London Book Shop Recommendations

[ritzbiscuits]

Can anyone recommend which are the best book shops to visit in London? I'm travelling there for the day to go book shopping with birthday money - bliss!

So far I have:
Daunt Books
Foyles
Persephone Books
London Review Bookshop
Hatchards (?)

Any others to add? Note, I've never been to any of these before, so helping me prioritise my day would be most appreciated!

John Sandoe (Books) Ltd (10 Blacklands Terrace, Chelsea, London SW3 2SR)

that sounds like my ideal day! have a great time OP!

The main Waterstones on Piccadilly? It's just next to Hatchards and is I think the biggest bookshop in London.

I know it's a Waterstones but it has obviously many more books (whole section/floor dedicated to Russian literature) than a normal Waterstones

I love Daunt Books but I'm not hugely interested in travel so I didn't buy anything - they have a small novel section (I bought one and a bag)

Persephone books on the other hand - every time I go I buy half a dozen - my favourite bookshop easily.

They are all geographically far apart - the Waterstones has a good cafe on the 5th floor - I meet friends there every month. Very decent coffee and a burger.

I buy more in Foyles than any other I think.
The bookshop in the National Theatre is good - ground floor right in the entrance hall - drama books, current novels, gifty wifty stuff - the scones and tea in the 'kitchen' right next to it very good.

Have you worked out geographically how you're going to organise it?

@LaurieFairyCake Thanks so much for all of your thoughts. I'm yet to organise an plan for the day, but will obviously be using the tube network.

I definitely want to get to Persephone Books, then in the main I'm looking for at least 2/3 other book shops that are the nicest to browse around and discover books. I'd recently seen a blog post visiting Foyles, and that looks right up my street. I guess I feel I want to visit Daunt because it's so iconic.

I'm not fully against going to Waterstones, but I regularly visit the very lovely Manchester Deansgate branch, so keen to try something different.

Given Foyles looks so large, I'd otherwise be interested in visiting some more unique bookshops, hence why Persephone is on the list.

Waterstones on Piccadilly is massive, 5 floors I think. Similar to Foyles on Charing Cross Road.

What sort of subject matter are you looking for? On size alone I would chose Foyles or Waterstones.

Foyles is amazing. Nice cafe as well.

Persephone is definitely worth a visit and agree about Waterstones Piccadilly, bloody awesome, though I always end up being DD a gazillion books in there.

Hatchards?

Stanfords for travel books

GOSH or Forbidden Planet for sci-fi/fantasy/graphic novels

I think Lauriefairycake is mixing Daunts up with Stanfords which is a travel book shop (on Long Acre).

I'd also recommend the London Review of Books shop, near the British Museum.

Sorry, meant to post that over an hour ago but forgot to press Post.

Definitely Foyles Charing Cross Road over Waterstones Piccadilly then.

On Charing Cross Road there are still a couple of bookshops still surviving from its heyday. Some of the stock is secondhand so that's interesting for a browse.

Had to pop in just to say if you're thinking of passing close to Mumsnet Towers, the Owl Bookshop in Kentish Town is lovely! Have a brilliant time, OP.

John Sandoe

Also Books for Cooks in Notting Hill if you're into cookbooks.

And Peter Harrington in Dover Street and Fulham Road for rare books, first editions etc (££££ though)

I think Daunt was originally mainly (entirely?) travel books, but has since expanded its stock.

Stanfords is no longer on Long Acre and the new shop is far smaller.

Skoob in the Brunswick centre, or Judd Books nearby are wonderful second-hand treasure troves.

If you are in to spiritual stuff, the Quaker Centre on Euston Road has a good bookshop and has a great library as well

Also worth mentioning the book shop at the Tate Modern if you are into art at all, it has a wonderful selection to browse. As does the shop at the V&A - that leads on to a beautiful courtyard, which is lovely place to start a new book in on a nice day.

You mention Waterstones Manchester so are you arriving into Euston? If so Lambs Conduit street (Persephone) is about a 15min walk away so a logical starting point, also a lovely little area for a spot of brunch/ lunch.

The British Library is also very close on Euston Road and if you register in advance you can use their reading rooms, free of charge. They also have a bookshop/ cafe/ exhibits if you’re not just in the mood to buy books or have some time to use before getting back on a train.

The Oxfam secondhand bookshop near the British Museum.

So, starting at Persephone and working west:

Persephone
London Review bookshop
Oxfam secondhand bookshop
Foyles
And if you still have energy, the small bookshops on the other side of Charing Cross Road

Sorted.

Wow! Thanks everyone - I think I'm going to need a weekend not a day trip unfortunately!

@Plexie - Thanks for thinking of Persephone as a logical starting point! I'm going to be at Euston by 9.40am and it only opens at 11am! Makes sense to still head that way and maybe start at London Review Bookshop first, then head over to Persephone for opening.

Then onto Foyles and I can consider heading to Daunts later on as well. Thanks to those mentioning that Daunts is primarily a travel book shop, that would be interesting to me to take a look.

Re: genres I'm interested, I mainly like all sorts of non-fiction, some fiction, anything specialist on ballet/dance/performing arts would be amazing too.

I’m pretty sure there’s some cafes on Lambs Conduit Street.

Daunt Books in Marylebone has a large non travel section. It’s absolutely worth a visit!

Bookmarks on Bloomsbury Street is a wondrous visit if you're politically left of centre.

OP useful and recent – July 2019 - rundown of some of London’s best bookshops here:
www.timeout.com/london/books/londons-best-bookshops

If you’re interested in ballet then try the shop at the Royal Opera House, although it’s quite small.

Yes, Daunts was definitely mainly travel books when I was there last - the ceiling and gallery is just lovely. Glad to hear they've expanded their contemporary section.

This thread has just cost me £33! I was in the Holborn area so decided to visit Persephone bookshop that people have been recommending, and now I'm £33 poorer and 3 books richer. You lot are a bad influence!

no - we're a good influence as a life with Persephone Books in it is a better life .

Enjoy your reading!

@Plexie that's a good thing really! Which ones did you get?