Some time ago I wrote about my favourite Quiet London Bookshops. Those places I can guarantee I will be inspired, charmed and stimulated. These are the bookshops I never leave empty handed.
On this occasion I want to share with you some of those specialist bookshops that London is thankfully so amply blessed with. Bookshops that are especially niche and rather special because of that. These are the bookshops you might want to visit if you are looking for a particular genre or perhaps you are simply curious. Of course curiosity is the best way to visit any book shop. But whichever it is, be assured in these bookshops, you will be greeted by expert booksellers who know their subject very well indeed. In fact one of the joys of the specialist bookshops is engaging with the passion and knowledge of the bookseller.
Travel
Stanfords
Stanfords is the place to go if you are planning on travelling absolutely anywhere or even if you simply want to dream of travelling absolutely anywhere. It is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of maps, travel books and travel accessories
Stanfords began its life in 1853 and has an impressive roll call of customers past and present. You will be in good company here. Famous names such as Amy Johnson, David Livingstone, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton, Florence Nightingale, Ranulph Fiennes, Bill Bryson, Michael Palin, and even Sherlock Holmes have all visited the shop.
You will find guides to almost every destination you can imagine, alongside travel related books of all types. The Map section is especially impressive with an extensive collection of Ordinance Survey maps and numerous special interest maps.
Location: 7 Mercer Walk, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9FA
https://www.stanfords.co.uk/
Food and Cooking
Books for Cooks
I discovered this bookshop years ago when I first moved to London through the demonstrations and cookery courses it then ran. Sitting in the tiny space with other food loving types was an absolute joy. This bookshop is a cafe, a test kitchen where recipes from the thousands of cookbooks are cooked and a cookery lovers paradise. It is compact and stacked from floor to ceiling with cookery books covering food from every country and cuisine. This is a brilliant place to pick up presents for the foodies in your life. I have visited many times since that first visit all those years ago to both browse and buy books.
Space is limited but if you are lucky you can combine a visit with a lunch which is cooked literally in the bookshop.
Location: 4 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, London W11 1NN
https://www.booksforcooks.com/
Art
Tate Modern Shop
Where better to browse and buy books and art than at an art gallery. Tate Modern is one of London’s most visited attractions and there is a reason for that, its fabulous! It also happens to have a large shop selling all things art but especially books. It is the most extensive art bookshop in London. It is just inside the museum and next to the vast Turbine Hall.
The stock of books covers all aspects of art. Art history, photography, ceramics, painting and of it course reflects the art found in the gallery. There is so much to be inspired by here, even if it is just the excellent range of postcards! It is also worth noting that there are also smaller shops on level 2 and 4 of the gallery.
Location: Tate Modern, Bankside SE1 9TG
https://shop.tate.org.uk/books-1
London
The Museum of London Bookshop
If it is a book on London that you are after, then of course you will find them in many of the generalist bookshops around town, Waterstones, Piccadilly being especially good. However, if you really want to discover more of London’s history and fascinating past, along side, where to go guides and London based fiction, then the book shop at The London Museum is the place to go. If you live in London then there are some fascinating books here which will help you understand more deeply what makes up this complex city. If you are a visitor then there will be books here that will have you longing to return. This is also a fascinating museum which should be on everyone’s London itinerary.
Location: 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN
https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/plan-your-visit/shop
Magazines
Magma
So these aren’t exactly books, although some of the beautifully glossy tomes are almost as big, and certainly as beautiful as many books. Magma has two stores but it’s flagship one is in Covent Garden. The magazines stocked here cover all kinds of topics but particularly the fields of of visual communication, art, culture and design. If glossy pages and beautiful images are your thing, then this is the place. They do stock some books too.
Location: 29 Shorts Gardens, Covent Gareden WC2H 9AP
https://magma-shop.com/
Children’s Books
The Alligators Mouth
This independent store doesn’t just have a brilliant name, it also has a brilliant selection of children’s books ranging from toddler to teenager there is something for everyone. If you are an adult who also enjoys children’s books (raised hand here), then this is a great place to rediscover some of those childhood favourites.
The bookshop prides itself on being an established part of the local community and hosts many well attended author and reading events. Their window displays are always beautiful and it is very easy to see why children love visiting here.
Location: 2a Church Court, Richmond TW9 1JL
https://www.thealligatorsmouth.co.uk/
African & Oriental Literature
Arthur Probsthain
I have walked past this shop on many occasions when in Bloomsbury, but I confess to never having gone in, which I appreciate is a mistake and something I should remedy. It is named after Arthur Probsthain, named after its 1902 founder, is a independent family run bookshop and gallery with a history of over a hundred years. Covering the areas of Asia, Africa, and The Middle East.
The books cover subjects such as art, religion, music and culture and there are likely to be books here you will not find anywhere else. They sell both second hand and new editions.
In the basement of the shop is Tea and Tattle, the charmingly named tea room where a proper afternoon tea in china cups is the speciality
Location: 41 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3PE,
https://www.teaandtattle.com/
Eccentricities
Alice Through The Looking Glass
This shop was the result of a discovery of a hand painted ‘Through The Looking Glass’ Chessboard. It features illustrations and the earliest known examples of Sir John Tenniel’s work for Alice’s Adventures.
The shop sells all things Alice, memorabilia, and gifts, and of course books with first editions, and rare copies of Lewis Caroll’s Stories. It is as wonderfully quirky and puzzling as the story itself! You may also want to visit the small museum inside the shop where you can still see the original chess board.
Its location in Cecil Court is delightful. “A whole street of uncommonly good independent shops’ very much worth a browse.
Location: 14 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4HE
I hope that there is something here to tempt you towards a different kind of book shop perhaps, to the one you might usually visit. Most of these will usually sell their books online or via Bookshop.org the book selling website that supports independent bookshops. If you have other recommendations I’d love to hear them in the comments below.
Images 1. Tate 2. Square Meal, 3. Magma 4. Secret London
