Places In London To Buy and Enjoy Books.
London is a book lover’s paradise.
There are so many bookshops catering to a wide range of tastes and interests.
Add to this the numerous libraries, and coffee shops, to snuggle down in, and it’s no surprise to find that any literature fan will struggle to leave.
The beauty of London is that there are hidden treasures around every corner.
Here are a collection of some we discovered whilst living here.
Hatchard's, Piccadilly.
A historic book shop on Piccadilly that sells first editions as well as new novels.
This bookshop has been open since 1797.
It’s a popular bookshop frequented by authors and famous celebrities.
Sotheran's, Sackville Street (moving address soon).
This bookshop specialises in rare and collectable books.
It is famous for having purchased Charles Dicken’s library after his death.
Sotheran’s has been in existence since 1761 and is soon to move to a new location.
Waterstones, Gower Street.
Waterstones is a popular UK book chain.
This particular branch is close to the University College London (UCL) campus.
It occupies a superb building.
There is a vinyl record section and a cafe inside.
The shop can get busy with students but this just adds to the vibrant feel of the area.
London Review Bookshop, Bury Place.
Situated near to the British Museum this is an ideal stop off point before, or after visiting the museum.
There is a small cafe in the shop and an open courtyard at the rear where you can sit in the summer.
Stanfords, Covent Garden.
This bookshop is close to the tourist hotspot of Covent Garden.
It specialises in travel books, as well as maps, globes and other travel accessories.
The London section of the shop is the ideal place to pick up a book to help plan a stay in the city.
Wellcome Collection, Euston Road.
The Wellcome Collection Reading Room is a perfect place to sit and read a book.
The room is on the second floor of the building.
Sit on one of the comfy armchairs, lounge on the cushions, and escape from the fast pace of London life for a while.
The Museum of Freemasonry, Great Queen Street.
This free museum is situated in a beautiful old building near to Holborn tube station.
It has a reading room/study area.
Desks can be booked in advance by emailing contact@museumfreemasonry.org.uk
For more details of this unusual museum visit the website here.