Overview of bookshops in London
In the world of literature, London is not just a city, it is a place where readers’ dreams are realised. In its misty streets and historic buildings lies an endless world of words and ideas. From old antique bookshops where every book has its own story to shops offering a wide range of contemporary titles and bestsellers, London’s bookshops invite you on a fascinating journey through a world of words and imagination. This article takes you on a journey through the top bookshops in England’s capital city.
Foyles
Foyles Bookshop on Charing Cross Road is the largest literary shop in the country (long regarded as the largest bookshop in the world). There are over 200,000 different titles on 6.5 kilometres of bookshelves. This huge shop occupies six floors. All of them are filled with all kinds of books. The business was founded in 1903 by brothers William and Gilbert Foyle. Today, it is one of the most legendary literary venues in London. You can also buy gifts, stationery, music prints, magazines and visit the popular café and auditorium here.
The address is 107 Charing Cross Rd, Soho, WC2H 0DT.
Daunt Books
No guide to the best bookshops would be complete without mentioning Daunt Books. The Georgian-style building with long oak galleries is located on Marylebone High Street. Many would call it the most beautiful bookshop in the capital, with its distinctive architecture and period atmosphere. Guests are invariably greeted by tall stained glass windows, which have already become a symbol of the place. Canvas bags with the shop’s print have become indispensable for any literature lover.
The address is 83-84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW.
Goldsboro Books
Goldsboro Books, located in the centre of London’s West End, is a bookshop aimed at savvy collectors. It is the perfect place for those looking for first editions of classic novels and rare vintage books signed by authors. For example, it is the only bookshop in the world where you could find signed copies of Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling (which is the pen name of Joanne Rowling).
The address is 25 Cecil Court, WC2N 4EZ.
Lutyens and Rubinstein Bookshop
As well as a wide range of poetry collections, art and children’s books, the Lutyens and Rubinstein shop in the Notting Hill area of west London offers prints, stationery and small gifts to take home in a branded reusable tote bag.
The address is 21 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, W11 2EV.
Foster Books
Behind the simple green façade of Foster Books lies a veritable treasure trove of books. A place of attraction for book lovers belongs to Stephen Foster. The shop is located in an old 18th century building on Chiswick High Road. The bookshop has been open since 1968 and boasts an atmospheric bay window as well as an extensive range of rare books, limited editions and valuable prints.
The address is 183 Chiswick High Road, W4 2DR.
Hatchards
No bibliophile’s trip is complete without a visit to Hatchards on Piccadilly Street, the oldest bookshop in the UK. The 200-year-old Hatchards is said to have been Queen Victoria’s favourite bookshop. It currently holds three royal warrants. The company started selling books back in 1797 in the same premises where it remains to this day. People come to Hatchards to plunge into the atmosphere of nostalgia — on the 5 floors of the building there are first editions and autographed vintage copies, and next to them there is a neighbourhood of modern fiction and popular science literature. There is also a special section dedicated to religious books.
The address is 187 Piccadilly, St James’s, W1J 9LE.
Libreria
One of the city’s most stylish bookshops, Libreria in east London, is inspired by Jorge Luis Borges’ Library of Babel. The place is a literary labyrinth with books placed from floor to ceiling on stylish bright yellow shelves. The mirrored walls and ceilings make the place seem huge. The books here are arranged in special categories. This unusual atmosphere perfectly complements the carefully selected range of books on offer. In addition, thanks to the yellow colour palette in the interior, the shop literally radiates a warm golden glow on cold, dark nights.
The address is 5 Hanbury Street, E1 5JP.
Hurlingham Books
Ray Cole opened Hurlingham Books back in 1968 and is still running the company half a century later. It’s not the sort of place where you should be window-shopping, simply because the windows are usually cluttered with stacks of books. With more than a million titles in this bookshop, there is something for every literature lover.
The address is 91 Fulham High Street, SW6 3JS.
Southbank Centre Book Market
Under Waterloo Bridge is the Southbank Centre Book Market, a place with a huge selection of used books. Located near BFI Southbank, it is open daily in all weathers. Here you can spend hours browsing through hundreds of second-hand and antiquarian books on all sorts of subjects.
The address is Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, SE1 8XX.
Stanfords
This bookstore is a must-visit for lovers of travelling and travel literature. The shop has been offering books about travelling since 1853. The shop has not changed its location since the same time – the building impresses with the atmosphere of past eras. There is a wide variety of maps, globes and travel books under one roof. Famous customers include Captain Scott and Florence Nightingale.
The address is 7 Mercer Walk, Covent Garden, WC2H 9FA.
Waterstones Piccadilly
The place is not considered a paradise for book lovers for nothing — it is one of the largest bookshops in Europe. It is more than just a bookshop, as it occupies 8 floors. In addition to 13 kilometres of bookshelves, there is a bar and restaurant, the 5th View, a souvenir shop and a venue for events such as book signing sessions with famous authors, artists, musicians, politicians and sports stars.
The address is 203-206 Piccadilly, St James’s, W1J 9HD.
Word on the Water
If you’re looking for an unusual experience, check out London’s only floating bookshop, Word on the Water, housed on a restored 1920s Dutch barge on King’s Cross. Packed full of new and second-hand classic and contemporary books, this independent bookshop regularly hosts events on the rooftop barge, including poetry slams.
Address: Regent’s Canal Towpath, King’s Cross, N1C 4LW
Persephone Books
Persephone Books aims to unearth the work of underrated women writers of the 21st century and republish their books in the shop’s signature grey covers. The literature will suit those who enjoy “not too literary and not too commercial” works, be it novels, short stories, diaries, memoirs or cookery books. Persephone also organises a monthly book club meeting.
Address: 59 Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1N 3NB
London Review Bookshop
The London Review bookshop offers intellectual literature. London Review of Books opened the shop in 2003. It’s a place where you can find everything you need, plus plenty of books you definitely don’t need but have been dreaming of. Shoppers are invited to browse the author’s selection of 20,000 titles before sitting down to enjoy coffee and sweets in the café. It’s a great place for meetings and conversations, as over 200 events are held in the shop’s mini auditorium each year.
The address is 14-16 Bury Place, WC1A 2JL.
Heywood Hill
The shop was founded in 1936 and has been selling antique and contemporary books ever since. The bookshop is located in the Georgian mansion where Nancy Mitford once worked. The business is owned by her nephew Peregrin Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire. If you don’t get a chance to visit this unique and historic shop, then consider subscribing to its ‘Year in Books’ where staff personally select books based on a ‘reading consultation’. During the consultation, customers name books and authors they like or genres they can’t stand.
The address is 10 Curzon St, Mayfair, W1J 5HH.
Bookmongers
When Patrick Kelly, an American by birth, founded Bookmongers almost three decades ago, he may not have realised how much his cosy shop would become a popular institution in Brixton. There is nothing more special than a shop that has been around for so long in London – steeped in history and time, its range is beautiful and well organised. Every inch of space inside is filled with second-hand books, both fiction and non-fiction, and in the far corner is a sofa for shoppers to relax on. The shop is incredibly well organised, and adds to the cosiness is the resident cat, Popeye, who lives in the shop.
The address is 439 Coldharbour Ln, SW9 8LN.
The Second Shelf
The shop, located in a quiet courtyard in the Soho neighbourhood, is a tiny cornucopia of rare books written by women. It houses manuscripts, first editions and rare novels chosen by founder Allison Devers, who found the perfect combination of her two passions — literature and feminism. The prices aren’t cheap. Devers’ goal: to make sure the work of great female writers is honoured in the same way as their male counterparts.
The address is 14 Smith’s Court, Soho, W1D 7DW.
Maison Assouline
If you’re looking for a tranquil book oasis in central London, Maison Assouline is just the place. This is the place to go if you’re looking for a luxury coffee table book. They sell such beautiful editions here that you’ll want to show them off and keep them in your home. The high-ceilinged room is furnished with antique furniture, art and scented candles to create a special atmosphere. The elegant Swans Bar serves wine, hot drinks and a small selection of specialities.
The address is 196A Piccadilly, W1J 9EY.
John Sandoe Books
The Dickensian-style building just off King’s Road has been an independent bookshop for over sixty years. With over 30,000 titles, you’d have to be a very discerning book lover to leave here empty-handed. The range is so large that books are even located on the stairs!
The address is 10 Blacklands Terrace, SW3 2SR.
Walden Books
This little bookshop on Harmood Street is ideally tucked away between buildings, away from the hustle and bustle. In the spring, this bookshop is covered in flowers (which makes it even harder to find). Inside, it’s fully furnished with books, with rows and rows of titles on a variety of subjects. The assortment includes a wide range of used and rare books. Prices vary, so you can get something at a very favourable price, especially if you have the cash.
The address is 38 Harmood Street, NW1 8DP.
L&R Bookshop
The charming L&R Bookshop surprises with a stunning selection of literature — it’s a great place to pass the time and choose an interesting book for yourself. You can join literary talks and ask questions of the authors, or you can just find the right book and head to Biscuiteers to read and sample the biscuits.
The address is 21 Kensington Park Road, W11 2EU.
Alice Through The Looking Glass
Located in the Literary Corner on Cecil Court, this is the most specialised bookshop. The Alice in the Looking Glass shop is dedicated to Wonderland – a treasure trove of memorabilia and rare editions of Lewis Carroll’s stories. There are works of art, copies of the first edition, clothes, stationery – everything connected with Alice’s wanderings. There’s also a mini-museum with some special exhibits that, unfortunately, are not for sale. Yes, a white rabbit named Harley is there too.
The address is 14 Cecil Court, WC2N 4HE.
Any Amount of Books
Located on Charing Cross Road, Any Amount of Books sells second-hand books to anyone who wants to get their hands on an interesting story. The place will especially please those looking for rare treasures at a reasonable price. This is a great place to find bargains.
The address is 56 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0QA.
Primrose Hill Books
Is there a more beautiful neighbourhood in London than Primrose Hill? After enjoying the magnificent views of the city, you can pop into Primrose Hill Books to indulge in some literature. Run by a couple, the bookshop has an abundance of new and second-hand books, so you certainly won’t leave empty-handed.
The address is 134 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 8XL.
Nomad Books
London literati frequent this cute little bookshop on Fulham Road. Notable visitors include writer Michael Morpurgo and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. Popular since 1990, Nomad Books boasts a well-stocked children’s section that will win the hearts of young readers.
The address is 781 Fulham Road, SW6 5HA.
Questions and answers on the topic of bookshops in London
Which London neighbourhood has the most bookshops?
The largest number of bookshops are concentrated in and around the Charing Cross area. This neighbourhood is close to Trafalgar Square and the British Museum.
One of the most famous bookshops in the area is Waterstones on Piccadilly, which is a huge shop with a huge selection of books on a variety of subjects and genres. It offers a lovely cafe on the top floor where you can enjoy a book.
Also in the area is Foyle’s Bookshop on Charing Cross Road, which is considered one of the largest and oldest bookshops in London. Here you can find a wide range of books to suit all tastes and interests, from fiction to academic titles.
As well as large chain shops, the Charing Cross area also has many independent bookshops where you can find rare editions, antiques and books from local authors. The Charing Cross area is also rich in other literary attractions such as the National Library and the Southbank Centre cultural complex, which regularly hosts literary events and festivals.
Thus, the Charing Cross neighbourhood and its surroundings is a paradise for book and literature lovers.
What is the biggest bookshop in the UK capital?
Foyles entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the shop with the longest length of bookshelves – 48 kilometres. They display more than 200,000 copies of books. Foyles is not just a shop, but also a cultural centre, often organising literary events, book signing sessions and book presentations. It welcomes both local literary connoisseurs and international travellers looking to immerse themselves in a world of words and ideas.
Which bookshop in London is considered to be the oldest?
Hatchards is a prestigious bookshop in London, and also the oldest. It was founded in 1797 by John Hatchard on Piccadilly. From the beginning of its history, Hatchards has attracted famous writers, politicians, royalty and cultural figures.
The shop has remained popular throughout the years for its wide range of books, including both fiction and scholarly works, biographies, historical works and more. Hatchards is also renowned for its author events, including book signings, literary evenings and other cultural events that attract shoppers and literature enthusiasts from all over the world.
Although the shop has gone through many changes in its long history, it still remains an important cultural centre for all literature lovers.
What are the most unusual bookshops in London?
One of the most unique shops is Libreria. It is a concept bookshop located in the Shoreditch area of east London.
The main goal of Libreria is to create a unique space that inspires readers to explore different genres and themes of books. The shop is decorated in a style reminiscent of old cinemas and libraries, with narrow aisles and partitions creating a cosy and mysterious atmosphere. Libreria features not only books, but also other art objects to inspire visitors. The shop also frequently organises literary events, including discussions, lectures and cultural programmes.
One of the most surprising aspects of Libreria is its unusual curatorial concept, which results in each book in the shop being hand-selected. This makes the shop a unique place to discover unexpected and exciting works of literature.
Another unusual place is Word on the Water. It is located on a barge, right on the water. The barge is filled with books on various topics, and its interior creates the atmosphere of a cosy and warm bookshop. Visitors can walk through the narrow aisles, look into the books, chat with the owners and other readers, and even enjoy the live music and performances that are often held on the barge.
Word on the Water has come to symbolise the strength and uniqueness of independent bookshops and continues to attract both locals and tourists looking to immerse themselves in literature in an unusual location.
