11 Best Bookstores in London (That You CANNOT Miss!)

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Bit of a bookworm? Me too! I’ve rounded up the best bookstores in London that are just magical. Living in London, we are truly blessed with the number of bookstores we have. From larger chains to independently run bookstores that smell like fresh paper and coffee, London has plenty of bookstores for us to choose from, in all corners of the city.

And there’s nothing quite like that unmistakable scent of new books. As a self-proclaimed bookworm, I love nothing more than browsing a bookstore’s shelves for hours on end. To me, finding a good new bookstore is a day out!

So, where better to find some of the country’s most loved, quirkiest, independent bookstores than London?

In the following post, I’ve rounded up some of the best independent bookstores for you to visit. Whilst I generally specialise in writing about Southwest London, these are 11 of the best bookstores all over London. Get ready to be transported into a world of hushed tones and creaky wooden floorboards!

Visiting London? Check out these posts!

• Best Pubs in Putney: A Local’s Guide
• Walks Near Richmond, London: A Local’s Guide
• BEST Restaurants in Putney: Local’s Guide
• Best Brunch in Putney: A Local’s Guide
• Best Putney Sunday Roast: A Local’s Guide

Best bookstores in London

1. Daunt Books, Marylebone

With its Marylebone branch opening in 1912 as the first custom-made bookstore in the world, Daunt Books is undoubtedly one of the best bookstores in London. 

Specialising in travel, walking into Daunt Books is every book-lover’s dream. Surrounded by oak bookshelves and a large walk-in gallery, you can transport yourself to any country of the world whilst being in the heart of London. 

Along with travel guides, stories and maps, Daunt Books also have a large selection of chart-toppers, modern fiction and a large stationery collection. Books and gifts can be ordered online, but I recommend visiting the shop in person to get the real Daunt experience.   

The original Daunt Books is located in Marylebone, but there are four others in locations across London. You can find this specific Daunt Books at:

📚 Daunt Books Marylebone,
83-84 Marylebone High Street,
London W1U 4QW
https://dauntbooks.co.uk/

2. Hatchards, Piccadilly

If you’re a book lover visiting London, Hatchards is not one you’re going to want to miss. The oldest bookstore in London was established in 1797. This makes Hatchards a landmark on one of the most famous streets in the world. 

Even though Hatchards is over 200 years old, it combines the best of the old world with the new. It sells limited edition timeless classics, the latest bestsellers and children’s books. Hatchards is known for being one of the best bookstores in London. 

“From Oscar Wilde to Bette Davis, the literary, political, artistic and social lions of their day have bought their books here and, since its inception, a link has been forged between the fine booksellers of Hatchards and the royal households of Britain and Europe.” – Hatchards 

You can find the original bookstore in Piccadilly, spread out over five floors, directly next to Fortnum and Mason. 

📚 187 Piccadilly, London , W1J 9LE
https://www.hatchards.co.uk/shop/piccadilly

3. Blackwell’s, Holborn

The first Blackwell bookshop was opened in Oxford, England in 1946, by a member of the Blackwell family. It has been trading ever since and opening more shops all over the country. Now the Blackwell London store has become one of the most well-known and best independent bookstores in the city.

A long-term family-run business, Blackwell’s has stood to tell the tales of history. Throughout the second world war, Blackwells donated hundreds of books to troops on the front line. It also saw the first publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling. 

Selling books from every genre you can think of, as well as hosting authors for signing events throughout the year, the beautiful old-style bookstore is one of the best in London.

“A haven for the bookish from all parts of the globe.” – Blackwell’s

Blackwell’s is located in Central London, and is open every weekday (it’s closed at weekends).

📚 High Holborn, London WC1V 6EP: www.blackwells.co.uk

4. Libreria, East London

Libreria is a bookstore like no other in London. With a mission to nurture creativity and innovation, the space was designed by Spanish architects. It aims to immerse you in the world of reading and new ideas, with an intention of encouraging interdisciplinary thinking.  

Step into a new world and lose yourself in a book. Oh, and leave your phone at home or tucked away in your pocket – technology in Libreria is strictly prohibited. One for book lovers who want to get lost between the pages with zero distractions.

“Browsing in our bookshop is a world away from the narrow algorithmic recommendations of Amazon.com.” – Libreria

📚 65 Hanbury St, London E1 5JP

5. Word on the Water, Regent’s Canal

London’s 100-year-old barge floating on the Thames is not just a place to buy books, it’s a book-lovers paradise. If you fancy a different experience to your book shopping, head to Word on the Water on Regent’s Canal for a different way to find your new favourite title. Quite literally a book shop floating on the Thames, it’s more of an experience than a book shop! 

With live music and events, a friendly parrot, poetry slams and a warm stove, Word on the Water attracts book lovers from all over the city. Family run, the quirky book store is open every day, offering a range of old and new titles. 

📚 Regent’s Canal Towpath, London, N1C 4LW

6. London Review Bookstore

When it opened in 2003 in the heart of Bloomsbury, the London Review Bookshop comfortably made itself to be one of the best bookstores in London. A meeting place for book lovers who come to drink coffee, discuss new titles, eat cake from the delicious on-site cafe and of course, browse the shelves for their next read. 

With a selection of over 20,000 titles, genres range from world literature to children’s books, natural history to politics, and crime to contemporary fiction. And if you can’t find something you’re looking for, you can check out their website for a more specific search.

“Our aim has always been to represent on our shelves the distinctive character of the ​Review – intelligent without being pompous; engaged without being partisan; fun without being frivolous.” – London Review Bookshop.

A stone’s throw from the British Museum, this gem of a bookstore is one to add to any bookworm’s bucket list.

📚14 Bury Place, London, WC1A 2JL

7. Goldsboro Books, Leicester Square

Located in Central London, Goldsboro Books has a self-acclaimed passion for bookselling. With a mission to sell the first edition signed hardbacks, Goldsboro has a hard-working, dedicated team to ensure the running of the shop and your book-buying experience is unbeatable.

Opened by two friends in 1999, Goldsboro quickly picked up a reputation for spotting quality books and an enthusiasm and passion for selling books from all over the world.

A global reputation grew when they were the only store in the world to have a signed copy of The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith, which of course turned out to be Harry Potter author, JK Rowling. Now a much-admired book shop, Goldsboro has over 25,000 hardback first editions in stock, and pride itself on the care for each and every single one.

At no extra cost to you, every book’s dust jacket is wrapped in a protective clear film to preserve the book in its best condition.

“We aim to interest and inspire book lovers, readers and collectors and provide the finest quality signed books in the world.” – Goldsboro Books

📚 23-27 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ

8. John Sandoe, Chelsea

It may have started off small, but John Sandoe has grown a reputation for being one of the best bookstores in London. Now occupying not just one, but three adjacent buildings for the bookstore, John Sandoe’s is a much-loved independent store full of the magic of reading.

With over 30,000 titles from a range of genres, spend your visit browsing each corner of the shop that has been crammed full of books. From the chairs to the windows, every nook and cranny inside the store has been carefully designed to immerse you into a world of reading. 

“An old customer, recollecting the shop’s earliest days, said that Sandoe’s had “all the books one could ever hope to find in one place”: the shop has grown but the ethos remains the same.” – John Sandoe’s 

📚 10-12 Blacklands Terrace, Chelsea, London, SW3 2SR

9. Brick Lane Bookshop, East London

Heading back over to the east side of London, the quirky and independent Brick Lane Bookshop has found itself among the list of the best bookstores in London. 

Known as one of the first bookstores in the borough of Tower Hamlets, the small and cosy store was established in 1978. Stocking fiction, non-fiction, London books, poetry, essays, feminism, children’s books, classics, cookery books, philosophy, graphic novels, cards, our Brick Lane Bookshop tote bags and more, the Brick Lane Bookshop is a must for any book lovers.

You can shop online or in person, but in my opinion, it’s totally worth the journey to experience the bookish atmosphere in-store.

“Forty years ago there were no bookshops in Tower Hamlets. When one of the largest high-street bookstores was asked why, their reply was that people in the East End didn’t read! Not so.” Denise Jones, Owner of Brick Lane Bookshop (an extract from Denise’s Introduction in the 2020 Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize Longlist.)

📚166 Brick Ln, London E1 6RU

10. Stanfords, Covent Garden

Although Stanfords may not be a quirky and independent bookstore like the others on our list, it’s still a book-lovers reading wonderland.  Known as the UK’s leading specialist retailer of maps, travel books and travel accessories, it’s the kind of place that I spend my entire day in.

Stanford now is and remains, a much loved and vital part of the travel landscape. Priding itself on its depth of stock sourced out by experts, it’s one not to be missed when visiting London. 

“We have been an essential first port of call for adventure and armchair travellers alike for more than a century. Our roll-call of customers past and present includes such famous names as Amy Johnson, David Livingstone, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton, Florence Nightingale, Ranulph Fiennes, Bill Bryson, Michael Palin, and even Sherlock Holmes.” – Stanfords

📚 7 Mercer Walk, London WC2H 9FA

11. Waterstones, Piccadilly

Regardless of the fact Waterstones is all over the country, the five-storey shop at Piccadilly is undoubtedly one of the best bookstores in London (and it’s the biggest bookstore in London!)

I have found myself browsing the shelves of Waterstones for hours on end. The peace, quiet and tranquillity of the store allows you to transport yourself into the world of your book, leaving the busy city at the door. 

With genres from every corner of the world, there is something for everyone in Waterstones at Piccadilly. And they don’t just stop at books. You can find board games, stationery, maps, and atlases and even treat yourself to a coffee in their cafe bar. 

“There is truly something to be found for even the most discerning of readers, from our flagship Fiction, Travel, History and Art sections or from across the wider branch. We are especially proud of our Children’s section, modelled on a (Piccadilly) Circus theme and full of activities and events as well as the latest releases and old favourites.” – Waterstones Piccadilly. 

📚 203/206 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9HD

Best bookstores in London: FAQs

1) What is the famous bookstore in London?

One of the most famous bookstores in London is the chain ‘Foyles’. Foyles is known for having pretty much every book you’ll ever need in stock. Their slogan is ‘if Foyles doesn’t have it, nowhere does’, and this is something they stand by. If you need a specific book in London, head to Foyles!

2) What is the biggest bookshop in London?

The biggest bookstore in London is Waterstones Piccadilly. It’s a five-storey bookstore – and is actually one of the biggest bookstores in Europe, not just London. It proudly boasts over eight miles of bookshelves!

3) What is the famous street of bookstores in London?

Cecil Court is a pedestrian-only street in London full of bookstores. It is also known as ‘Bookseller’s Row’, and is located in London’s West End.

4) What is the famous Oxford England bookstore?

Blackwell’s Bookshop. The first Blackwell bookshop was opened in Oxford, England in 1946, by a member of the Blackwell family. It has been trading ever since and opening more shops all over the country. Now the Blackwell London store has become one of the most well-known and best independent bookstores in the city.

5) Do I need a SIM card to travel around London? 

Yes, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive. 

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Best Bookstores in London: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best bookstores in London. When you’re planning a trip to Southwest London, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more London content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

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