London easily stands out as one of the best cities in the world to visit if you are a lover of books and bookshops. From beautifully preserved historic landmarks to curated selections at a book bar, there is nary a reason to be bored when book shopping in this city.
1. Daunt Books Marylebone
Perhaps one of the most recognised independent chain bookshops in England is Daunt Bookstore. Founded in 1990 by James Daunt, what began as a place that specialised in travel books now carries a variety of titles in multiple genres. The books are uniquely categorised by country in its long oak galleries, lit by a magnificent skylight.
Readers of all ages with an interest in just about anything from history to poetry will find something of interest here. Aside from being an extraordinarily beautiful bookshop, they also often host events with renowned and up-and-coming authors.
Address: 84 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4QW, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7224 2295
2. Hatchards
Step into the oldest bookshop in the United Kingdom. This bookshop was founded in 1797 and happens to be the official bookseller to the royal household. Set in the famous street of Piccadilly, Hatchards is a great spot for those seeking out rare books, first edition prints, and signed copies of their favourite books. A vast collection of topics and stories line the shelves across the store.
Address: 187 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9LE, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7439 9921
3. Maison Assouline
Maison Assouline is a place for those with a discerning taste in culture, art, and style. Home of the Swans Bar, visiting this bookshop will be anything but ordinary. Set inside a historical, Grade Two listed building in Piccadilly, Maison Assouline masters sophistication, curation, and versatility. The Maison serves as a multi-purpose bookshop and is a delightful stop should you find yourself in the city.
Address: 196A Piccadilly, London W1J 9EY, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3034 1197
4. Word On The Water
If we could think of a bookshop that fell straight out of a book, it would be this quirky little bookshop parked on the canal barge in Regent’s Canal. Word On The Water is a bookshop that literally sits on the water, featuring indoor and outdoor shelves that carry a wide variety of titles. Readers will find both new and used books tucked across the shelves on the boat. It’ll be hard to walk away without a book or two in hand after a trip here.
Address: Regent’s Canal Towpath, London N1C 4LW, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 79 7688 6982
5. John Sandoe Books
London is a haven for independent bookshops, and John Sandoe Books is one of them. It has been around since 1957 and houses a vast collection of fiction, non-fiction, and classic titles. There is more ‘book’ than ‘shop’ here, with books lining every shelf and table, stacked in piles on the floors, under window sills, and stairs. You will likely walk away with a few delightful reads to enjoy on your holiday.
Address: 10 Blacklands Terrace, London SW3 2SR, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7589 9473
6. Libreria Bookshop
Designed by Spanish architectural studio, SelgasCano, Libreria is a hip bookstore with a ‘no-phone’ policy. This bespoke space features bright yellow floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that are irregularly shaped.
The space was designed to nurture creativity and innovation while helping you discover new books. Naturally, the titles are curated to encourage this vision. The shelves are arranged in themes, such as ‘Wanderlust’, ‘Enchantment For Disenchanted’, and ‘The City’. This allows readers to come across titles they would not have discovered otherwise.
Address: 65 Hanbury St, London E1 5JL, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3818 3240
7. Goldsboro Books
Checking off another independent gem on the list, we have Goldsboro Books, a bookshop specialising in first-edition hardback copies and signed books. Carrying over 25,000 hardback, first-edition books in store, each copy is well looked after, wrapped in a protective clear film to protect the books and dust jackets. A knowledgeable team handpicks the best books and ensures every customer who walks through their doors has an incredible experience. It is literally (pun intended) a book collectors paradise.
Address: 23-27 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7497 9230
