Five of the best bookshop cafes

Visit one of these awesome bookish cafes across the network and celebrate National Storytelling Week from 1–8 February. What better way to relax than with a thrilling book and a delicious cuppa? Plan your journey in advance to get the cheapest deals and travel with total ease on your chosen day – book in hand.

London

Phlox Books, 159 Francis Road
Phlox Books goes beyond good coffee as they serve local craft beer and wine too. This trendy independent bookshop in east London even offers outdoor seating so you can sit down with a cup of something nice while you read your latest literary purchases.
phlowbooks.com

The Café at Foyles, 107 Charing Cross Road
You can easily while away hours in Foyles’ flagship store in London, which houses 200,000 books across four miles of shelving – blimey! You’ll find their sleek, modern café on the fifth floor, serving everything from light salad bites to full-on meals. The café is known for being on the pricey side but the coffee is good and the cakes are even better.
foyles.co.uk/bookstore-charing-cross

Oxford

Blackwell’s Bookshop, 48-51 Broad Street
This enormous bookshop in Oxford has been trading since 1879 and is the largest academic and specialist bookseller in the UK. You’ll find everything from the latest new releases to fiction, non-fiction, classics and more. When you’re tired of perusing the many shelves, sit down in the café and relax with a well-deserved hot drink.
blackwells.co.uk

Brighton

The Book Nook and The Little Nook Café, 1 St John’s Place
Gather the kids and head to The Book Nook, a specialist independent children’s bookshop just 1.5 miles from Brighton Railway Station. You’ll discover an amazing selection of books for young readers and better yet, a family-friendly coffee shop, which sells homemade cakes. Delish. There’s even a wooden pirate ship for little ones to play in while you enjoy a beverage.
booknookuk.com

Bath

Café W, Waterstones, 4-5 Milsom Street
Waterstones in Bath is one of the most inviting shops on the high street and, with its store name emblazoned on the shop wall alongside ‘CAFÉ’, it’s clear you can sit down and enjoy a hot drink in this retailer. Explore an adbundant menu of teas and coffees and a selection of sweet and savoury snacks to boot.
waterstones.com/bookshops/bath