London is definitely one of my favorite cities in the world. It’s more than a vibrant, multicultural and electrifying city to me. It’s the city where I have lived and learnt so much. It’s a city that made me grow a lot, that led me to very special people. This isn’t a traditional guide that includes the top monuments. You can find that everywhere. This is what I see and what I love and I will update it every time I go back!
Bookshops:
Hurlingham Books
91 Fulham High St, Fulham, London
When I went to Hurlingham Books, it was unexpectedly closed. I ended up exploring Putney which is an area of London that I hadn’t visited before.
Gay’s The Word
66 Marchmont St, Saint Pancras, London
Founded in 1979, Gay’s The Word in one of only two specifically lesbian and gay bookstores in the United Kingdom and the only one in England. It’s located in Bloomsbury. Their catalogue is amazing!!
Skoob Books
66 The Brunswick off, Marchmont St, London
Time Out has described Skoob as a temple for secondhand books and it’s so true! This bookshop has London’s broadest selection of second-hand academic books, including large collections of used books in Philosophy, Psychology, Modern Literature, Art, History, Politics, Economics, Classics, Science and Technology. It’s a must-see for book lovers!
Persephone Books
59 Lamb’s Conduit St, Holborn, London
Persephone Books reprints neglected fiction and non-fiction by mid-twentieth century (mostly) women writers. Every time I visit this place, they also have the most amazing flowers!
London Review Bookshop
14 Bury Place, London
Last December I was in London for the fifth time and it was actually my first visit to this independent bookshop (and I still have plenty of London bookshops on my bucket list, for that matter). When I arrived in there, I asked if they had a copy of M Train. They said they had one. I was thrilled because it was sold out pretty much everywhere. They looked for the copy and then they just said: “I’m afraid the copy has been stolen”. I was shocked. I kept asking myself: Who steals from a bookshop? LOL
Henry Pordes Books
58-60 Charing Cross Rd, Covent Garden, London
Henry Pordes has been a famous name in the book trade for more than fifty years. As a seller of antiquarian and second-hand books and remainders, the shop is known throughout the bookselling world and is a favourite among Londoners and visitors to London alike.
Foyles
107 Charing Cross Road, Londres
This is perhaps my favorite place in London. Every time I am in London, I need to visit this place. When I was living there, I used to go to Foyles every weekend. It was like a ritual. I feel home.
Daunt Books
84 Marylebone High St, Marylebone, London
I visited Daunt Books on my last birthday and it was beautiful as I’d imagined! Daunt Books was founded in 1990 by James Daunt in the beautiful Edwardian premises at 83 Marylebone High Street in London – originally built for antiquarian booksellers Francis Edwards in 1910.
Pages of Hackney
70 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, London
Pages of Hackney is an independent bookshop on the Lower Clapton Road. On their shelves you’ll find an eclectic selection of contemporary and classic fiction, as well as children’s books, politics, environment, art, cookery, second-hand books and lots more. I went to Pages of Hackney to meet a friend and writer, Abigail Tarttelin and we had the most wonderful time over there!
But, like I said, London is one of those cities that transcends everything. It’s so huge that I lived there and every time I go back, I am able to discover different things! So, yes, I still have a bucket list; I still have lots of places on my list to visit once I return. And, of course, plenty of them are bookshops! Thank you so much for reading!
