Favorite Bookshops in London

Daunt Books is known for its beautiful interior and huge selection of travel books. I have a tote bag I bought there and sometimes people will stop me to remark on what a great shop it is.

My favorite bookshop in London was Persephone Books, specializing in reprinting titles mainly by women writers from the 1850s forward, but they moved to Bath a couple of years ago--so of course when I went to London last year I had a day trip to Bath planned and spent a happy hour--and quite a few pounds--there.

My other favorite is a vintage children's book shop in the Covent Garden area called Marchpane, on Cecil Court, which has several other interesting shops, including an antique shop with a delightful proprietor, and is a couple of blocks from the Covent Garden market.

I haven't been yet but Hatchards is at the top of my wish list.

Hatchards is the oldest continually running bookstore in London.

A few blocks down, Waterstone's on Piccadilly is the largest bookstore in Europe.

Stanfords near Covent Garden specializes in travel books.

Second vote for Daunts

Foyles on Charing Cross is a large modern bookshop. The former location was wonderful with little nooks where you could get lost.

Daunt Marylebone - A stunning Edwardian shop with a slightly odd filing system

London Review Bloomsbury - run by the magazine of the same name, they also have regular talks

Foyle's Charing Cross Road - massive store with (apparently) four miles of shelves

Koenig Hyde Park - excellent for art and photography

Hatchards Piccadilly - although owned by Waterstones these days, it still feels independent

Primrose Hill Books - smaller quaint shop

Word On the Water, King's Cross - on a canal barge

Additionally you will find lots of bookshops along Charing Cross Road, especially heading from Cambridge Circus towards Trafalgar Square, including up side streets such as Cecil Court.

Thanks everyone! I'm starting my list.

Hatchards.

Stanfords for travel guides/books, maps and accessories.

Foster Books in Chiswick.

Books on the Rise Richmond.

If you like children’s books the Alligator’s Mouth in Richmond.

Walden Books in Chalk Farm. Used books galore

There are a lot fewer bookshops on Charing Cross Road and around than there were twenty years ago, due to a combination of internet competition for the secondhand market, and high rents.

Hatchards is great.