Best bookshop for children's books (London)

[Bink]

Any recommendations? I'm looking for something that has a big stock of not just the usual suspects, for a browse of new ideas.

Ones I've tried & what I think:

• Daisy & Tom's: bit heavy on the "gift" books, light on classics;

• Hamleys: SHOCKING. Stock of about 20, all TV spin-offs;

• various branches of Books Etc.: OK for things that are well-known/currently being promoted;

• Borders in Oxford St: big stock, not much atmosphere.

Am leaning towards Borders. Is there anything better?

Hi Bink!

Have you tried Daunt Books? There's one just down the hill from the Holland Park tube, and one on Marylebone High Street. They seem to have a nice selection, though must admit that I usually nip in/out rather than spend concentrated time there. It's one shop I always leave wishing I had more time to linger.

Borders Oxford Street has a large section...but whether it's got anything you'd want is another matter...

Hi EB!! (If you haven't already seen my email of yesterday, you are going to be amused ...)

Daunt, good idea.

Any other ideas from bookwormy morning MNers?

Another thing it would be lovely to find would be a sort of flagship children's library (ie, not the sort of doing-the-best-it-can-with-short-space-and-no-resources place that is all that most inner London boroughs can manage) anywhere in London. Does this exist?

Bink, there used to be a super children's bookship in Muswell Hill and The Bookseller Crow in Crystal Palace is run by a parent who writes excellent, idiosyncratic reviews of new children's literature for Families SE, a free sheet.
Please don't get me started on children's library provision. Despite the excellence of the Bookstart Scheme this remains a disgracefully underresourced area of the public library sector.
You do of course know about the ACHUKA website, you must do...

we have a fabulous library darn here but it's a bit of a trek from central london to the deepest darkest suburbs of SW London

whereabouts in London are you looking?

I like the children's book department (near toys) at Harrods. Better than Daisy and Tom anyday.

There's one near me called Victoria Park Books (East London, Hackney/Tower Hamlets borders). Not very big, not very conveniently located, but very very knowledgeable staff, good stock (not 10 copies of everything, lots and lots of different books).

Alternatively, I've forgotten the name of the place, but that big famous book store in town, where everything used to be ordered by publisher? They have a good children's section, a bit chaotic ( ) but decent staff, and lots of stock.

Well, central really - I have cards for Westminster (we use the Bayswater children's library, which really does do its best but is very much a holding pen for unaccompanied pre-teens doing computer games) and City libraries - Barbican children's library is really helpful but is squished for space, like most of them. So I have to know what I want and then ask them to dig it out of deep storage - which means you can't do inspirational shelf-browsing.

ACHUKA website, Marina? No, I don't know about it ... spill!

I would heartily recommend the Children's Bookshop
Muswell Hill, 29 Fortis Green Road, London N10 3RY. Tel: 020 8444 5500. Fax: 020 8883 8632.
It's quite a small shop but they are v helpful.

NQC, do you mean Foyle's? I haven't tried that.

I'm crossing posts with people, so if it seems like I haven't thanked or acknowledged, sorry - I am grateful!

Foyle's, that's the one.

I haven't been in their kids' section for a little while, but last time I checked it was big, chaotic, but reasonably well-stocked. I even found a helpful assistant. I suspect your odds of running into to someone who knows their stuff is higher at Foyle's than at any of the chains.

Our local shop is lovely, though, it's a short bus ride away from Mile End tube, if you're ever tempted.

If Miss Grainger were web-enabled...

theres one in temple fortune but the name escapes me

Tales on Moon Lane had a good selection and helpful staff when I was there last year. It is Herne Hill - is that too far off central London?

There's a lovely one in Richmond called The Lion and the Unicorn which is quite small, but they are very knowledgeable about their subject and will advise you about what sort of thing your child might like eg they directed me towards shorter Dick King-Smith stuff for DS2 who was then a newly fluent, animal-loving 4 year old. They have book signings and author visits and stuff too.