Best Bookshops in London

1. Liberia

Designed to mimic Argentinian author Jorge Luis Borges’s Library of Babel, Libreria feels never-ending with its mirrored ceiling and wall-to-wall bookshelves curated along themes like ‘Wanderlust’, ‘Enchantment for Disenchanted’ and ‘The City’. Technophiles beware: phones are banned in this literary sanctuary.

65 Hanbury Street, London E1

2. Daunt Books

For the travel addict, Daunt Books pairs destination guides with the best literature from that region of the world. Each branch has its own charm, but the original shop in Marylebone is particularly beautiful: the Edwardian building features oak balconies, stained glass windows, and viridian walls.

83-84 Marylebone High Street, London W1U

3. Hatchards

London’s oldest bookseller was founded with a warrant from George III and Queen Elizabeth still holds an account there, but it’s literary royalty that has made it truly famous. Jane Austen, Lord Byron, and Oscar Wilde have all been regulars during its nearly 250-year history.

187 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J

4. The London Review Bookshop

A favourite of the literati, the London Review Bookshop (owned by The London Review of Books magazine) is home to more than 20,000 titles. Almost as impressive? The on-site Cake Shop’s top-notch espresso and gorgeously decorated cakes.

14-16 Bury Pl, London WC1A

5. Ideas Books

Clare Waight Keller and Nicolas Ghesquière are fans of the rare volumes founders David Owen and Angela Hill pick up around the world. Visit Dover Street Market to see why the cult brand has 378,000 Instagram followers and counting.

18-22 Haymarket, London SW1Y