London’s best bookshops

Author Neil Gaiman wrote, ‘A book is a dream that you hold in your hand’. We reckon he could be onto something… Here’s our guide to London’s top page emporiums.

London Review Bookshop

If ever there was a bookshop that felt like a dream, the London Review Bookshop in Bloomsbury would be that place. The friendly staff know everything there is to know about literature and should you try to bamboozle them with a tricky request, they’ll do their utmost to find you what you’re looking for. Over 20,000 titles are nestled in this magical place. There’s also a cake shop that serves cups of nice things and slices of mouth-watering quiche alongside the sweet stuff.

Daunt Books

In the words of Bill Bryson, ‘The greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time’. If you’ve never stepped inside Daunt Books in Marylebone London before, then prepare yourself for said experience. A bookshop that welcomes readers, travellers and the curious, Daunt Books is an inspiring Edwardian shop that arranges its titles principally by country, whether fiction or non-fiction. It makes for completely individual book browsing and you’ll feel like a globetrotter by the time you leave.

Tales on Moon Lane

‘Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.’ Roald Dahl, we couldn’t agree more. A top tip before visiting the enchanting Tales on Moon Lane in South East London is to sprinkle a healthy dose of fairy dust over your own head and shoulders and those of your little ones too, if you’re treating the children to a story-time picnic at this award-winning independent bookshop. The ever-changing window display bursts with imagination and inside this shop’s four walls adventure awaits, not just for kids but for grown-ups too.

Gosh! Comics

David Almond penned this to paper: ‘Drawing makes you look at the world more closely. It helps you to see what you’re looking at more clearly.’ For fans of graphic novels, this quote will surely resonate. At Gosh! Comics in Soho, London you’ll find both long-form fictional and non-fictional bodies of work. Their vast selection of graphic novels, manga, children’s books and comics makes them a favourite for fans of these genres. Gosh! also host a monthly Drink and Draw event where you can channel your inner artistic muse and doodle the night away.

London Review Bookshop
Daunt Books
Tales on Moon Lane
Gosh! Comics