9 of the Best Independent Bookshops in London

 Independent bookshops in London to support

By Helen Brown 

There is nothing better than winding down with a good book. Whether you have a preferred genre or are on the hunt for a specific title you’re sure to find it in one of the many independent bookshops across London. The capital has every shop a book lover could possibly need for browsing, reading, rare treasure hunting and gift shopping. We’ve rounded up the finest nine hideaways for bookworms who want to spend the weekends submersed in the comforting smell of paper and ink.

Daunt Books, Marylebone 

Founded in 1990, Daunt Books is a beautiful Edwardian establishment amidst the shopping haven that is Marylebone high street. Complete with conservatory ceiling, sea-green walls and a gorgeous oak mezzanine reminiscent of an old library, Daunt is first-and-foremost a travel bookshop. Globetrotters can traverse row upon row of literature arranged principally by country. Under Italy, for example, along with an enormous range of hotel and travel guides, you will find maps, phrase books, travel writing, books on pasta and Pisa, history, recipes and food guides, along with a more general collection of modern fiction for holiday reading. 83 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW Open Monday-Saturday 9am-7:30pm, Sunday 11am-6pmdauntbooks.co.uk

Sotheran’s, Picadilly

Founded in York in 1761, Sotheran’s is the world’s oldest antiquarian bookshop and has a history as long and rich as its treasure trove of stock. This London literary landmark can proudly claim to have sold a copy of the Gutenberg Bible, Shakespeare’s Folios and Lord Byron’s manuscripts.  What’s more, it bound the infamous Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, the most expensively bound book in the 20th Century, that then went down with the Titanic. They have an open door policy that encourages browsers to peruse this most fascinating array of books, ranging from a few pounds to a few thousand. 2-5 Sackville Street, W1S 3DPOpen Monday-Friday 9:30am-6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm sotherans.co.uk

Foyles, Charing Cross

For longer than a century, Foyles has boasted the legendary stature as Britain’s biggest independent book shop. With four floors and an astonishing 6.5km of bookshelves crammed with every kind of title imaginable, it’ll take much longer than one rainy Sunday afternoon to work your way around this literary temple. There are four Foyle’s book shops across London but this flagship store is our favourite with a café, auditorium, gallery and regular literary and music events.107 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DTMonday-Saturday 9:30am-9pm, Sunday 11:30am-6pm
foyles.co.uk

Liberia, Hanbury Street

Libreria is one of the capital’s latest heavens for book-lovers and offers a reading experience like no other. Neighbouring the Second Home premises – East London’s space for entrepreneurs and creative businesses – this new literary shop, printing press and multimedia establishment explores new ways of presenting and exploring books. Founded as a ‘re-imagining’ of the traditional bookshop, Libreria offers a cosmopolitan atmosphere with stock arranged not according to standard categories – fiction, biography, science, for instance – but in suggestive themes designed to provoke browsers into making unexpected connections; between the sea and the sky, for example, or family, love and enchantment for the disenchanted.
68 Hanbury St, London E1 5JL
Open Tuesday-Wednesday 12-6pm, Thursday – Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 12-6pm
libreria.io

Magma, Covent Garden

Magma is a useful little gem, nestled in the bustling streets of Short Gardens. Packed with books and magazines, on offer is a vast subject range covering all aspects of contemporary visual arts, fashion, photography, graphics, design, typography, art and architecture. Considerably bigger than any of their previous shops, this ambitious new space aims to reflect the evolution of the Magma brand – from bookshop to complete creative and lifestyle concept. On top of a plethora of reading material, Magma stocks their own high quality product line, ranging from prints to t-shirts and totes to stationery produced by an eclectic mix of artists, illustrators and designers.

8 Earlham Street, WC2H 9RYMonday-Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 12-6pm
magma-shop.com

Persephone Books, Lamb’s Conduit Street

Persephone Books specialises in reprinting neglected fiction and non-fiction by mid-twentieth century women writers. Their elegantly bound collection of 137 books are intelligent, thought-provoking, and beautifully written. From short stories to memoirs, novels to cookery books, there is a wide variety of texts to get your teeth sunk into. Their Bloomsbury shop is a haven of books and plays host to a monthly reading group.

59 Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1N 3NB
Open Monday-Friday, 12 – 3pm 
persephonebooks.co.uk

Word on the Water, Granary Square

Bobbing on the Thames since 2011, Word on the Water is one of the most unique bookshops in the Capital. The 1920’s barge is crammed full of new and used tomes for punters to browse at their leisure. Alongside the stacks of books piled in every nook and cranny, there is a Chesterton armchair that you can cosy yourself into next to a stove. A word of warning – this is not one for those who suffer from seasickness.

York Way, Granary Square, N1C 4LW
Open Monday-Sunday, 12-7pm
wordonthewater.co.uk

Books for Cooks, Notting Hill

Nestled in the heart of Notting Hill is Books for Cooks, London’s famous cookbook emporium. Its shelves are crammed with thousands of tasty titles that will tempt you to get into the kitchen and start whipping up some delicious dishes. From Mediterranean salads to noodle bowls, you are bound to find a recipe to suit all tastes. To further please food fanatics, there is a café at the back of the shop and a demonstration kitchen upstairs where cookery classes take place.

4 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, W11 1NN
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6pm
booksforcooks.com

Hatchards, Piccadilly

Hatchards Booksellers was founded by John Hatchard in 1797. The beautiful five-storey bookshop on Piccadilly is in a prestigious location next to Fortnum and Mason and opposite the Royal Academy. Its holds three Royal Warrants and is adored by readers and writers alike, with many authors going there to sign their new books. Their collection of first and special editions also makes it the perfect place to find some of the rarest tomes on the market.

187 Piccadilly, W1J 9LE
Open Monday-Saturday, 9:30-8pm, Sunday, 12-6:30pm
hatchards.co.uk

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