Since it's introduction to the UK market in 2009, Amazon's Kindle series of e-readers -- and later tablets -- have been a hit with readers looking for a lightweight, durable way to enjoy their books on the go.

If you're looking for where to buy a Kindle in the UK, you have a few options.

The simplest is to head to the Amazon.co.uk website and pick out the model that is right for you.

You can even buy one as gift by simply checking the "this is a gift" box on the site. Doing so tells Amazon not to tie the Kindle to your Amazon account. This means it'll be ready to set up as soon as the lucky person you're giving it to takes it out of the box.

You can find out more about Amazon's gifting policies for Kindle products on their support page.

Related Guide: Which Kindle Should I Buy? Amazon Kindle's Compared

What About Buying a Kindle in a Local Store?

If you'd like to test out a Kindle tablet or e-reader in person -- or want to avoid the costs and waiting of having one shipped -- there's a few stores that sell Kindles in the UK.

Amazon offers a list of official partnered retailers. However, in our research, we called the stores and checked their websites. Many of them did not offer options for local pickup that we could find.

It is possible that Amazon's official information is out of date.

Sites and stores that still featured Kindles at the time of writing included:

  • Argos
  • Carphone Warehouse
  • John Lewis

However, you can also check your nearby high street electronics repair shop or local electronics retailers. Just be sure to confirm any available guarantees and the condition of the device before purchasing to avoid any unwanted surprises.

What About Buying eBooks?

The simplest way to get books on your Kindle is to buy them from Amazon's store. While you can search and buy directly on the Kindle, the e-Reader interface isn't the snappiest thing in the world.

But you can also use your PC, phone, or virtually anything with a web browser to order books. Just find the book, choose your Kindle in the "Deliver to: "section of the page, and buy it.

If you're in Wi-Fi range -- or have a Kindle with Whispersync -- it will automatically sync to your e-reader or tablet within a few minutes. If it doesn't show up, just choosing sync from the menu should find it.

Can I give Kindle e-books as gifts?

Unfortunately, while you can gift e-books on the US Amazon site, the feature isn't available in the UK.

Purchasing a gift card is the closest option to gift books available to UK Kindle users. Since you can use Amazon gift cards to buy books for Kindle, just order one online or stop by just about any major retailer and grab a card off the rack. 

If you're not sure where to buy Kindle gift cards, Amazon lists a range of locations on their support page, including:

  • ASDA
  • BP
  • Shell
  • Superdrug
  • Tesco

There is no need for a special Kindle gift card or anything like that -- most any Amazon branded gift card or gift voucher will do.

Once you give someone the card, they can then use it to purchase the books that sound interesting to them.

It's a bit less personal, but at least you don't have to worry about picking out the wrong book.

Conclusion

Easy access to one of the largest e-book stores on the planet and reliable build quality have make the Kindle series one of the most popular e-readers in the UK.

You can find them at a range of retail store locations as well as direct through Amazon to provide plenty of options for finding the perfect e-reader or tablet to suit your needs.

While you can gift a Kindle in the UK, you cannot gift books, so be sure to pick up a gift card or gift voucher if you're planning on giving a Kindle as a gift to help them start their collection.


P.S. Unless access to the Amazon store's vast trove of media is the most important factor to you, there are a number of alternative options you might find at a local retailer instead of having to buy online. Our e-reader reviews and tablet reviews cover the best releases from a range of manufacturers to help you find the ideal option for your reading habits, budget, and buying preferences.