Top Bookshops in London

London is a book lover's heaven. Whatever reading material you're looking for, you'll find it here.

From specialist bookshops and book markets to second-hand or academic bookshops, as well as all the high street chains, London has every bookshop you could possibly need. The capital is even home to Europe's largest bookshop.

Looking for all the latest bestsellers? Head to the larger high street bookshops for a great selection and discounts on current and popular titles.

For more unique books, scour the second-hand bookshops or book markets for rewarding finds at pleasant prices!

Waterstone's

A literary shopping paradise, Waterstone's Piccadilly is Europe's largest bookshop. Spread over eight floors, it's much more than just a bookshop. As well as more than 13km of book shelves, there's a bar, the 5th View restaurant, a gift shop and an art gallery, plus the chance to attend regular book signings by famous authors.

Foyles

Foyles is one of London's most famous bookshops, and has five floors crammed with every kind of book imaginable. The store has been on Charing Cross Road since 1906 and still stocks the UK's largest range of books. Shoppers can also relax in the cafe, listen to music in Ray's Jazz Cafe or visit the art gallery.

Stanford's

Edward Stanford established Stanford's in 1853. The flagship Covent Garden store is still a must-visit for lovers of all things travel, and stocks the world's largest selection of maps and travel books under one roof. With famous customers including Scott of the Antarctic, Florence Nightingale and Ranulph Fiennes, it's a must for any travel lover.

Grant & Cutler

If foreign-language books are your thing then Grant & Cutler is the bookshop for you. The largest foreign-language bookseller in the UK, Grant & Cutler is dedicated to providing literature both in and on all living languages, from Arabic to Zulu. It also stocks a wide selection of world cinema titles on DVD.

Bernard J Shapero Rare Books

In the heart of Mayfair, Bernard J Shapero Rare Books is one of London's leading antiquarian bookshops, specialising in travel, natural history, English literature and continental books. Whether you're looking for rare editions, antique maps or vintage photographs, you're sure to find it here. The store also does valuations.

Oxfam Bookshop

Clear your conscience with a trip to the Oxfam Bookshop. As Europe's biggest high street retailer of second-hand books, not only does it stock a wider selection of books than most shops, but it also helps you do your bit for charity. Browse through modern fiction and leisure interest as well as specialist literature.

Southbank Book Market

Underneath Waterloo Bridge on Queen's Walk, the Southbank Book Market is one of London's best kept secrets. Just outside BFI Southbank, it's open daily, come rain or shine, and you can browse for hours through hundreds of second-hand and antique books, on any topic imaginable.

Daunt Books

Daunt Books is an Edwardian bookshop on Marylebone High Street that is nothing short of glorious, with long oak galleries and soaring windows. Books are arranged by country, rather than alphabetically, so guides, maps, non-fiction and fiction all sit alongside one another, for a unique browsing experience.

Hatchards

No bibliophile's trip to London is complete without visiting Hatchards on Piccadilly, London's oldest bookshop. Established in 1797 on the same premises it occupies today, Hatchards stocks a large range of fiction and non-fiction publications, as well as signed and special editions. There's also a dedicated section on religious books.

Blackwell's

Looking for an academic book? Make a beeline for Blackwell's on Charing Cross Road. A leading academic bookshop, it stocks all academic disciplines as well as a selection of general interest titles. Whether you're looking to get an understanding of quantum physics or learn about the French subjunctive, this is the shop for you.