The Best Bookshops in London

As we reach peak algorithmic fatigue, there seems to be an overwhelming embracing of all things analogue. Even Gen Alpha seems to be on board, favouring the likes of print magazines (yay) and digital detoxes to cure their chronic online-ness.

Books, of course, are the ultimate original analogue experience. Even when reclined on a sun lounger or tucked up in bed, you feel inherently productive reading because you just know it’s good for you. One way of making the experience as a whole more rewarding is by finessing the hunt itself. Browsing unhurried, scanning beautifully curated shelves offering a bounty of new releases, first editions or forgotten classics. These are the bookshops in London that SPHERE loves, the ones worth getting lost in.

La La Books, Camberwell

When the beloved Grove Lane Deli shut, the sandwich lovers of South London collectively shed a tear. With queues snaking up the street, the closing took locals by surprise. Owner Danielle Moylan says she could see the bakery growing and knew she would “either have to expand or think laterally about what else might serve the Camberwell community and the people travelling to visit.” During the 80s, Camberwell had four independent bookshops, all of which have since closed. Pivoting sourdough to shelves, Moylan decided to feed a different kind of hunger and opened La La Books. With a selection of carefully curated books, as well as magazines and zines, it’s the kind of neighbourhood spot you wish every high street staff had. They regularly host poetry evenings or author talks, so it’s not just for a daytime visit. But don’t worry, you can still get Grove Lane Deli’s excellent signature coffee.

Visit La La Books on Grove Lane lalabooks.london

Traveller’s Tales, Marylebone

Given the name and the decorative hot air balloons in the shop, it’ll come as no surprise that Traveller’s Tales’ USP is travel books. From large-format photographic books to expert guides, fascinating novels and rare editions, there’s more than enough inspiration for your next trip. The shop also offers tailored travel itineraries created by people who have actually been there, spanning Arctic expeditions, wine tours across South America and safaris in the African bush. It's part bookshop, part travel agency, part fantasy and the perfect place to forget you’re in Central London.

You can find Traveller’s Tales on Wimpole Street in Marylebone travellerstaleslondon.co.uk

Idea Books, Soho

Idea Books is undeniably cool. Perhaps it’s the exclusivity of being able to enter the Wardour Street establishment by appointment only, or the fact that owners David Owen and Angela Hill have been collecting rare vintage books and magazines since the 90s. Either way, it’s got the fashion crowd hooked. Rather than a bookshop, the space feels more like a “concept store” packed with merch emblazoned with “I don’t work here” or “Techno is my boyfriend”, and old school prints. Of course, you can still buy books as well, just don’t expect the same offering as Waterstones.

Email ahead if you plan on visiting ideanow.online

Heywood Hill, Mayfair

Well, if it’s good enough for Queen Elizabeth II, it’s good enough for us. Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, clearly, Heywood Hill, the Queen's favourite bookshop, is doing something right. The bookshop is small enough to pace from wall to wall several times in under a minute, yet somehow it feels big enough to contain multiple literary worlds. The rare books department has to be Heywood Hill’s crown jewel, inviting collectors to request fine or scarce editions and promising to unearth them. To celebrate the anniversary, Heywood Hill launched a subscription service, per a customer’s request, where the recipient can enjoy a uniquely rich literary experience, where, alongside well-chosen books, they will also receive lots of special bookish treats throughout.

Pop into the Curzon Street institution heywoodhill.com

Liberia, Shoreditch

Tucked away on Shoreditch’s Hanbury Street is design-forward Libreria. Twinkling fairy lights hang from the ceiling, while the curved yellow walls boast floor-to-ceiling shelves. The theme here seems to be whimsy, with books arranged according to concepts like “Wanderlust”, “Enchantment for Disenchantment” and “City”. Everything has been designed to be the antithesis of Amazon’s algorithmic recommendations, encouraging patrons to reach outside their normal genre. For the avid readers amongst you, Libreria offers a monthly subscription, handpicking books and delivering them directly to your door. If you want to take it a step further, the space is available for hire so you can host your very own literary salon. How very civilised.

Head to Hanbury Street to see Libreria libreria.io

Village Books, East Dulwich

East Dulwich has that highly sought-after village-in-a-city feel. Close enough to all the action that you can always see the latest plays or visit the new restaurant openings, but far enough away that a hint of green could convince you you’re in the peaceful countryside. Right in the heart of this urban oasis stands Village Books, a much-loved neighbourhood shop whose thoughtfully curated shelves and warm, personal touch make it feel less like a store and more like a cornerstone of the community. It also runs a stellar speaker programme, featuring the likes of Lyse Doucet, Rory Stewart, Maggie O’Farrell and more.

Reserve your space at the next author event or just visit the shop at village-books.co.uk

John Sandoe Books, Chelsea

John Sandoe Books first started out as three planks laid on bricks, carrying “all the books one could ever hope to find in one place”. Almost 50 years and a full shop front later, Sandoe’s offering still lives up to that original ethos. Spanning categories like fiction, history, biography, poetry, art, architecture, decorative arts, music, theatre, cinema, photography, fashion, natural history, gardening, travel, cookery, science, reference, and an excellent children’s department (try saying that in one breath), it’s easy to see how it fills three floors. And when we say fill, we mean crammed into every possible space, piled on stables and even balancing on the stairs. A glorious throwback, the eighteenth-century emporium is the perfect tonic in a modern age.

Visit the iconic John Sandoe Books johnsandoe.com

Books for Cooks, Notting Hill

Owned by husband and wife Eric and Rose Treuille, who rather romantically met in the bookshop, Books for Cooks is a haven for culinary obsessives. Here, they do actually cook the books, with the best recipes put to the test in the café at the back of the shop or in the cookery classes held upstairs. Originally founded by Heidi Lascelles in 1983, the intention was to correct the global belief that British cooking was a standing joke. Heidi stocked the shop with as many different cookbooks as she could find, and her readiness to track down any book soon earned the store a large international clientele. Today, the cult following remains. Just step foot in the quaint Blenheim Crescent shop and you’ll see why.

Books for Cooks can be found here booksforcooks.com