Best Bookstores in London

While I can't claim to have visited EVERY bookstore in London, I have compiled a list of five of the best bookstores in London (in my humble opinion) for you to check out on your next visit.

Daunt Books

Located in the beautiful Marylebone area of London, this bookshop is very Instagrammable. The architecture is a standout for sure, with its peaked glass ceiling and gallery bookshelves. Daunt specializes in travel books, so if that's your passion, it's a must-visit bookshop. But that's not all they have! Daunt is filled with every genre and is a wonderful place to spend an hour browsing and getting lost in a book. If you've ever fantasized about what it would be like to have a bookshop/library in your home, you likely pictured something like this. It's quaint but elegant, old but not stuffy, open and yet cozy. It would be a wonderful sight to see even without all the books for sale! In fact, it would actually make a beautiful plant store... or a hybrid plant-bookshop! Check out Daunt if you're in the area and be sure to climb to the gallery for a photo op.

Daunt Books

Waterstones

Waterstones is a large chain of bookstores and while devout fans of indie bookshops may cringe at my addition of this on my list, I have to admit they are great shops. There are Waterstones all over the city and the different locations all have a different vibe, some bigger in a more historic building and some smaller in a more modern setting. If you're looking for a fantastic selection of books or seeking something very specific, you may want to check out the nearest Waterstones. I particularly like the one in The Grand Building in Trafalgar Square, as the view from the windows is wonderful, you can get a little something from their cafe, browse, people-watch, and enjoy a rainy London afternoon. Very helpful staff and a huge selection of books and bookish items like journals, totes, bookmarks, stationary etc.

Classics at Waterstones

British Library & Bookshop

For any bibliophile, a visit to the British Library is a MUST. Head to their website ahead of time to begin the process of becoming a Registered Reader - it's free and you will need to do this if you want to request to view any special books they keep in their collections. Once you arrive, you can head to the Registration Office and get... wait for it... YOUR OWN SPECIAL LIBRARY CARD. I can't imagine I am the only one who would get overly excited about this. You can request books ahead of time for the day you will be visiting and then they are waiting for you when you arrive. I enjoyed sitting in the quiet and leafing through The Blue Fairy Book and the first, signed, and special edition of Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. It was a fantastic experience. The library itself is a marvel and even has a gallery you can visit for free, full of interesting manuscripts and pieces of history spanning from the Rosetta Stone to a handwritten version of a Monty Python sketch. They also have a bookstore full of classics, beautifully bound collections, as well as interesting compilations so you can take a book home with you.

The British Library

Alice Through the Looking Glass

If you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll or any of the classic children's stories, you will LOVE this little gem of a bookstore. Alice Through the Looking Glass is nestled snugly in Cecil Court - a very small street that every book-lover must visit. The street itself is packed with specialty bookshops, ready to cater to any and all preferences. Inside this particularly curious shop, there are shelves of vintage children's classics and a glass cabinet full of very special editions of favourite stories from times gone by. If you're wanting to treat yourself to a first or rare edition of a nostalgic storybook, this is your place.

First Edition at Alice Through the Looking Glass

Hatchards

This was my favourite bookstore in London! Founded in the 18th century, this is the oldest bookshop in the UK and the official bookseller to the royal family. They have a whole wall of first editions and many are signed by the authors, but they also have 5 floors of regular books that span every genre. You could while away the hours in this charming shop, climbing the gorgeous staircase that fills the centre of the store, browsing each nook and cranny until you needed a comfy chair and a cream tea. The location is amazing too - right in Piccadilly with so many wonderful shops to visit nearby (be sure to check out Fortnum & Mason, speaking of tea).

I love visiting bookstores when I am in a new place and it was wonderful to peek into a few famous and magical shops in London.

What do you think are the best bookstores in London? Did I miss any?