45 brilliant bookshops in London to visit in 2025

One of London’s most famous bookshops, and quite possibly its most beautiful, Daunt Books was founded in 1990 by James Daunt on the beautiful Edwardian premises that formerly belonged to antiquarian booksellers Francis Edwards. Supposedly the first custom-built bookshop in the world, its gorgeous interiors feature oak balconies, viridian-green walls, conservatory ceilings and stained-glass windows. Daunt specialises in travel writing, so you’ll find especially good collections of guidebooks, maps, language references, history books, travelogues and related fiction organised by country. Travel aside, Daunt is also a first-rate stop for literary fiction, biography, gardening and much more.

This Brixton institution is everything you could want from a secondhand bookshop. Run by American-born Patrick Kelly, who opened the shop’s doors more than 30 years ago, it’s developed a devoted following. Its stock is inspiring and well-organised if slightly overflowing, but be warned: you might get distracted from your book hunt by resident cat Popeye.

Foyles’ flagship store is a vast temple to the printed word. Standing proud on Charing Cross Road, it covers a whopping five floors, with a staggering 4 miles’ worth of shelves holding more than 200,000 titles. You can easily lose yourself for a few hours in here. On the top floor there’s a café and exhibition space, where high-profile authors often stop by for special readings and talks.

From the inviting and stimulating presentation to the quality of the books selected, this is an inspiring bookshop. Politics, current affairs and history are well represented on the ground floor; downstairs, audiobooks lead on to exciting poetry and philosophy sections, everything you’d expect from a shop owned by the purveyor of long-form critical writing that is the London Review of Books. It also hosts an excellent programme of evening in-conversation events, usually taking place once or twice a week and often recorded for the shop’s podcast.

With eight miles of shelving and over 200,000 books in stock at any one time, the Piccadilly branch of the UK’s largest bookstore chain is the biggest bookshop in the whole of Europe, and features six floors of books alongside two cafes and a bar/restaurant. Particularly worth checking out is its second-floor children’s section, which is decorated with a circus theme and features a large games section and plenty of activities, including weekly storytime sessions on Sundays. The store also stages an eclectic events programme, with the likes of Hilary Mantel, Stephen Fry, Margaret Atwood, Keanu Reeves and Hillary Clinton having previously popped in for talks and book signings, and regular book clubs themed around everything from YA fiction and sci-fi to London love stories.

There’s a strict no-mobiles policy at this design-led temple to the printed word, but the lure of the little flashing screen is weak compared to the appeal of its glorious shelves. Books are arranged according to theme, rather than alphabetically, so you can browse by ‘Wanderlust’ or ‘Enchantment for the Disenchanted’. Cosy nooks among the shelves invite you to sit and read for a while. 

A purveyor of hard-to-source tomes on art, photography and culture, Climax Books was founded by former Dazed Editor-in-Chief Isabella Burley in 2020, and had already achieved cult status among the chicest members of London’s fashion crowd by the time its physical shop opened in 2023. Stocking everything from rare first edition art books and cultural ephemera to some very cool merch including latex tote bags and underwear and t-shirts made in collaboration with Chopova Lowena, the shop on Soho’s Wardour Mews is currently open from Thursday to Saturday. You’ll want to buy something for the hot pink shopping bags alone. 

Established in 1978 as a community project, this lovely little bookshop stocks a great range of fiction, local history and the usual non-fiction sections, along with cards, wrapping paper and gifts. The shop has played an important role in its local community from its beginnings, and hosts various community events, including an annual short story prize, monthly book clubs (with discounts on the selected books for members), regular writers’ workshops and book launches. It offers free delivery to any residents in the borough with orders over £15. No surprise, then, that the shop was named as as London’s regional winner in 2024’s Independent Bookshop of the Year awards.

When this haven opened in 1979, gay books could only be found in a handful of radical shops. These days, LGBTQ+ literature has hit the mainstream, but Gay’s the Word is still essential, with a breadth far beyond ‘Call Me by Your Name’. Its rainbow array takes in kids’ stories, graphic novels, poetry, history and more, while it has played host to a who’s who of big names, including Ali Smith and Ocean Vuong. 

Artwords has its finger firmly on the pulse when it comes to contemporary visual arts publications. Stock relating to contemporary fine art dominates, but there are also plenty of architecture, photography, graphic design, fashion, advertising, music and film titles, plus an excellent range of industry and creative magazines. And if none of that tickles your fancy, there’s plenty of fiction too.

A chaotic vortex of secondhand literature, Fulham’s Hurlingham Books is a great place to visit if you enjoy making serendipitous discoveries. Finding specific titles in the haphazard piles is a bit of a fruitless quest, but it’s great fun to ride through them for eye-catching titles and covers, which are priced very fairly. Proprietor Ray Cole has run the shop since 1968, and keeps it topped up from a nearby warehouse that apparently contains over a million books.

London’s first Black bookshop has played a crucial role in Black literary life since it was founded in 1966. You can see proof of that in just how much the community rallied around the store in 2022 when, under the threat of closure, admirers raised more than £80,000 save to it. Not only does New Beacon stock works by Caribbean, Black British, African and African-American authors, it also runs its own publishing house, through which it nurtures new talent.

After a series of past lives in various West End locations, Skoob now occupies a tunnel-like space in the basement of Bloomsbury’s Brunswick Centre. Its subterranean stacks (and a 10% student discount) draw plenty of trade from the nearby universities, but it’s a popular spot with London bibliophiles of all ages. Personally, I’m a big fan of their dedicated shelf for old-fashioned orange Penguin paperbacks, but there’s also an extensive non-fiction selection covering everything from cinema to theology.

Books for Cooks runs on a simple but very successful formula. From the small open kitchen, co-owner Eric Treuillé cooks recipes from the cookbooks that are for sale in the shop. You don’t get a choice – until it comes to pudding, when there’s an array of must-try cakes (lemon victoria sponge, raspberry and pear cake, or chocolate and orange cake, say) – but the standard of cooking is high. So popular is the bargain lunch in the tiny café at the back of this specialist cookbook shop that regulars start lurking from 11.45am to secure a table (no bookings are taken).  

Founded by a gaggle of pacifists in 1945, Housmans stays true to its radical roots. There are special events like talks about social issues from the patriarchy to the rental crisis, programmes with progressive authors, and niche book groups that meet here. Plus, there’s a collection of books, periodicals and zines that are ready to educate you on views you won’t find in the mainstream. Make for the basement to score some serious bargains on books on everything from pacifism to psychogeography.

Stumbling across this beautiful bookshop in a Chelsea backstreet, you might feel like you’ve entered a Dickens novel. The shop, founded in 1957, occupies three floors of three connecting eighteenth-century shops with gorgeous window boxes outside displaying floral blooms. Inside, rows of books fill every surface, with what the shop calls a ‘bias for the humanities’.

On Piccadilly, in a prestigious spot next to posh grocer’s Fortnum & Mason, is the UK’s oldest bookshop. First opening its doors in 1797, Hatchards covers four floors and is home to 100,000 books. And while it’s now owned by Waterstones, you won’t get a whiff of a chain store here; three royal warrants means a visit here is still a refined experience. For a more modern shopping experience, check out its second store on St Pancras station, which opened in 2014.

Don’t let the violent mint-choc-chip paint throw you off. Bookshop on the Heath is just as functional as it is quirky. Take a quick trip here if you’re looking for more unusual items. It specialises in rare and secondhand books, maps and ephemera. If you’re more into film or enjoy artistic crossover, the store also stocks film and TV posters, perfect for framing and hanging in your hallway.

Founded in 2008, this boutique bookshop in London Fields is known for its idiosyncratic selection of books and magazines covering art, photography, music and fashion, many of which are sourced directly from indie publishers and individual creators. Expect an in-the-know selection that’s heavy on critical theory and countercultures, as well as helpful advice and a good range of hard-to-find and out-of-print titles. And keep an eye on the shop’s Instagram to hear about upcoming events; it’s hosted book launches, talks and literary salons with the likes of Wolfgang Tillmans, David Armstrong, Eileen Myles, Worms Magazine and The Archive of Modern Conflict.

Foster Books is a must-visit for any self-respecting bookworm. The tiny historic bookshop has been operating for 50 years in the heart of Chiswick, and specialises in hard-to-find, out-of-print, used and rare books. While you can buy from its website, a lot of stock goes uncatalogued on the shelves, so make sure you pop in and browse around for the full selection.

Comics aren’t just for kids, as you’ll find out when you step foot in Soho’s Gosh!. Its wow-worthy selection proves that there’s a graphic novel for every possible taste, from manga to funnies to art books to memoirs. Venture downstairs to buy single issues of vintage comics, or browse its excellent collection of prints and posters for colourful art to make your home look more intelligent.

Opened in 2016, this Haggerston emporium sells new and second-hand books with a specialism in indie presses. Locals also come for the coffee and chat, plus regular 'in person' events with authors and other book world luminaries.

Kirkdale Bookshop has been a Sydenham fixture for 57 years and it has become something of a cultural hub for the local community in that time. Inside, beyond the expected shelves of books, you’ll find a tiny gallery, regular music events and a bimonthly book group. It encompasses two floors, includes new and secondhand books and also sells gifts and cards.

Would you class magazines as books? The journalists at this publication would, and if you, too, are a fan of glossy spreads that smell of fresh ink, you’ll want to check out this Clerkenwell shrine to print magazines. magCulture stocks over 600 indie titles from all over the world, so whatever your niche, you’ll find a publication to interest you – from art and football magazine OOF to DOG, a magazine about, erm, dogs. Even if you don’t end up reading them, they’ll certainly brighten up your coffee table.

Books and water don’t usually mix, but this floating shop is an  exception. An 100-year-old dutch barge in King’s Cross is filled to the gunwales with new and secondhand books, a cosy stove and even an African grey parrot. Go to expand your literary horizons far beyond its narrow space, or for the poetry slams or live music nights that bring well-read crowds to the canalside.

Tucked away above Wardour Street’s shopfronts in an unassuming second-floor office space and available to visit by appointment only, IDEA’s Soho ‘book room’ is a bit of an open secret. With its clean white walls and artfully displayed titles on art, fashion and photography sitting alongside tongue-in-cheek slogan caps and tees, the space feels more like a chic lifestyle store or commercial art gallery than a bookshop. Be sure to email ahead if you‘re keen to browse its discerningly curated edit of books and magazines, which may feature anything from the Spice Girls official 1997 photo album and to a first-edition Robert Mapplethorpe photobook.

This blooming beautiful bookshop is just around the corner from Kew Gardens, so it’s little surprise that its wares often take their inspiration from horticulture. There’s even a driftwood ‘book tree’ decked with ivy and particularly pretty volumes. Pick up a book that’ll finally tell you how to stop murdering your houseplants, or browse its collection of rare and antiquarian books.

Broadway Market is a prime spot for browsing and no wander around these parts is complete without popping into this cosy bookshop. It’s larger than it looks from the outside, with steps leading down into a basement filled with new fiction, local history and children’s books. It also holds intimate events here – keep an eye on its Twitter to find out what’s coming up.

It’s hard to walk past Lutyens & Rubinstein’s elegant striped awning, and not be intrigued to find out what’s past the smart exterior. Set up by the literary agency of the same name, this beautifully designed bookshop aims to provide an idiosyncratic browsing experience. The stock was assembled after canvassing hundreds of readers, meaning each book has found its way here following a personal recommendation. 

Heywood Hill was awarded a royal warrant in 2011, making it a bookshop fit for the most regal of bookworms. Based in Mayfair in a beautiful Georgian townhouse, it’s clear that this literary icon is a classy operation. The shop’s exterior is traditional and simple, complete with a blue plaque marking the fact that novelist Nancy Mitford worked here as an assistant during World War II. The books on sale range from brand new to antiquarian, with a great children’s section. 

Originally founded to provide educational materials as part of Newham Parents’ Centre, this community-focused bookshop has grown into an important neighbourhood resource. The stock is geared to local residents – half of it is dedicated to children and there are strong politics, social science and self-help sections, plus a significant number of bilingual dictionaries reflecting the diversity of the area.

Tucked down a residential street in Camden, Walden has to be one of London’s most beautiful bookshops – especially when the wisteria over the door is in bloom. The shop has been here for more than 45 years, and its creaking shelves are always worth browsing for out-of-print oddities. Particular areas of focus include literature and art, but you can find plenty of fiction, poetry, history and travel. Bargain-hunters should head for the cheap paperbacks out the front, while serious collectors can peruse a glass case full of rarities. Their booksellers are unusually knowledgeable too.

This small family-run bookshop can be found on what might be the prettiest (and poshest) high street in London. Owners Jessica and Marek, who’ve been here for nearly 30 years, sell both new and secondhand books (the latter of which are also available through their website). They also host intimate literary events with names like Jeanette Winterson and Martin Amis.

East London's queer bookworms are well served by this spot, which bills itself as ‘London's first consciously intersectional bookshop’. Although sadly it had to close its onsite cafe and cocktail bar due to economic pressures, there are still novels, plays, poetry and non fiction to peruse, as well as late opening until 10pm, six days a week.

Bright and airy, with wooden floors and comfy sofas, Nomad is a lively and popular shop and café on Fulham Road. There’s something for all ages here, but if you’re looking to entertain the little ones, stop by one of their regular story time events. There’s also a strong children’s section, gifts, stationery and a regular book club.

Just round the corner from the touristy thoroughfares of Theatreland, nestled among the quaint little indie shops, antiques and curiosities of Cecil Court, you’ll find this charming little bookshop specialising in independent art publishing. Stocking loads of intriguing titles from contemporary London indie publishers like Pilot Press, Bookworks, Hajar Press and Four Corners, it’s the sort of place where you could happily spend hours browsing the rare photo books, vintage magazines and indie poetry collections on its shelves.

There are plenty of places to buy new books in London, and lots of cheap secondhand options too – but Judd is a gem when it comes to brand-new bargains. The tables in its main room are stacked with remainered art and photography books, exhibition catalogues, and popular fiction both recent and classic, all heavily marked down – I’ve snagged books here for an 80 percent discount. The rest of the shop is devoted to secondhand copies, with art, philosophy and social sciences heavily represented alongside fiction, poetry and drama.

If the name of this bookshop is giving you flashbacks to a certain Hugh Grant and Julia Robert film, then you’re spot on. This is the space which inspired the setting for the romcom ‘Notting Hill’. K-pop fans should keep an eye out when visiting – the exterior is a favourite photo spot of idol groups when they’re in town. However, if you want to visit for more literary purposes, it’s good to know that, as well as an excellent selection of travel books, these days, the small independent store also carries a broad range of genres, from YA to True Crime.

Not only does this children’s bookshop have a brilliantly inclusive range of books for all ages, it also has weekly interactive storytelling events, craft sessions and even book groups for bigger kids. Big name kid’s book authors and illustrators such as Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers, Julia Donaldson and Rob Biddulph stop here for event and there’s a secret theatre in the back which has sensory shows for children aged 0-3.

A clever rearrange has made Kentish Town’s Owl Bookshop easier to negotiate: classic fiction has been given room to expand and there are some armchairs to help you relax while you mull over your choices. Trading for a good three decades, the shop covers food and drink, gardening, sport and fiction, with all stock judiciously laid out. There’s a strong children’s section to the right as you come in and a smart selection of stationery and magazines for sale. Owl also stocks some DVDs (mainly cult and classic films) and CDs (particularly classical, world music and jazz). You can combine fiction and non-fiction in the popular four-for-three promotions. All in all, a valuable local resource in this part of north London.

As featured in the 100 best shops in London

Review is the brainchild of Roz Simpson, founder of the Peckham Literary Festival, and author Evie Wyld. It’s a tiny shop that’s intelligently curated and famously dog-friendly (its website even has a dog-themed reading list). The events programme is particularly strong, and the shop is also the home of the aforementioned Peckham Literary Festival, which takes place each November.

Leicester Square’s Cecil Court has long been home to a cluster of antiquarian booksellers, and Goldsboro Books is arguably the best of the bunch. As the largest signed first-edition specialist in the UK, its premises may not bulge with the weight of stock at neighbouring repositories, but everything on sale here has been autographed by its author. Writers – including household names like Salman Rushdie, Ian Rankin and Margaret Atwood – regularly sign consignments of first editions for the shop, which often sell for the same price as unsigned editions elsewhere. Goldsboro is also responsible for one of the world’s largest first-edition book clubs; there’s a new title each month and many are exclusive to the store and bound in limited-edition slipcases.

So iconic is this travel bookshop it even gets a mention in Arthur Conan Doyle’s Hound of the Baskervilles. Set up by Edward Stanford in 1853, the Stanfords flagship store was situated in a grand old building on Long Acre. After more than 100 years in its former home, the bookshop relocated to its current site just around the corner at 7 Mercer Walk, where customers can find its same unparalleled selection of travel stock, from guides and maps, to travel writing and gifts.

A boutique bookshop and suitably atmospheric cultural centre for those with an interest in witchcraft, magic, spirituality, culture, religion, divination and more. Treadwell's have both secondhand and new books on offer, and rare and unusual editions too. They also host a regular lecture series and workshops for people interested in various aspects of magical thinking and esoteric arts. On top of all that, you can swing by for a tarot reading with one of their six tarot consultants. 

Not many bookshops organise stock by colour, via signs reading ‘mix of old and new but like trending stuff’ or have hand-drawn floor plans tacked to the wall, but organised chaos is the vibe at Crofton Books in SE4. Set up by local poet Jason Shelley, it sells predominantly secondhand and antiquarian literature. Books tumble from shelves and rise from the floor like Jenga bricks in precarious-looking stacks that spill on to the street. Depending on which day you visit, you might find a metal shopping basket full of ‘yellow books’, a shelf full of old school Penguin classics or a hardback with a bizarre inscription scrawled in the sleeve from the Occult section. Whenever you go, you’re guaranteed to stumble across something strange and fantastic – and for an absolute steal (most books are £2). Like Paris’s Shakespeare and Co, it oozes literary magic. Don’t pass up a chance to visit, and bring a few empty tote bags when you do, you’ll definitely need them.