20 Bookstores In London 🇬🇧

"Great store!So many books on almost every subject.Store is arranged nicely, divided by subjects and floors. Any book lover can find something they would like. There is also coffee shop in the store, alto didn’t try it myself.I liked their book recommendations, especially in the first floor (they get a little scarce in upper levels).I only with there were more places to sit and browse.Things I wish"

"My husband Great x3 Grandfather lived by this store in 1847 when it was a butcher's store. We've always wanted to visit it and imagine him standing there all those years ago.It's one of the nicest bookstores we've ever been in. The mix of new and old can be seen everywhere. Be sure to walk up the tiny staircase leading to the upper level, really cool.So many books!! Excellent store"

"This bookshop is right opposite UCL engineering college and is surrounded by the universities so a spot for many students to stop by and conveniently buy the books. It is a huge store 🏬 spread over multiple floors.Although not an independent bookstore, the Waterstone’s located on Gower Street, London is still a one of a kind bookstore, and is Europe’s largest academic/specialist range bookshop. It occupies a five floor building, which stocks more than five miles of shelving, and around 130,000 titles! On each of the five floors you will find a combination of new and second-hand/out-of-print titles – to locate the latter look out for orange dots on the spines of the books.The basement is home to the Rare and Antiquarian department, as well as the travel department which is home to “the room less traveled” where you will find the popular “pin where you’ve been” map.The ground floor is then dedicated to fiction of every genre and is managed by a team of fantastic booksellers, who are happy to recommend and guide your purchases. Among this floor, you will encounter remainders, classics, sci-fi and fantasy, graphic novels, crime, poetry, drama, humor, indoor games, essays, newspaper and magazines. It really is music to the ears of any fiction lover, and unlike some independent or second-hand bookstores, you will find the newest releases!Upstairs on the first floor, you will then find an extensive array of children’s books and a world class education departments – the books are perfect for teachers, parents and pupils alike. On this floor, you will especially find DVDS, cards and stationary, GCSE and A-Level textbooks, books on cookery, gardening, natural history, health and well-being, MBS and self-help, pregnancy and childcare, interior decorating, fashion and design, photography and art.The second floor is then dedicated mostly to the medical department, stocking everything that a medical professional or student might need – as well as books, there are also stethoscopes, scrubs and skulls on sale. Additionally, this floor also caters for those studying computing, chemistry, physics or biology, maths, biology, geology, economics, business, finance and accounting, and law.Finally, the third floor covers foreign languages and literature, religion, Greek and Roman classics, psychology, sociology and social sciences, and philosophy.There is also a Costa coffee, free Wi-Fi and a Ryman’s concession, with plenty of armchairs and sofas. It is the perfect place to spend your Sunday afternoon, or a break between lectures to refresh. So whether it is to pick up your next fiction read, to learn about a new skill such as cooking or gardening, to pick up your latest textbooks or just to relax in the cafe in a bookish environment, this Waterstone’s is certainly the place for you!"

"The location is brilliant because you can escape the madness of trafalgar square. the cafe upstairs can be a little busy but they have a toilet up there (closes early some days so be aware) also it's not the nicest or cleanest toilet in the world... i really like this branch though, it's better than the strand for sure."

"Oh. My. Goodness. What an amazing place!My wife and I didn't even see 20% of the store between us, but we still needed two bags to carry our purchases.I love a good bookstore and this one is right up there in my opinion with Paris' Shakespeare and Company."

"As a book fan, even though I am mostly converted to e readers, I love Waterstones and in particular the amount of browsing you can do there. In this one there is also a good amount of board games that are priced quite competitively. Well worth a visit if you around (it's on two floors)"

"One of the best in London. There are so many editions about the Germany poet Paul Celan and you can also find a lot good poetry and fiction here."

"Word On The Water - The London Bookbarge was a blast. Located on a charming boat along Regent's Canal, this floating bookstore is a hidden gem. For book enthusiasts, it is a must-visit location due to the cosy setting and original concept. The range of books was excellent, including both classic and modern works in a variety of categories. It was a true pleasure to browse the shelves while taking in the serene waterfront atmosphere. The useful recommendations were given by the personnel, who were enthusiastic about reading and well-informed. Word On The Water is more than just a bookshop; it's a magical encounter that perfectly encapsulates London's literary community. I urge you to visit and take in the enchantment of this floating book paradise."

"A fabulous second hand bookshop. Huge, academic and all other books you could ever want. Very helpful staff. Very short walk from Russell Square tube station on the Piccadilly line. The books are not catalogued so just go there. This splendid bookshop used to be in Sicilian Avenue, off Kingsway in Holborn."

"I’m absolutely in love! So many art and culture-related books, some in mint condition. They also implemented a system of collecting stamps to get a discount, which is convenient since I will be definitively coming back.There are two levels of nicely categorised books, which are a joy to browse. It’s superb to have a shop like that in the neighbourhood."

"I love this bookshop! I’ve got the one left copies of the The Last of the Hippies’s book. The staffs are friendly and helpful. A very recommended bookshop if you looking for independent publisher, children books and radical books!"

"I was in a rush to view this gem of a book shop as my family was waiting but what I did see impressed me. The books were in good condition and reasonably priced. Will be back with my bookshop loving brother."

"Great variety of books and tote bags…I was looking all over London for the penguin classic book bags and was so delighted to have found one in the Brick Lane Bookshop. The staff was really friendly as well."

"Here is a very library atmosphere and nice coffee."

"An absolute tardis of a bookshop, perfect for hours of browsing on a rainy day. The staff were incredibly helpful and helped me dig out a book I’ve been trying to track down for months."

"Got 2 really good books from here “A Bookshop in Algiers” and “London Under”!"

"I've been shopping online at Goldsboro for years but getting to visit in person is a treat. They are curators of truly special editions, many signed and numbered with sprayed and stencilled edges and sometimes unique cover art. In store, you can browse their special editions but also their rare second hand books. The staff are very helpful."

"We’ve used this bookstore for a few years now. Their non-fiction section is great. And they have a lovely selection of Children’s books as well. I haven’t checked out their fiction section yet, but based on the other two, it’s probably good as well. They will also order anything you need and have it ready for collection within a day or two. Staff have been consistently friendly, and respond promptly to emails. I can highly recommend this shop."

"I love this place. I’ve bought around a half a dozen books here already. They have titles that you can’t find anywhere else.Plus its also a 5 minute walk away from the awesome view at Primrose Hill."