Book lovers can temporarily ditch their day job and become the owner of a real second-hand bookshop thanks to an unusual Airbnb in Scotland.
The Open Book, located in the small town of Wigtown in Galloway, isn’t simply accommodation decorated to look like a bookstore. Guests sleep in an apartment above the shop and are handed control of the business downstairs for the duration of their visit.
That means actually opening the doors to customers and experiencing what it’s like to operate an independent bookshop.
Open Book Airbnb gives guests the keys to their own bookshop
How seriously guests take their new occupation is largely up to them. They’re allowed to rearrange displays, decide how much individual titles should cost, and even adjust the opening hours.
They can even host events inside the shop. Previous guests have organized everything from quizzes and author talks to karaoke, treasure hunts, and wine tastings, with enough room for an audience of around 12 to 15 people.
Airbnb: The Open BookDespite temporarily becoming a bookseller, guests aren’t expected to sleep among the stock. The Airbnb includes a separate self-catering apartment directly above the shop.
It costs £175 and can be booked through the Airbnb website. However, demand is very high, and it’s already mostly booked up for the next two years.
The Open Book began in August 2014 as a project where artists, writers, and musicians would spend two weeks living and working there while pursuing their own creative projects. It’s since become a source of funding for the Wigtown Festival Company, generating around £10,000 each year towards its charitable work.
This certainly sounds more relaxing than the Airbnb that this family found pictures of themselves hanging inside.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
