Indie Bookshops you need to visit in London
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that supporting small businesses is more important than ever. Here’s a list of some of our favourite independent bookshops which not only play such an important role in their communities, but have fiercely bookish owners who can can guarantee to recco you your next favourite read.
North London
Every book lover has dreamt of stepping on to a Library Ladder so you can sweep across aisles of books just like Belle did in Beauty and the Beast. Well, thanks to the wonderful owners Tessa and Betsey of Ink@84, your wish is their command. This beautiful bookshop not only has a library ladder, but fresh coffee and outdoor seating so you can sit and watch the world go by whilst reading a new book.
East London
When we found out this bookshop’s mantra was ‘Books. Booze. Coffee’, we knew we’d found our perfect match. Founded by Aimee in 2017, this East London bookshop is a treasure chest for unearthing your next read. In its bright and beautiful Victorian shop, Phlox sits proudly on a pedestrianised street which has the most women-owned business owners in London!
East London
Pictured above, this is a very cool space, every aspect of Libreria is designed to help you discover new books and ideas, and encourage interdisciplinary thinking. We could curl up in that little nook, you know if we could both fit, for hours!
Central London
Okay, it’s not a shop, but many of us have experienced the magnetic energy field surrounding the Southbank Centre Book Market. When you’re in its vicinity it is near on impossible not to fall in love with its charm and root around for a steal!
Picture credit: @word_on_the_water
North London
It’s charming, it’s cute, it’s an Instagrammers dream. This bookshop-on-a-boat can be found on the canals of Granary Square in King's Cross. When the sun is out and the live jazz music’s playing, this is the only place to be.
Photo credit: @nottinghillbookshop
In 1979 this independent began its life as a travel bookshop, and you might recognise it from Richard Curtis’ 1999 romcom Notting Hill, where Julia Roberts broke all our hearts in that one line to Hug Grant : “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her” *swoons*. Today, The Notting Hill Bookshop, just minutes from the heart of Portobello Market, sells a broad variety of books from beautiful gift editions, to irresistible pocket hardbacks, satin-bound classics and a wide range of golden gilt leather-bounds. It’s well worth a visit.
South London
Owner Ray Cole was inspired to open this shop in 1968 and it’s possibly the oldest independent bookshop in South West London. Located right by the river, this shop is a maze of books piled from floor to ceiling. Ray is always up for a chat and we guarantee that after you’ve visited you’ll leave with a pile of books you can’t wait to get in to.
St Albans (North of London)
Okay so this one isn’t technically in London but very easy to get to with trains from Kings Cross! If you’re after a spacious bookshop with numerous cosy (and very Instagrammable corners) then you need to visit this beautiful bookshop in St Albans, Hertfordshire. There are reading rooms, a height chart of well known childhood book characters oh and their second hand books are all colour coordinated!
Happy shopping, tag us in what you buy! J&L xx
