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On high streets up and down the capital (and country), independent bookshops seemed to be consigned to the scrap heap with promises that physical books would soon be phased out thanks to e-readers and iPads. But it looks as though the fortune of the bookselling trade is turning.
For the third year in a row, the number of independent bookshops has risen, with 890 stores now spread across the UK and Ireland according to the Booksellers Association.
After 20 years of decline within the independent bookshop trade, the recent figures are surprising – and very welcome.
As London is home to some of the best independent bookshops in the country, here are the top five spots in the capital where you’ll find your next read.
Often the first port of call for self-confessed bibliophiles, there isn’t an inch of this store that isn’t occupied by a teetering pile of books. Founded in 1957 as a small collection of titles that Sandoe himself found interesting, the shop has bloomed into three adjoining 18th Century shopfronts in Chelsea. John Sandoe houses hard-to-get-hold-of editions of books, with its website proudly stating ‘we have about 30,000 books here, of which almost all are single copies.’
Perfect for: a Sunday afternoon in which you have around 3 hours to spare – get lost in the labyrinth of rare books and delight in stumbling upon a title you haven’t thought about in years.
It’s likely the most Instagram-friendly bookshop around – yet this East London spot doesn’t allow any phones within its butter-yellow walls. Mirrored ceilings, cosy nooks and towering shelves make Libreria a wonderland for those seeking their next read. One of the highlights of the shop is the assistants working there – they’re simultaneously happy to leave you browsing yet also able to inform you which book you’ll love from their vast collection – and they’re usually right.
Perfect for: finding the book that will lift you from your reading (or not reading) rut.
Having recently celebrated their 10 year anniversary, Lutyens and Rubinstein are firmly set in their status as a London hotspot for book lovers. Not only is the shop picture-perfect (hello, gorgeous window displays and striped outside awning), but every book in there has been curated and recommended by a group of readers, writers and publishers after being asked what they would like to read. Plus, they have a great selection of gifts and stationery if you’re looking to hit two birds with one very lovely stone.
Perfect for: those with a penchant for poetry, art or children’s fiction – they have dedicated sections for each.
Housed in the oldest building on Chiswick High Road, Foster Books specialises in the out-of-print, rare and hard-to-find books from hundreds of years ago to the modern day. Take a look at the categories of their titles online before you make a visit to fully appreciate the full breadth of stock that they hold – and to make any special orders for the store.
Perfect for: anyone seeking a book that’s hurtled in full force off the beaten track.
Read every book on the current top chart in Waterstones? Persephone is the place for you. Specialising in undiscovered and neglected fiction and non-fiction from writers that are predominantly women, the covers are as beautiful as the stories within. A personal favourite is The Victorian Chaise-Longue by Marghanita Laski – a 1953 sci-fi horror tale that’s equal parts charming and disturbing.
Perfect for: finding a last-minute gift for a friend who’s already read everything.
If you’re a fan of Camden Lock Books, listen up. Started in 2016 by Camden’s Jason Burley and Sam Fisher, this Hackney hotspot focuses on new titles from independent publishers. As well as a coffee shop hidden within the store, Burley Fisher also holds weekly talks, panels and exhibitions after receiving funding via Kickstarter to convert their basement into an events space.
Perfect for: a rainy day when you want to visit one shop and remain there from dawn ‘til dusk.
It may be housed in a windowless basement room, but Skoob’s collection of second-hand books goes unrivalled across the capital. The shop itself is crammed with over 55,000 titles and has further stocks (over a million) held in Oxfordshire ready to order; if you thought second-hand means limited stock, you are sadly mistaken.
Perfect for: students and bargain hunters – all books on their shelves are half-price or less compared to buying new copies. Plus, they offer 10% student discount on top.
