Looking for more London bookshops? Then you need to check out these 14 unique and specialist bookshops in London!
I’m always asked for my London bookshop recommendations so today I’m sharing even more gems you need to visit. I started with beautiful bookshops in London, which was followed by second hand bookshops in London and today we have specialist bookshops in London.
These are all themed bookshops which are renowned for their speciality in just one subject or genre of books. Keep scrolling for some of the best book stores in London.
The Second Shelf
Second hand, rare and vintage books by women
The Second Shelf is one of my absolute favourite shops on this list. It may have something to do with the French literature reference it takes its name from. Just maybe.
RELATED: 15 French Classics You Need to Read
The Second Shelf is a feminist bookshop located in Soho, at the very centre of London. If you’re a Londoner, I imagine you’ve probably walked past it hundreds of times without knowing it’s there.
This London bookshop is only three minutes away from Picadilly Circus underground station but it’s tucked away in a little courtyard.
The Second Shelf is small and narrow but welcomes you with a beautiful red exterior and lots of books in the window.
On the inside, it looks a little like a small library your grandma might have once had with patterned wallpaper and an old armchair. There are books in every nook and cranny here, with some in tall, glass bookshelves, and others piled in empty corners.
On the shelves are books written by women and women only. They stock second hand and rare books written by women and you never know what you might find on the shelves here. Prices vary quite a lot depending on how rare the book is so some editions are very pricey.
A notice from The Second Shelf reads:
Dearest Book Collector,
It has come to our attention that your collection, like most, does NOT CONTAIN enough books by women. We know that you feel TERRIBLE about this and will rectify the situation immediately. Please do your part to help balance the bookshelves.
All our love,
The Second Shelf
Address: 14 Smith’s Court, Soho, London, W1D 7DW
Opening Hours: 11am – 6/7pm (closed Sundays and Mondays)
Website: thesecondshelf.com
Gay’s The Word
Independent LGBT book specialist
Gay’s the Word is a specialist lesbian and gay bookshop in London. In fact, it’s one of only two books of this kind in the UK (the other being Category is Books in Glasgow).
It was founded by a gay socialist group way back in 1979 and continues to be popular bookshop today. Whilst LGBT literature is slowly becoming more mainstream, there’s still a long way to go and supporting a shop like Gay’s the Word could make all the difference.
There’s a wide range of literature here from fiction to non-fiction, new releases and old classics. You’d find the likes of Circe by Madeleine Miller here but also YA hits like Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan.
RELATED: 15 Diverse Books to Add to Your Bookshelves
I picked up The Sparsholt Affair by Alan Hollinghurst and am excited to dive in.
The shop is colourful and welcoming, with the loveliest staff. The walls are covered with either books or posters and there are lots of rainbow flags hanging from the ceiling.
If you haven’t read much LGBT literature then pop in and ask for some recommendations. they’d be happy to help.
Address: 66 Marchmont St, Saint Pancras, WC1N 1AB
Opening Hours: 10am – 6:30pm (2-6pm Sundays)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gaystheword/
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Alice in Wonderland Books
If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Alice in Wonderland. From the history of the real-life Alice in Wonderland in Oxford to Alice in Wonderland afternoon tea, it’s a story that still piques my interest.
Imagine my delight when I discovered Alice Through the Looking Glass at Cecil Court, London’s very own bookish Diagon Alley.
RELATED: Guide to Alice in Wonderland in Oxford
This shop specialises in all things Alice in Wonderland. Be it first editions, rare copies, gifts, fashion and other memorabilia. The storefront draws you in with a curious Alice in Wonderland chess set, old books, chocolate and more. This chess set was in fact illustrated by Sir John Tenniel, who illustrated Alice in Wonderland in the nineteenth-century!
You’ll find yourself perusing their wares with the words “curiouser and curiouser” in your mind. This is a fun place to browse and a great place to pick up gifts for the book lover in your life.
Address: 14 Cecil Court, Covent Garden, WC2N 4HE
Opening Hours: 11am – 6pm (closed Sundays)
Website: alicelooking.co.uk
Stanfords
Travel guides, fiction and accessories
Stanfords is a travel bookshop and recently moved a few doors down the road from its previous address. It used to boast an iconic red storefront but unfortunately, that is no more.
Inside, you’ll find little has changed. There are two floors of travel-related literature and gifts, plus a cafe to boot. It’s the perfect place to sit and plan your travels after purchasing your travel guides.
As you make your way downstairs to the bulk of the store, you’ll see hanging hot air balloons and planes, which seemed to me like something The Little Prince would have had hanging above his cot as a baby.
There are more decorative wonders downstairs as there’s an impressive display of globes in a variety of colours and sizes. Plus, the entire floor is covered in a map design! These elements are enough to induce wanderlust in even the most fervent homebody.
In terms of books, they’ve got travel guides for every destination you could possibly dream of. The stock all the publishers you’d expect such as Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Marco Polo and more.
What really took my fancy was Stanford’s collection of beautiful maps. These are beautifully presented and would make the perfect gift for a travel addict.
It’s not just travel guides here either – you’ll find non-fiction travel stories as well as some popular fiction and children’s books.
And if you need to pick up supplies for your backpacking trip, be it water bottles, compasses, money belts, they’ll have those here too.
Address: 7 Mercer Walk, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9FA
Opening Hours: 9am – 8pm Monday to Saturday, 11:30am – 6pm Sundays
Website: www.stanfords.co.uk
Goldsboro Books
Signed first editions
Whenever I walk past Goldsboro Books, I have to stop and stare. Why? Signed first editions of Harry Potter. And A Song of Ice and Fire. The dream!
Goldsboro Books is the world’s largest bookshop for signed first editions and is basically a book lover’s paradise. It’s not just second hand editions either, they’ll often have hoards of signed new releases too if they’re hosting an event with that author.
When I last visited, they had lots of signed copies of the Farm by Joanne Ramos, a piece of 2019 feminist dystopia that I greatly enjoyed. Online, you’ll see that they’ve got everything from Jessie Burton to Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski!
I also noticed that they have a monthly book club, which I’m keen to join, as every month they offer a signed limited edition book and you also get 15% off in-store all year round.
This is a fantastic place to buy special editions to gift to a bookworm and I know that I would be very happy with anything from Goldsboro books come my birthday (hey, friends, I’m looking at you).
Address: 23-27 Cecil Court, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4EZ
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm weekdays; 11am – 5pm Saturdays
Website: www.goldsborobooks.com
Books for Cooks
Cookbooks
Two of my greatest loves in life are food and books. And at Books for Cooks in Notting Hill, you can enjoy both. Not only is this a cookbook shop, but it’s also a cooking workshop and cafe!
There are a very limited number of tables here but Books for Cooks is open for lunch and, of course, the recipes come from their very own shelves. They’ve even published a couple of their own cookbooks due to popular demand.
They’ve created the perfect pairing at Books for Cooks and it’s a quirky little establishment to check out in West London.
I’m a big foodie but I’m not a big cook so I’d love to visit with friends who love spending time in the kitchen to surprise them with lunch and a cooking course.
There’s something very special about physical cookbooks and the fact that these are often handed down from generation to generation. BBC Good Food just isn’t the same.
So if you’re looking to be inspired in the kitchen, you know where to go!
Address: 4 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, W11 1NN
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm weekdays only
Website: www.booksforcooks.com
The Atlantis Bookshop
Magic, witchcraft and occult books
The Atlantis Bookshop has been around since 1922 and has a fascinating history of its own. Gerald Gardner, an English Wiccan (a form of Pagan witchcraft), held coven meetings in the basement here and many famous magicians have graced this bookshop.
Did you know that famous poet W B Yeats also dabbled in the practice of the occult? He was introduced to this at art college in Dublin and visited The Atlantis Bookshop himself.
Today, you’ll find lots of books on witchcraft, practical magic, alchemy and more. They are also able to provide candles, obsidian mirrors, statues and more for practising magicians and witches.
I have to say I don’t believe in this modern practise of magic (as much of a Harry Potter fan as I am) but I did find the literature stocked here highly interesting and I’d love to read about the history of witchcraft.
The shop itself is very cute too with a broomstick or two outside and flowers lining the tops of the bookshelves.
Address: 49A Museum St, Holborn, WC1A 1LY
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6:30pm (closed Sundays)
Website: theatlantisbookshop.com
Arthur Probsthain
Books about Asia, Africa, and The Middle East
The bookshop Arthur Probsthain was set up over 100 years ago but is perhaps better known today for the tea room that sits on top of it: Tea & Tattle.
Here they serve a traditional afternoon tea of sandwiches and scones but with teas from all over the world: Sri Lanka, Japan, India, China, Kenya, Taiwan and more.
This is a nod to the specialist bookshop which sits underneath, selling books about Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The bookstore beneath is beautiful and gave me some interior decor inspiration. I’d love to have an old fireplace in my home surrounded by lots of large bookshelves!
There is an extensive range of non-fiction books on the regions covered from art to languages and religion. Of course, there’s also translated literature to be found here which made the linguist in me very happy.
The shop also has a connection to SOAS University and you’ll find even more of their books there. At that branch, they stock books covering politics, economics, history and more.
What’s more, they have an impressive collection of books available via Abe Books, which you can browse here.
Address: 41 Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3PE
Opening Hours: 9am – 6.30pm weekdays (12-4pm Saturdays)
Website: www.teaandtattle.com/bookshop
Gosh! Comics
Comic books
Gosh! must be paradise on Earth for both children and adult fans of comic books, graphic novels and manga.
It’s hard to miss this bookshop as you walk down the street because of the vibrant paintings on the windows.
Upon entering, your eyes will be assaulted by the rainbow of colours all over the walls. The walls are covered in graphic novels, there’s barely any wall to be seen!
This comic bookstore is much bigger than it looks from the outside with two floors filled from floor to ceiling with various publications.
Upstairs, you’ll find children’s books and graphic novels ordered by genre. Downstairs you’ll find comic books, old and new.
In the centre, there are loads of vintage comic books to choose from and lining the walls are new editions to pick up. Lots of these have been imported from the US so this is the place to shop if you’re not sure where to get hold of these in London!
Address: 1 Berwick Street, Soho, London, W1F 0DR
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 7pm every day
Website: www.goshlondon.com
Watkins Books
esoteric and spiritual books
For the top spiritual bookshop in London, look no further. As soon as you walk into Watkins Books, your senses are assaulted by a mix of different incense. Book browsing here is a multi-sensory experience and it’s why I am continually drawn back here when I am in the area.
The focus at Watkins Books is spirituality, mysticism and religion and you’ll find more than just books here. The store is surprisingly large and in addition to new and vintage books, there’s a section dedicated to talismans, tarot decks, statues and crystals here.
The range of tarot decks on offer here is particularly impressive and is quite interesting to browse as someone who does not know much about them.
For those interested in the esoteric, there’s so much literature to be discovered here and it’s organised clearly into different categories. What’s more, you can supplement this with free talks by authors which are regularly hosted here.
Address: 19-21 Cecil Court, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4EZ
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6:30pm most days (varies Thursdays and weekends)
Website: watkinsbooks.com
Koenig Books
Books about art
Koenig Books is a specialist art bookshop in London that can only be found at two galleries: the beautiful Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park and also Whitechapel Gallery in East London.
They used to run a beautifully minimalist store on Charing Cross road but unfortunately, that’s not there any more. Another victim to London’s rising rent I imagine!
For those with an interest in photography, architecture and art then this is the place to go to be inspired. The bookshop is connected to a huge German arts bookshop called Buchhandlung Walther Koenig and they are able to order you in anything you want that is stocked there.
The Serpentine Gallery always has interesting exhibitions on and is a beautiful exhibition space so pop by for an afternoon of culture and then pick up some art books for your shelves.
Address: Koenig Books Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London, W2 3XA
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm every day (closed Mondays)
Bookmarks Bookshop
Socialist books
Bookmarks is the largest socialist bookshop in Britain. That statistic implies that there are many socialist bookshops across the country but I’ll have to admit that this was my first visit to one such establishment.
Both bookshop and publisher, Bookmarks covers topics such as politics, economics, women, labour, there are even what they themselves describe as “radical kid’s books”.
It’s their aim to ensure that activists continue to have access to literature about activists who have gone before them and issues that they face now.
I found this store to be thoroughly fascinating and there’s plenty of interesting literature to get your hands on here.
From self-published pamphlets to George Orwell, Noam Chomsky and Thatcher, there’s a diverse range of political literature. It’s definitely worth a visit if you have an interest in history, economics and politics.
There are also some fun gifts to be had here, such as Little Miss Socialist mugs, the Corbyn Comic Book and more.
Address: 1 Bloomsbury Street, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3QE
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (closed Sundays)
Website: bookmarksbookshop.co.uk
Persephone Books
Neglected fiction by women
Sadly Persephone Books moved from London to Bath in 2021. You can find out all about this bookshop in my post about the best bookshops in Bath.
Pin now, read again later!
For more UK bookshops, check out these guides:
Bookshops in Oxford
Bookshops in Cambridge
Bookshops in York
Bookshops in Brighton
Bookshops in Bath
Bookshops in Edinburgh
Bookshops in Hay-on-Wye
Bookshops in Norwich
Independent Bookshops in London
Second-Hand Bookshops in London
Laura
Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?