11 Wonderful New Independent London Bookshops that Opened in 2025
2025 was a wonderful year for the bookshop scene in London, with over 11 new London bookshops opening their doors to the public.
Yes, over 11!
I have lamented the closing of many amazing UK bookshops over the years, so I am truly delighted to see so many new bookshops opening up in London.
I think this reflects the growing desire for people to ‘go analogue’, spend less time online, and have more meaningful, in-person experiences.
Whatever the reason, this really fills me with hope for the future of independent bookshops in London.
And if you’re new here, hi! I’m Laura, and I’m on a mission to visit every bookshop in London. I’m doing pretty so well so far, but you can follow my progress on Instagram, @whatshotblog.
Celeste of Funny Weather Books & Coffee called me the Bookshop Fairy Godmother, and I take that title very seriously, so I will do my best to update you all with the very best London bookshops to visit.
I’ve visited each and every one of the London bookshops below myself and wholeheartedly throw my support behind each one.
So without further ado, here are the 11 London bookshop newcomers of 2025!
Fable & Falcon
Fable & Falcon in Chalk Farm is London’s newest bookshop, serving great matcha and even better fiction in the most aesthetic café space you’ll ever step foot in.
Think dark wood furniture, exposed brick, marble countertops and arched mirrors, all softened by plenty of natural light from the glass storefront.
I popped in for a quick coffee and a browse, and accidentally spent the whole afternoon here.
The drinks menu has a few playful options like tiramisu matcha and salted vanilla cold foam lattes.
I went for a classic iced matcha, properly whisked once ordered and not too sweet.
Food-wise, I had a delicious hot honey burrata sandwich, which was uber generously filled and felt like a proper lunch rather than a café snack.
At the back, an arched doorway reveals the bookshop itself: small but thoughtfully curated, with a strong focus on fiction, classics, and recent releases.
Friendly staff, a relaxed atmosphere, and genuinely good food and drink make Fable & Falcon a very welcome addition to North London – and one I’ll be returning to often.
READ MORE: Fable & Falcon Review: New London Bookshop Cafe in Chalk Farm
Address: 70 Chalk Farm Rd, London, NW1 8AN
Opening Hours: 8am-7pm Monday to Friday; 9am-7pm Saturday; 9:30am-5pm Sunday
Saucy Books
Saucy Books is the very first romance bookshop in London, which regularly changes theme to new ‘chapters’ to match the season.
As one of my most-read genres, I couldn’t have been more excited about this new bookshop opening.
The shelves are packed with big-name favourites including Emily Henry, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Talia Hibbert and Ali Hazelwood, alongside romantasy greats like Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros, so there’s a brilliant mix of sub-genres and tropes to browse.
READ MORE: 16 Specialist Bookshops in London
A clever touch is the rotating “chapters” theme, which changes every few months. The opening chapter was “beach reads,” reflected in the colourful, summery styling, followed by a romantasy theme during autumn. I can’t wait to see what else they come up with!
The absolute best thing, however, is the amusingly named ‘Smut Hut’, where you’ll find the spicier titles, fun bookish merch and more.
Address: 236 Westbourne Park Road, London, W11 1EL
Opening Hours: 11am-6:30pm Tuesday to Friday; 10am-6pm Saturday; 10am-5pm Sunday
Website: https://www.saucybooks.com/
Of Books and Love
Of Books and Love is a small, cosy (and very pink) bookshop that specialises in romance of every kind, alongside an impressive selection of bookish merchandise.
Books are organised by genre and trope, making it easy to zero in on whatever you’re currently obsessed with – from romantasy and historical romance to sports romance, cowboy romance and young adult.
There are also signed copies and special editions dotted around the shop, which are great to collect or gift.
The merch offering really stands out here, with lots of items you don’t tend to see elsewhere.
Highlights include fan-made dust jackets for hugely popular fantasy series like ACOTAR, Fourth Wing and A Curse of True Love.
You’ll also spot plenty of fictional boyfriends around the store, from Jonathan Bailey and Pedro Pascal cut-outs to framed Bridgerton favourites.
The owner, Sabrina, is incredibly welcoming and always happy to chat about books or offer recommendations, and the shop regularly hosts bookish events for London’s romance readers to connect.
Address: 50 Cross St, London, N1 2BA
Opening Hours: 10:30am-6:30pm Wednesday to Saturday; 11am-5pm Sunday
Website: https://www.ofbooksandlove.co.uk/
Book Bar Chelsea
I already had a soft spot for Book Bar’s original Finsbury Park location, but as much as I love it, it’s a little out of the way for me.
So you can imagine my excitement when I heard that Book Bar was opening a second branch in Chelsea, just off the King’s Road.
Happily, it’s every bit as lovely as I’d hoped.
The Chelsea outpost is bigger and brighter, and it feels much more like a community space than a traditional bookshop.
Alongside shelves of thoughtfully curated books, you’ll find window seating, communal tables, and large squishy sofas.
It’s the sort of space that works just as well for solo reading as it does for meeting friends.
Book Bar Chelsea also leans fully into its role as a community hub.
They host regular in-person events here, from book launches and book club meetings to the occasional (and very Book Bar–esque) dating event.
And in case the name didn’t already give it away, it’s not just a bookshop – it’s also a wine bar.
You can order coffee or wine throughout the day, with a particularly tempting deal where buying the book of the month gets you a glass of wine for just £7. Not the worst for Chelsea.
This branch is open until 9pm from Wednesday to Saturday, making it an ideal after-work spot – whether that’s to unwind with a new read and a glass of wine, plan a low-key date, or settle in for an evening of books and conversation with friends.
Address: 11 Chelsea Manor Street, London, SW3 3TW
Opening Hours: 10am-6pm Monday and Tuesday; 10am-9pm Wednesday to Saturday; 11am-6pm Sunday
Website: https://www.bookbaruk.com/
Lala Books
Lala Books has been on my radar ever since it opened, but as a (slightly stubborn) North London girlie, I kept putting off the trip south.
In hindsight, that was a mistake – this space is truly wonderful, and I wish I’d visited much sooner.
Owner Danielle once said in an interview that the idea was for the bookshop to look like you’re walking into someone’s really cool living room and having a look at their bookshelves, and she absolutely delivers on that vision.
The shop is small but cosy, the kind of place I want to replicate in my own home.
Large windows wrap around the space, flooding it with natural light, while books line the walls all the way round, with a central table showcasing a carefully chosen selection.
The focus here leans towards literary fiction, alongside poetry, philosophy, music and politics, plus a small children’s section.
Lala Books also hosts regular literary events, making it feel very rooted in the local area and well worth keeping an eye on if you live nearby.
You can also grab a coffee and sit outside at one of the tables, making it a great spot for a weekend book browse paired with a caffeine fix.
When I visited, Danielle and the rest of the team were genuinely lovely, chatting easily as they worked, which gave the shop a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
I would definitely venture South again just for this bookshop.
Address: 4A Grove Lane, London, SE5 8SY
Opening Hours: 10am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday; 11am-5pm Sunday
Website: https://www.lalabooks.london/
Funny Weather Books and Coffee
Funny Weather Books and Coffee is located just south of Hampstead Heath and is already a massive hit with the locals.
You’ll spot it straight away thanks to its cheerful yellow storefront on Grove Terrace, which is as inviting as the space inside.
The front of the shop is a cosy café that feels a little like an old cottage kitchen, with locals, families and couples enjoying coffee and pastries from St John’s Bakery (delicious!).
But wander through to the back, and you’ll discover a surprisingly spacious bookshop, beautifully curated with literary fiction and an excellent range of non-fiction, from cookbooks and art to history, politics and biography.
A few details I particularly enjoyed include: certain key book covers turned outwards to tempt browsers, a sweet children’s reading alcove with cushions and bunting, and a shared table with people reading, writing or working at the back.
This new London bookshop cafe is warm, welcoming and full of character and a brilliant new addition to London’s bookshop scene.
READ MORE: Funny Weather Books and Coffee in Hampstead
Address: 31 Grove Terrace, NW5 1PL
Opening Hours: 8am-5:30pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 9am-4pm Sunday; closed on Tuesday
IG: https://www.instagram.com/funnyweatherbooks/
Camden Town Bookshop
With so many of Camden’s bookshops closing in recent years, it’s genuinely heartening to see a new opening in this part of London.
Camden Town Bookshop is right in the thick of things, sitting opposite the entrance to Camden Market.
Inside, the shop is impressively well stocked, with a broad collection spanning almost every genre.
What really stood out to me was the classics section: an entire wall dedicated to different editions, including Black Penguin Classics, Penguin Modern Classics, Chiltern Classics, Cranford Editions and more.
It’s beautiful and a joy to browse – a great spot if you’re particular about which edition you take home.
Beyond classics, there’s romance, young adult, graphic novels and manga, sci-fi, fantasy and general fiction, alongside a solid non-fiction offering covering cookery, business, biography, esoteric titles, film, visual arts, music and economics, and more.
There’s also a London-focused section, which is apt given the shop’s tourist-heavy location and will be a hit with visitors to the city.
There’s also a whole corner for children’s books.
The space itself is thoughtfully laid out and easy to navigate, with very reasonable pricing and plenty of books discounted from RRP.
When I visited, there was an excellent sale on, with lots of popular titles at genuinely good prices.
Add in a lovely stationery selection – notebooks and other charming bits that looked to be imported from Japan.
Friendly, knowledgeable staff are on hand too, and more than happy to offer recommendations if you need them.
Address: 22 Chalk Farm Rd, London, NW1 8AG
Opening Hours: 10:30am-6:30pm Monday to Saturday; 11am-6pm Sunday
IG: https://www.instagram.com/camdentownbookshop/
The Book Elephant
One bookshop on this list that genuinely took me by surprise was The Book Elephant in Elephant and Castle.
From the outside, you’d never quite guess just how vast it is, but step inside and it opens out into a brilliantly stocked space with an impressive breadth of titles across almost every genre imaginable.
This really is a bookshop with everything.
Alongside new releases, you’ll find fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels/manga, classics, modern classics and young adult fiction, as well as a huge non-fiction offering covering art and design, cookery, self-help, history, current affairs, business, and LGBTQ+ titles, plus an esoteric and religion section.
There’s also tarot cards, special editions, and a generous gifts area towards the back – there are fun gifts like novelty socks, as well as beautiful notebooks and diaries and even beautiful pen and ink sets.
And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, they’ll happily order it in within one to two working days – impressively quick.
There’s a monthly book club too which makes The Book Elephant a great neighbourhood space for those who are local.
There’s a coffee machine behind the till serving all the usual favourites, plus wine starting from £5.50 a glass, which you can enjoy at the small indoor table or outside seating.
Address: 16 Sayer Street, London, SE17 1FH
Opening Hours: 10am-7pm Monday to Sunday
Website: https://thebookelephant.co.uk/
Muswell Hill Books and Parlour
Muswell Hill Books and Parlour is housed in a former funeral director’s (a glow-up if ever there was one!), which has been transformed into a warm, welcoming second-hand bookshop, with a dedicated area at the back for community events and gatherings.
From the outside, it’s a beauty: a grand curved arch frames the entrance, and you can glimpse shelves of books from the windowfront, which is always a promising sign.
Step inside and you literally pull back a curtain to enter – a little like walking into Narnia, except instead of snow and lampposts, you’re rewarded with excellent books.
Frankly, an upgrade.
The selection is really strong across both fiction and non-fiction.
I lingered longest in the classics, fantasy, and sci-fi sections, eventually leaving with a vintage film tie-in edition of The Lord of the Rings in brilliant condition for just £3.
There’s also a tempting array of second-hand Folio Society editions, too, which is ideal if you love beautiful books but baulk at their eye-watering new prices.
Add to that a lovely, knowledgeable owner who’s open to buying quality books that fit this Muswell Hill bookshop, and you’ve got a new North London bookish gem.
Address: 190 Fortis Green Rd, London, N10 3DU
Opening Hours: 10am-2pm Monday; 10am-5pm Tuesday; 11am-2pm Wednesday; 10am-5pm Thursday; 10am-6pm Friday, Saturday; 11am-4pm Sunday
IG: https://www.instagram.com/muswell_hill_books/
Traveller’s Tales
Traveller’s Tales is a truly special addition to one of my favourite areas in London, Marylebone. As the name suggests, this is a specialist travel bookshop designed to spark ideas for your next adventure, or even help you plan it properly.
Opened by travel industry expert Jayne Alexander, founder of Dovetail Agency, it’s a small space, but an absolutely stunning one.
The interiors are beautifully considered, with dark red bookshelves and a hot air balloon installation suspended from the ceiling that perfectly suits the travel theme.
There’s even a sliding bookshelf ladder – surely a universal book-lover fantasy.
Despite its small size, the shop feels rich in detail and atmosphere, and I took my time in here exploring the shelves.
The book selection is carefully curated rather than extensive, with fiction set in far-flung places, non-fiction travel writing, guidebooks, and gorgeous travel photography titles.
One side of the shop is also dedicated entirely to stationery, featuring elegant, luxury items like pens, notebooks and writing paper – ideal if you love the ritual of putting pen to paper while you’re away.
My favourite feature, though, is the letter-writing experience. You can write a letter to yourself (or to a friend or family member), to be posted at a future date.
You choose one of two beautiful postcards, seal it in an envelope, and post it into a cute red letterbox fixed to the shop wall.
I wrote myself a letter to be sent at the end of the year, and I already know future me is going to love opening it.
Traveller’s Tales also offers a bespoke travel planning service, specialising in adventure holidays (including once-in-a-lifetime trips like Antarctica!), making this more than just a bookshop, but a genuinely inspiring place for travellers and dreamers.
Lastly, when I visited, the two members of staff were incredibly kind, happily tidying the space so I could take photos and chatting to me about the story behind the shop, which made the experience that bit more lovely.
Address: 87 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, London, W1G 9RL
Opening Hours: 10am-6pm Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Monday
Website: https://www.travellerstaleslondon.co.uk/
Maktaba at Ibraaz
Maktaba is the bookshop-in-residence at the Ibraaz with a selection of books curated by the Palestine Festival of Literature and operated by Burley Fisher.
It features a core selection of Palestinian literature, including both fiction and non-fiction titles.
If you want to better educate yourself on one of the biggest issues of our time, then this specialist London bookshop is a great place to start.
And beyond the history books, it’s worth exploring the fiction written by Palestinian authors, too.
It’s a small bookshop, but an important one.
It’s also just a few minutes away from Traveller’s Tales, so why not combine a visit to these two?
Address: 93 Mortimer Street, London, W1W 7SS
Opening Hours: 11am – 6pm Wednesday to Sunday
Website: https://ibraaz.org/maktaba-bookshop-in-residence
Other new London bookshops
Only Make Believe
A tiny independent bookshop selling contemporary and classic fiction for both adults and children.
Find @onlymakebelievebooks on Instagram here.
Fish Island Books
An indie bookshop in Fish Island, with a curated collection of fiction, non-fiction and a kids books corner with gifts, cards and stationery.
Find @fishislandbooks on Instagram here.
For more London bookshops, check out these guides:
Independent Bookshops in London
Second Hand Bookshops in London
Specialist Bookshops in London
For more UK bookshops, check out these guides:
Bookshops in Oxford
Bookshops in Cambridge
Bookshops in York
Bookshops in Bath
Bookshops in Brighton
Bookshops in Edinburgh
Bookshops in Hay-on-Wye
Bookshops in Norwich
