Here, weve rounded up the best london bookshops, and its a real pageturner. Sian meades curl up with a book and a coffee in these bookshop cafes. From a canadian bookshop opened by alice munro in the 1960s to one in the island of santorini started by drunk oxford students, some of the worlds most exotic booksellers feature in the. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as it is safe to do so. Hatchards london 2020 all you need to know before you. Needless to say, hatchards is the oldest bookshop in england. Their events page is also worth keeping an eye on, as they frequently hold talks and. Londons most unusual specialist shops 17 weird london shops. This quirky shop sells both books and hats, and is utterly delightful. There are bookshelves stacked with more than 500 games, staff trained to explain the rules and once youve paid the. Moving on from one mammoth london bookstore to another. The oldest bookshop in london, hatchards was founded in 1797. Bookstore foyles is one of the oldest universal bookstores in london.
London piccadilly 203206 piccadilly, london, w1j 9hd we are temporarily closed london putney 5 exchange centre, putney, london, sw15 1tw opening soon london the economists bookshop clare market, portugal street, london, wc2a 2ab we are temporarily closed. You can enjoy a coffee and admire the quirky surroundings, such as the sculpture of a woman on a flying bicycle. Although not quite the biggest bookshop in london anymore waterstones piccadilly now takes that title foyles is still incredibly impressive and well worth a visit if youre looking for a great bookshop in soho, central london. Shri swaminarayan mandir is the most significant marble temple outside of india. Coffee and literature have a centuriesold relationship, and london s historic coffeehouses date back to the age of enlightenment and the dawn of print news culture in the early 1700s.
Perhaps the most unusual of all london s bookshops, is the 100yearold dutch barge moored on regents canal. It towers over the foyles in charing cross with a grand total of 8 floors brimming with books. Sure you can buy books on amazon, but theres something about going to a bookstore and picking the right title out by hand. Hatchards 187 piccadilly, w1j 9le london, united kingdom rated 4. Waterstones piccadilly is europes largest bookshop offering a peerless selection of titles across every genre.
Although there are actually six daunt bookshops in london, the store on marylebone high street is the original and undoubtedly the most iconic. Let me take you to my favourite bookshops in london. The definitive guide to the best bookshops in london. This quirky pop culture book shop sells texts on everything from gonzo journalism to first world war posters. Today, under the guise waterstones almost 300 stores operate across the uk and in other european countries. The famous british chain of bookshops, waterstones started its development with the opening of the first london store in 1982. Discover 10 of londons best bookshops citizen femme. Hatchards of piccadilly has been in business since 1797 and provides books to the queen no less so we imagine liz got her copy of fifty shades from here. Plus, books are uniquely arranged by country, offering an unusual browsing experience. London has more than its fair share of identical high street chains you cant turn a corner in the city without stumbling upon an endless conveyor belt of starbucks and prets. The building also houses advertising agencies, designer shops and art galleries. Page contains names, addresses and telephone numbers brought to you by all in london. Comfortable sofas, an excellent cafe, and a pretty good french restaurant all conspire to make the shopping experience as comfortable as possible.
I love wandering in on a rainy day and getting lost in floor after floor of titles. Guanghwa bookshop on shaftsbury avenue has been a destination for travelling book lovers since it was cofounded by mr deng jiaxiang and mr liu xin in 1971. Bigger than it looks from the outside its selection is fantastic and its layout has the feel of a little. Top 7 bookshops in london a book was the truest friend you could ever wish for. Foyles became well known in the 1930s for hosting literary luncheons with famous guests that included the likes. The definitive guide to the best bookshops in london the plum. In london s piccadilly we find hatchards, official supplier of books to the british royal family, and replete with history. Spread over two floors of towering oak shelving, the shop has a glass roof for plenty of natural lighting. In the heart of london, you may take part in an hindu traditional prayer ceremony. Curl up with a book and a coffee in these bookshop cafes. Fortnum and mason and the largest bookshop in europe see below for more details.
Twinings flagship store located at 216 strand is one part 300yearold teashop the oldest in london. Spread over eight floors, its more than just a bookshop. This is something my aunt once told me and with the london summer finally in full swing, i believe that one of the best ways to relax is with a book in one of london s parks. The drawbridge style ledge outside is what brought me to its doors as i couldnt. The business has been running from these premises for over 200 hundred years. First opening its doors in 1797, hatchards covers four floors and is home to 100,000 books. It is an affluent street that is home to a selection of upmarket stores including clothes shops, book shops and jewellery shops. Best quirky and unusual cafes in london cn traveller. Goes straight up to the top of the list of my favourite bookshops in london.
Hatchards londons oldest bookshop modern gentleman. Indulge your incredibly specific passions in london s weirdest and most specialist shops. This sprawling, multifloor bookshop still plays host to literary events. Hatchards has been a landmark on one of the most famous streets in london, piccadilly, since georgian times, occupying the current building, number 187, for over two hundred years. Japan centre bookshop, london, 212 piccadilly, opening hours, uk based online japanese food, kitchenware, book and magazine store. Themed walks visit the unique bookshops of london, mixing new, secondhand, antiquarian and specialty publishing shops with local history. Perhaps the most unusual of all londons bookshops, word on the. Weve rounded up the best bookshops in london to help you find your next. Having graced piccadilly since 1797, hatchards is london s oldest bookshop and a city institution.
A beautiful fivestorey bookshop on piccadilly, perfectly sandwiched between london landmarks fortnum and mason and opposite the royal academy, and while it is owned by waterstones, take a wander through old world charm and sink into a green leather sofa on the first or third floor, looking over the hustle of picadilly. Persephone books is one of the most unique bookshops in london because it specialises in womens fiction. On sundays it turns into a market selling antiques and crafts. In its long and distinguished history, it has served the likes of lord byron, oscar wilde.
Cool and quirky used bookstores to add to your bucket list. Established in 1797, hatchards is the oldest bookshop in britain, and one of the most famous in the world. The biggest bookshop in europe, waterstones piccadilly s huge floorspace in an attractive 1930s building makes book shopping a real pleasure. Probably my most frequented bookshop when i am in london. Slightly foxed books, 123 gloucester road, london, sw7 4te. Daunt books is the number one suggestion whenever anyone talks about beautiful bookshops in london. Slightly foxed, a charming and quirky name for a charming and quirky shop, is on the site of what used to be the gloucester road bookshop, but was bought out by slightly foxed, the equally charming and quirky. London even boasts europes largest bookshop, waterstones piccadilly.
Waterstones gower street foyles tottenham court road gosh comics hatchards thanks to my boyfriend for helping me film. This is an incredible modern bookshop located in a former industrial textile warehouse. I find something new to love at the top of each staircase, and i always enjoy their special tables full of. Known as the london bookbarge, this floating shop in kings cross sells both new and quality secondhand books, hosting regular readings, poetry slams, and live jazz nights atop its roof stage and enticing passersby with its inviting woodburning stove. Weird and wonderful bookshops worldwide in pictures. Its easy to lose yourself in the swanky piccadilly site. The whole street is lined with quirky shops and secondhand bookshops but goldsboro books is just a notch above the rest.
The waterstones in piccadilly circus is the largest bookshop in the whole of europe. This quirky bookstore, run by a scottish transplant and her permapouty cat, orson, is in rural new york state and has a curious beat connection. As well as more than km 8 miles of book shelves, theres the 5th view bar, a gift shop and regular events like book signings with famous authors, artists, musicians, politicians and sports stars. When visiting the capital, youll find that the british adoration for tea is very, very real.
Keeping cool inside londons finest bookshops a very. Here are some unique bookstores that have almost as. Check japan centre bookshop in london, 212 piccadilly on cylex and find. These three books will introduce you to parts of the capital you may have overlooked. In this architectural gem, you can find old shops such as a rolex vintage shop 51 piccadilly, mayfair, london w1j 0qj, uk.
Since 1797, hatchards london s oldest bookshop located in the heart of piccadilly has become a british institution. London has more than its fair share of identical high street chains you cant turn a corner in the city without stumbling upon. It has longserved as a literary hub for chinese residents of london, tourists, oriental enthusiasts, even notable academics the cambridge history of chinas chief editor used to. Word on the water is a unique london bookstore located on a 100 year old. It is, in its own warranted words, a unique british institution.