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All the United Kingdom Scotland Wigtown The Open Book

The Open Book

This seaside Scottish holiday rental lets you live out your bookselling dreams.

Wigtown, Scotland

Added By
Kerry Wolfe
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The Open Book.   Wigtown Book Festival/used with permission
The Open Book.   Wigtown Book Festival/used with permission
The Open Book.   Wigtown Book Festival/used with permission
The Open Book.   Wigtown Book Festival/used with permission
The apartment.   Wigtown Book Festival/used with permission
The Open Book.   Wigtown Book Festival/used with permission
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
The apartment.   Wigtown Book Festival/used with permission
The apartment.   Wigtown Book Festival/used with permission
Wigtown.   Wigtown Book Festival/used with permission
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About

Nestled in Wigtown, a tiny town in southwest Scotland, this holiday rental goes beyond your ordinary escape to the coast. Those who stay here are given more than a home away from home—they’re also given the keys to, and control of, the bookstore below.

The Open Book is both an Airbnb rental and a bookshop. It lets travelers from around the world live out their bookseller fantasies. You can spend a week in the dreamy Scottish town and dip your toes into the world of running a bookstore—without having to commit to becoming a business owner.

You’ll get to choose just how, and when, the bookstore runs. You can host readings or small musical gatherings, or simply spend your days browsing (and hopefully selling!) the books that pack its shelves. Locals tend to pop into the store to see just who is behind the counter on any given day.

The Open Book is appropriately located in Scotland’s National Book Town. Wigtown, which has a population of fewer than 1,000 people, boasts nearly a dozen bookstores. The town also hosts the annual Wigtown Book Festival, an affair that draws tens of thousands of visitors to the little literary oasis. Members of the Wigtown Book Festival are responsible for coordinating rentals at The Open Book.

Related Tags

Hotels Places To Stay Bookstores Books

Know Before You Go

Reservations for The Open Book fill up fast, so you'll want to book your stay far in advance!

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Kerry Wolfe

Edited By

SEANETTA

  • SEANETTA

Published

March 18, 2019

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Sources
  • https://www.buzzfeed.com/danieldalton/complaints-and-disappointment
  • https://qz.com/1109183/scotlands-airbnb-meets-bookshop-lets-you-play-shop-owner-on-your-next-holiday/
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/unique-airbnb-open-book-book-lovers-dream-come-true-wigtown-scotland/
  • https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/wigtown-bookshop-vacation/index.html
  • https://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/open-book-store-airbnb-scotland
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigtown
  • http://www.wigtown-booktown.co.uk/
The Open Book
The Open Book
2 High St
Wigtown, Scotland, DG8 9HJ
United Kingdom
54.867295, -4.444579
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Martyr's Stake

Wigtown, Scotland

miles away

Torhouse Stone Circle

Wigtown, Scotland

miles away

Glenquicken Stone Circle

Creetown, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wigtown

Wigtown

Scotland

Places 3

Nearby Places

Martyr's Stake

Wigtown, Scotland

miles away

Torhouse Stone Circle

Wigtown, Scotland

miles away

Glenquicken Stone Circle

Creetown, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wigtown

Wigtown

Scotland

Places 3

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