All London bookshops
Every one hand-picked. Filter by type or area, or open the map.
68 bookshops
Central London · secondhand
Any Amount of Books
One of the last survivors of Charing Cross Road's storied secondhand book trade, with GBP1 bargain crates outside and rare and antiquarian stock within. A living piece of the street's literary history.
Central London · specialist
Atlantis Bookshop
The oldest independent occult bookshop in the country, trading since 1922 just off the British Museum, with rare and new titles on magic, folklore and the esoteric plus regular talks. Utterly distinctive.
Central London · specialist
Bookmarks
Britain's socialist bookshop since 1974, with a distinctive political identity, a busy events programme and a resilience that made headlines after a 2018 far-right attack. A clear reason to make a deliberate visit.
Central London · new
Brunswick Bookshop
Central London · mixed
Clerkenwells
Central London · specialist
Donlon Books (Soho)
Soho branch of the acclaimed art-book specialist.
Central London · new
G Heywood Hill Ltd
A Mayfair institution since 1936, famed for personal curation and 'A Year in Books'; the Nancy Mitford shop. Genuinely exceptional.
Central London · new
Goldsboro Books
Since 1999 the go-to for signed first editions, running a hugely popular Book of the Month subscription and drawing collectors from around the world. The anchor of Cecil Court's book row.
Central London · secondhand
Henry Pordes Books
A long-standing Charing Cross Road institution mixing remaindered new books with secondhand and antiquarian finds over two floors. Characterful, dense and a bibliophile's browse.
Central London · secondhand
Jarndyce Booksellers
A distinguished antiquarian dealer in a period Georgian shop directly opposite the British Museum, specialising in 18th/19th-century literature, Dickens and social history. Scholarly, atmospheric and one of a kind.
Central London · secondhand
Judd Books
A well-loved two-floor independent with strong art, history and humanities sections mixing secondhand, remainders and bargain new titles. A Bloomsbury staple for students and academics.
Central London · new
London Review Bookshop
The intellectual heart of literary London: run by the London Review of Books, with a superb, opinionated selection, an adjoining cake shop and one of the city's best author-event programmes. A destination in its own right.
Central London · specialist
Marchpane
A wonderland of rare and antiquarian children's and illustrated books (with a famous Alice in Wonderland specialism) on historic Cecil Court. Enchanting for collectors and browsers alike.
Central London · secondhand
Skoob Books
A cavernous basement holding around 55,000 secondhand titles - London's broadest secondhand academic selection, at roughly half new price. A browser's paradise near UCL and SOAS.
Central London · specialist
Treadwell's
A renowned esoteric bookshop and events space with a scholarly bent - tarot, folklore, witchcraft and mythology alongside a packed calendar of lectures and courses. A cult favourite.
Central London · specialist
Watkins Books
Founded 1893 and reputedly the world's oldest esoteric bookshop, a Cecil Court institution for mysticism, philosophy and spirituality with tarot readings and events. Deeply atmospheric and one of a kind.
Central London · specialist
Wildy & Sons Ltd
The UK's leading law bookseller, under the Lincoln's Inn archway since 1830.
East London · mixed
Bard Books
East London · mixed
Brick Lane Bookshop
Opened 1977-78 as the area's first bookshop, with an ethos of developing authors that endures through its annual Short Story Prize. Carries an unusually deep collection of novels and historical texts on the East End alongside general fiction and poetry. A literary landmark of Brick Lane.
East London · new
Burley Fisher Books
Champions books from independent publishers and introduces readers to fresh, undiscovered voices, with a basement events space and a coffee shop. A distinctive identity built around small-press discovery rather than bestseller stacks. Regular author events make it a deliberate-visit destination.
East London · specialist
Donlon Books
An idiosyncratic art-and-counterculture specialist and publisher open since 2008, stocking new, rare and out-of-print titles sourced from artists, fairs and research trips abroad.
East London · new
Jambala
East London · new
Libreria
A Second Home-designed labyrinth with mustard walls and reading alcoves, arranging books by theme rather than alphabetically and enforcing a strict no-phones policy. A risograph press in the basement and a strong cultural programme make it a destination in its own right.
East London · mixed
Pages of Hackney
Award-winning independent open since 2008 with an unusually thoughtful, well-curated mix that foregrounds marginalised and under-represented voices. The basement houses The Record Deck's vinyl and the shop runs a busy author-events programme plus a pay-it-forward scheme for low-income families.
East London · mixed
Phlox Books
Founded 2017 by bookseller Aimee on Leyton's charming Francis Road, pairing a well-chosen selection of fiction, non-fiction and children's books with barista coffee and a wine/beer offer. A relaxed, characterful neighbourhood bookshop-cafe that anchors its street. Genuinely the kind of place readers linger in.
East London · new
The Broadway Bookshop
A small, beloved Broadway Market fixture that "captivates you as soon as you walk through the door" with tightly curated fiction, local history and children's titles. It functions as a community hub at the heart of one of East London's best market streets. Strong reputation as a destination browse.
North London · secondhand
Abney Books
Stoke Newington's largest secondhand bookshop, opened 2024, with a flat-priced general stock (around £4 a book) that is especially deep in fiction - eight shelves of Penguins plus strong horror, crime and sci-fi - alongside local zines and in-store poetry readings. A characterful, browsable addition to the High Street.
North London · mixed
BookBar (Islington)
North London · secondhand
Church Street Bookshop
A long-established secondhand shop (the proprietor has sold on Church Street since 1980) with mostly good-quality non-fiction, some unusual arts titles, decent 20th-century fiction and a bargain box. A nostalgic browse on one of North London's prettiest streets.
North London · new
Highgate Bookshop
A cosy, characterful independent with a bright green frontage on Highgate High Street, covering a broad range of genres and with a fascinating section devoted to Highgate's local history. A quiet, well-loved village bookshop worth the climb up the hill.
North London · mixed
House of Books
A family-owned, entirely independent Crouch End shop (over 125 years of combined bookselling experience) specialising in high-quality remainder and pre-loved books at excellent prices, with notably strong art/design, music, politics and science sections. Great value and real expertise behind the counter.
North London · secondhand
House of Hodge
A dedicated charity bookshop (originally animal-welfare, now also supporting literacy projects) crammed with good, cheap stock - more hardbacks than typical for a charity shop, plus strong history and art/photography.
North London · mixed
Housmans Bookshop
A landmark radical bookshop founded in 1945 and at these premises since 1959, specialising in progressive politics with an excellent new range plus a secondhand basement (the "Vaults") and bargain corner. A singular, mission-led institution unlike any chain.
North London · new
Ink@84 Books & Drink
A warm independent bookshop-and-wine-bar on Highbury Park, pairing a well-chosen general range with coffee, a licensed bar and a lively author-events programme. A LoveReading Bookshop of the Month and a genuine neighbourhood gathering place worth seeking out.
North London · specialist
Of Books and Love
A cosy, single-minded romance-and-fantasy bookshop that opened in 2024 on Cross Street, with a clear identity and a devoted community of readers. The kind of focused, characterful specialist that romance/fantasy fans will travel across London for.
North London · specialist
Pickled Pepper Books
A carefully curated Crouch End children's bookshop that doubles as a small theatre and events space, running book groups, author visits and shows. A destination in its own right for families and a beloved local institution.
North London · new
Stoke Newington Bookshop
An award-winning independent established in 1987 (it won a Best Bookshop in London award), with an extensive, well-curated range especially strong in fiction and children's, plus a busy events programme. A sister shop, Stoke Newington Toys and Books, serves children. A long-standing community anchor.
North London · new
Upper Street Bookshop
A genuinely independent Islington shop with a tightly handpicked selection rather than algorithmic stacks, notably strong in queer literature, children's, classics and literary non-fiction. A warm, opinionated neighbourhood bookshop on Upper Street worth a deliberate browse.
North London · mixed
Word on the Water
A 100-year-old Dutch barge moored by Granary Square selling carefully chosen secondhand and new books, with live music and a wood-stove. One of London's most photographed and genuinely beloved bookshops - a destination in the truest sense.
North West London · new
Archive Bookstore
North West London · new
Camden Town Bookshop
A Camden Town neighbourhood independent.
North West London · new
Funny Weather
A bright-yellow bookshop-cafe at the corner of Hampstead Heath, opened December 2025, with reading nooks, barista coffee and a well-selected range. A characterful new addition already drawing a loyal (and starry) crowd.
North West London · new
House Of Books (West Hampstead)
North West London · new
Owl Bookshop
Established 1974 and a Kentish Town institution: beautifully ordered, clearly sectioned, dog-friendly, with an excellent local-interest range and translated fiction. A genuine neighbourhood destination.
North West London · mixed
Primrose Hill Books
A family-run independent for 30+ years, nestled in a row of terraces and oozing character, with a strong secondhand collection and a busy programme of talks and author events. A Primrose Hill landmark.
North West London · new
Queen's Park Books
Family-run since 2004 and named London's Independent Bookshop of the Year at the 2025 British Book Awards. Over 10,000 hand-curated titles, a renovated children's section and 20+ years at the heart of the community. A flagship independent.
North West London · secondhand
Walden Books
Founded 1979 by David Tobin, on a quiet leafy Camden backstreet under a magnificent wisteria. A beloved secondhand and rare specialist in literature and the arts - the kind of creaking-shelf shop people make a detour for.
North West London · new
West End Lane Books
A well-loved West Hampstead independent with a busy author-events calendar.
South London · secondhand
Bookmongers
A Brixton institution for 30+ years, run by Patrick Kelly, with inspiring, tightly organised stock and resident cat Popeye. The definitive South London secondhand browse.
South London · mixed
Chener Books
Opened by John Kennedy in 1978 and a fixture of East Dulwich's literary scene ever since, mixing new and secondhand with a personal, long-established character.
South London · new
Clapham Books
A cosy, expertly curated community bookshop opposite Clapham Common, with weekly story-time, a tailored monthly subscription and quick special orders. Clapham's go-to independent.
South London · new
Dulwich Books
A friendly, award-winning independent (a former Independent Bookshop of the Year) serving West Dulwich with expert recommendations, a subscription service and a lively events calendar.
South London · new
Review
A tiny, intelligently curated shop co-run by award-winning novelist Evie Wyld, famously dog-friendly and home to the Peckham Literary Festival each November. Punches far above its size and a real local anchor.
South London · new
Riverside Bookshop
South London · specialist
Round Table Books
A Black, South Asian and Queer-owned, inclusion-led bookshop in Brixton Village, winner of Best Children's Bookshop at the 2023 British Book Awards, with deep community partnerships. A genuinely distinctive destination.
South London · new
Rye Books
A warm, dog-friendly independent since 2011 with hand-picked new stock, good coffee and cake, and a busy programme of author events and signings. An East Dulwich favourite.
South London · new
Village Books
An award-winning, small-but-mighty independent just off Dulwich Village's main street, with a bright red shopfront and a heritage dating to 1925 (as the Gallery Bookshop & Lending Library). A much-loved local.
West London · mixed
BookBar (Chelsea)
West London · mixed
Bookcase London
Family-run independent since 1993 selling new books at bargain prices across all genres, plus stationery, puzzles and games; expanded in 2022 with the Underground Vinyl record shop. Independent with real local character.
West London · new
Everybody Reads
Carefully curated new books plus gifts and stationery, but the draw is the community programme: monthly fiction/novella/non-fiction reading groups, shared reading sessions and author talks. A newer shop that has quickly built a loyal following.
West London · secondhand
Foster Books
Run by the Foster family for 50+ years behind Chiswick High Road's oldest shopfront (a listed 1790 green bay window). Much stock is uncatalogued on the shelves - a browser's paradise for rare and secondhand finds. A true destination.
West London · secondhand
Hurlingham Books
A crammed, characterful secondhand shop near Fulham's Hurlingham; a browser's favourite.
West London · new
John Sandoe Books
One of London's most revered independents, since 1957, across three floors of a Georgian house off the King's Road; legendary hand-selling and staff knowledge. A pilgrimage bookshop.
West London · new
Nomad Books
A much-loved Fulham Road independent with a cafe, book groups and a strong events programme.
West London · specialist
Saucy Books
Billed as England's first romance-only bookshop: steamy classics, bestselling romantasy and bodice-rippers. A clear identity and a real reason to visit for the genre's readers.
West London · mixed
South Kensington Books
In the museum quarter beside the V&A and Natural History Museum since the 1940s. New releases plus exclusive Independent Bookshop editions, knowledgeable staff and strong art/design coverage. A characterful survivor in a prime cultural spot.
West London · new
The Notting Hill Bookshop
The blue-fronted shop that inspired the 1999 film, but it earns its place beyond the fame: a small, tightly curated mix of travel writing, fiction and YA with a real sense of place. A genuine destination on the Portobello circuit.
West London · secondhand
World's End Bookshop
A long-standing King's Road secondhand shop with bargain baskets outside and rare finds within, over two floors.