Adventurers from around the globe flock to Stanfords - the Covent Garden store which claims to be the world’s largest specialist travel bookshop.
Captain Scott, Florence Nightingale and the British Army have been customers; it has even helped out James Bond and Sherlock Holmes. Now, it welcomes thousands of prospective explorers who come to browse their huge collection of maps, globes and travel guides.
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.
The in-store cafe can still be found here too, where globetrotters can plan their next trip over locally roasted coffee, cakes and sandwiches.