12 Of London’s Most Beautiful Bookshops To Get Lost In
In a world of kindles, e-books and next-day delivery, London’s independent bookshops are proving that reading is best served as an experience. The city’s literary scene has evolved into a collection of social hubs complete with curated wine lists, hidden reading nooks, and sprawling shelves of fiction. From the iconic travel-themed aisles of Marylebone to floating barges in King’s Cross, these shops provide a well-needed digital detox and invited citygoers to indulge in a moment’s peace with a good book in hand.
Whether you’re hunting for a rare first edition in Mayfair or a new community in a neighborhood book-bar, we’ve rounded up the most aesthetic spots to find your next great read:
Daunt Books
Aside from their infamous tote bags and the aesthetically pleasing interior of its Marylebone branch – which is surely the most Instagrammed in London – Daunt Books is widely known for its endless selection of books centred around one poignant theme: travel. Arranged by country, the littering of London branches helps to educate, inspire, and ignite your passion for travel.
Various Locations
www.dauntbooks.co.uk
Bookbar
I don’t know who came up with this concept, but kudos. Books and wine go together like London buses and unscheduled delays, and Bookbar combines the two.
Now with two stores in Chelsea and Islington, Bookbar is all about bringing people together through books, whether that’s bespoke recommendations to suit any mood, their book club membership, or a host of live events. This is the perfect place to embrace the social side of reading.
Where: 11 Chelsea Manor St, London SW3 3TW / 166 Blackstock Rd, London N5 1HA
Website: www.bookbar.com
Persephone Books
Unlock a piece of history as you set foot inside Conduit Street’s Persephone Books.
Founded by Nicola Beauman, Persephone Books is a bookshop that prides itself on bringing the untold stories of female writers to light. From novels to short stories, memoirs to cookery books, Persephone Books reprints fiction and non-fiction books written by mid-twentieth-century writers. Home to 137 books, every book is a story that’s steeped in history, and all of these stories can finally be brought to the forefront of people’s minds at Persephone Books.
Persephone Books is a bookshop that prides itself on bringing the untold stories of female writers to light.
59 Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1N 3NB
www.persephonebooks.co.uk
John Sandoe Books Ltd
John Sandoe holds the title of my personal favourite London bookshop. Open since 1957, it feels somewhat like a portal to the past, or in other words, the moment you step inside, you are instantly transported back in time. This independent store spans three floors and has grown to encompass the two buildings on either side of its original shop.
This Chelsea store also stocks over 30,000 titles, and you can bank on finding anything from 19th Century Classics and literary magazines to poetry anthologies and new paperbacks.
Where: 10 Blacklands Terrace, London SW3 2SR
Website: www.johnsandoebooks.com
Backstory
Similarly to Bookbar, Balham’s Backstory features a full licensed bar serving high-quality coffee, wine and local craft beer, so you can sip while you read or browse new releases. The shelves are adorned with handwritten staff recommendations which go beyond generic blurbs, offering personalised insight into why that book matters. The shop also has a calendar of author talks, book clubs and live podcasts so it is well worth keeping an eye on their social media to stay up to date with the latest events.
Where: 71 Balham High Rd, London SW12 9AP
Website: www.backstory.com
Heywood Hill
Heywood Hill has crafted itself into part of Mayfair’s thriving history. This little bookshop’s history stems back to 1936 when Heywood Hill first opened his dream bookshop and specialised in both old and new books, as well as housing curious objects and trinkets.
Its history seeps deep into WWII, too, as novelist Nancy Mitford found her literary love while working at the store. It’s thanks to Mitford that the bookshop became adored by the English social and literary circle during the 1940s. Years later, the team now still honour its roots, with a mix of old, new, and antiquarian books on offer.
10 Curzon Street, Mayfair, W1J 5HH
www.heywoodhill.com
Saucy Books
A recent Notting Hill opening, Saucy Books is England’s first independent bookshop dedicated entirely to the romance genre. As romantasy fiction continues to have us all in a chokehold, this spot is a must-visit.
It also reached viral status for its famous “smut-hut” – a famous corner of the shop dedicated entirely to more explicit ficiton. The shop’s owner, has explained that this section was desgined to reclaim the word and provide a judgement-free browsing zone.
Where: 236 Westbourne Park Rd, London W11 1EL
Website: www.saucybooks.com
Libreria
Situated in the heart of East London, just a stone’s throw from Brick Lane, Libreria is widely considered one of the most visually stunning and conceptually bookshops in the world. Designed by the acclaimed Spanish architectural firm SelgasCano, this shop is nothing short of a feast for the eyes. The ceiling is completely mirrored, creating an optical illusion that makes the shelves appear to stretch upward into infinity, while the shelves are fitted with built-in reading nooks to sit and enjoy a moment’s quiet with a new book. The store also has a strict no phones policy, making for an idyllic digital detox spot.
Where: 65 Hanbury St, London E1 5JP
Website: www.libreria.com
London Review Bookshop
Opened in 2003 by the London Review of Books in the heart of Bloomsbury, just a stone’s throw from the British Museum, the London Review Bookshop has quickly become one of the capital’s favourites.
Browse its selection of over 20,000 titles ranging from the classics of world literature to the cutting edge of contemporary fiction and poetry, before refuelling with coffee and a treat from the cake shop.
14-16 Bury Pl, London WC1A 2JL
londonreviewbookshop.com
Peter Harrington
From seventeenth-century Shakespeare folios to inscribed first editions of the Harry Potter series, only the best literary works come through the doors at Peter Harrington. Now half a century since its establishment and with two shops under its belt, Peter Harrington is still a much-loved bookshop, specialising in literature, economics, politics and philosophy, travel, navigation, military history, science and medicine, children’s books, and fine library sets. The selection is on the more expensive side, but even if you can’t spend your pennies, it’s definitely worth the visit to see some of the most famous first editions in the world.
It’s definitely worth the visit to see some of the most famous first editions in the world.
43 Dover Street, Mayfair, W1S 4FF
www.peterharrington.co.uk
Word On The Water – The London Bookbarge
And the strangest bookshop award goes to… Word on the Water.
Word on the Water: The London Bookbarge is London’s only floating bookshop and sells top-quality new and secondhand books, ranging from classics to children’s novels, and art history to contemporary classics. Not only does the barge specialise in books, but it also hosts regular events, including poetry slams, intimate gigs, and jazz shows to help spark your imagination and creativity.
York Way, Granary Square, Kings Cross
www.wordonthewater.co.uk
Clapham Books
Nestled in the heart of Clapham Common, this bookshop offers a classic and initmate space to browse a collection of books spanning, fiction, coffee table books, cookbooks, and everything in between. Unlike the sprawling chains, every book here has been hand-selected to earn its place on the shelf.
Expect a mix of the latest Booker-longlisted titles alongside beautifully bound Vintage or Fitzcarraldo editions.
Where: 26 The Pavement, London SW4 0JA
Website: www.claphambooks.com
