Day 7 – Stanfords Travel Bookshop

Opening the door of Stanfords Travel Bookshop is opening up a whole world of possibilities.

Stanfords is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of maps, travel books and travel accessories.  It began its life in 1853 when it was opened by Edward Stanford. With  a very impressive roll call of customers past and present you will be in good company here. 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.

Descending the stairs to the lower ground floor where the main bulk of the books are you pass beneath a mobile of globes and hot air balloons, symbols of the spirit of adventure which infuses Stanfords.  On the ground floor are books from almost every country you could name or imagine, all very well organised and easy to browse.  This is where you will also find the extnsive map section.

I am not known for my ability to read a map but I do like looking at them, and the map section in Stanfords is filled with all the maps you could possibly imagine.  Pieces of ordnance survey maps are part of the flooring which means you can might find youself in the wilds of Dartmoor one moment and then on your way to the highlands of Scotland in just a few short steps.

If you are beginning to think about where your exploration and travels might take you next year then add a visit to Stanfords Travel Bookshop to your to do list.  Even if you are more of an armchair traveller, you will still find plenty of books here to satisfy any wanderlust.

Nearest Tube: Covent Garden

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