easy stroll round bookshops, gift shops, cafes and inns. New businesses and restored buildings all add to the vibrancy of the literary town. There are special facilities, including toilets, for people with a disability.

Buy a book – it’s a gift chosen with care

Wigtown has some twenty book-related businesses, with new and second-hand books galore. Second-hand books in good condition make very popular gifts, with so much thought going into finding just the right book. Stumped for a present? Everyone has an interest – fishing or philosophy, gardening or history – and they’ll love a book about it! How about a 1950s Dandy Book? You don’t have to be a youngster to enjoy an annual.

Paintings, prints and lots of cards

Books and painting go hand-in-hand, and we have specialist businesses that stock a wide range of paintings, prints and cards. Picture-framing and portrait-painting are on offer, too. A portrait in oils, taken from a photo? It’s possible in Wigtown!

Personal service that comes as standard

Most likely, the people serving you in Wigtown shops will own the businesses, and personal service is something they pride themselves in. They’ll help you find exactly the right book or gift, and they’ll advise on art or upholstery, or track down out-of-print publications.

Good food and refreshments

Enjoy a great day out, with meals and refreshments served in the town’s cafes, inns and hotels. We also have our own distillery in nearby Bladnoch – the region’s only distillery – with visitor centre and gift shop. Regular visitors turn their Wigtown shopping trip into a holiday, choosing from the wide range of local accommodation.

We look forward to meeting you when you visit this idyllic corner of south-west Scotland.

👀 The secret's finally out...The reason we're especially excited for this year's Big DoG Children's Book Festival is because Big DoG herself will be making an appearance in person for the first time.Inspired by Nana, the big dog who looks after the Darling children in Peter Pan, Big DoG has been the face of the festival since it began. Browse the programme and book your tickets at bit.ly/bigdogprogrammeOne week to go! ... See MoreSee Less
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I’m gathering some lovely prints and gifts from around the gallery for a new window display. Clockwise from top:• “Winter” giclee reproduction print by Jackie Stevenson RSW• Small vase by Clare Dawdry• “Dancing in the Shallows” greetings card by Sarah Ross-Thompson• Notebook by Angie Lewin for Art Angels#visitwigtown #visitswscotland #windowdressing #galleriesoninstagram #artgallery ... See MoreSee Less
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