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Bookish London Itinerary: 13 Unique & Secret Places to Visit

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A local’s bookish itinerary with secret places in Soho, Shoreditch and lesser-known neighborhoods featured in literature; and a few coffee shops to end the day!

London is filled with secret places which many a writer has trodden at some point, and book lovers find themselves especially at ease in the city’s old streets.

I have had this bookish London itinerary in the works for quite some time, and between beautiful bookshops and gorgeous places used as a background in some famous books, like the Da Vinci Code, you’ll find many must-visit spots to add to your bucket list.

Bookish London Itinerary: 13 Unique & Secret Places to Visit

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For the purposes of this guide, I thought I would share with you some of London’s prettiest bookstores.

But, beyond that, I also wanted to share some historical places that almost feel inspired by magical stories.

If you’re traveling on a budget, you might also want to check out the guide I wrote some time ago about some incredible free things to do in London.

Budding writers or readers, you will find inspiration in all the spots I’ve shared, and will find some more in all the secret places I wanted to tell you about today!

Beautiful Bookshops in London

Beautiful Bookshops in London: Stanfords Bookshop, Covent Garden

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Undeniably one of Covent Garden’s best shops, Stanfords is a map and travel bookshop that you have to visit at least once during your trip.

It’s tucked away between secret alleys which are all worth a visit, and if you only have the time to visit a couple, I would recommend both Floral Street and Rose Street, paved, with a vibe that will take you back in time.

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The Stanfords bookshop, with its colorful balloons, globes and countless maps, is a really cute specialty bookshop, and in addition, there is also a small coffee shop inside.

However, if you don’t want to have a bite there, try the Bageriet bakery nearby, a Scandinavian bakery, tiny, with the tastiest Princess cake and cinnamon buns around.

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in South London

Beautiful Bookshops in London: Maison Assouline, Piccadilly

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Another one of the most secret places to visit in London for book lovers is the unassuming-on-the-outside Maison Assouline, on Piccadilly.

A mix between a coffee shop, an afternoon tea place and a sophisticated bookshop, Maison Assouline is the perfect spot for fashion and travel table books.

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The wooden decor and brightly colored books look especially beautiful with the light filtrating from the high windows – it’s a must for an aesthetic and bookish London itinerary!

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street

Beautiful Bookshops in London: Hatchards Bookshop, Piccadilly

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The oldest bookshop in London, Hatchards on Piccadilly is located close to the aforementioned Maison Assouline, and offers anything from literature to fiction.

Hatchards was founded in 1797 and it’s a great place to visit to enjoy beautiful Christmas shop windows, when the time is right.

In addition to books, the historic shop also offers a myriad of gift options, from beautiful stationery to puzzles, and much more.

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By the way, if you’d like to visit some of Central London’s most unique shops, you would do well to make your way to Santa Maria Novella, higher up towards Green Park.

It is one of the best perfume shops in London, and another very historic place, as it was founded in 1221… and offers really delicate fragrances.

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in East London

Beautiful Bookshops in London: Daunt Books, Marylebone

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Daunt Books in Marylebone is nestled in one of the prettiest streets in the area, and from travel books to literature, fiction and thrillers, they have it all.

If you use social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, chances are you will have come across the Daunt Books shop at some point – a visit there will blow your mind away.

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At least, that’s what happened to me as I was looking for new secret places I’d never visited, and remembered Daunt Books was on my bucket list.

Beautiful architecture, fresh flowers and countless books? Yes, please.

When you are done shopping, and if you get hungry, FishWorks Marylebone is located only a couple of minutes away, and a great place to eat the freshest fish and seafood in London.

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in West London

Bookish London Itinerary: Secret Places to Visit and Book Locations

Secret Places in London to Visit: Southwark Cathedral Church Garden

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Book lovers will love to know that there are a few Shakespeare places in London, what with the enormous impact the playwriter has had on English, and worldwide literature.

Southwark Cathedral and its secret church garden is one such place, in which you will find a sculpture representing the writer.

This is not the only Shakespeare statue in town, and we will see another one below, but it is a striking sight with the cathedral and The Shard in the background.

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If you find yourself in the area, you will also find lots of other hidden gems in London Bridge, Bermondsey and Southwark, from cafes to sculptures and shops.

I say, pay them a visit to make your trip even more inspiring.

The first of these secret places you should visit if you enjoy literature is the Globe Theatre nearby, another enduring landmark of the city.

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in Mayfair

Secret Places in London to Visit: Romeo and Juliet Mural in Shoreditch

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New Inn Yard in Shoreditch is home to a huge Romeo and Juliet mural, and another Shakespeare spot where you will see a statue representing the author.

This is not due to chance, neither in Shoreditch nor in Southwark – indeed, both places used to be famous for their theaters.

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The many Shoreditch street art spots will most probably lead you to New Inn Yard at some point, and the mural is so detailed you can spend a long time observing it.

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Then, if you’d like to see something different, there are a few really cool places to visit in Shoreditch I would recommend (not necessarily bookish):

Read: The Most Unique Shops in London

Secret Places in London to Visit: Soho Neighborhood, Central London

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The Soho neighborhood was used in more novels than you could count, and this include Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

You will find many secret places and hidden gems in Soho, which, despite is famous streets like Dean Street and Greek Street, is filled with tiny alleys and street art pieces.

Saying that a visit to the Soho area is something unique is not completely true if you tread the beaten path.

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However, if you know of the small vintage shops, streetwear shops and other cute bakeries and cafes, you can see Soho under a whole new light.

In addition to the bookish vibe of Soho, here are a few spots you might want to check out:

Read: How to Live in London on a Budget

Secret Places in London to Visit: Temple Church, City of London

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Pictured in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, Temple Church is one of the oldest, and most beautiful churches in the City of London.

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Dating back to the Middle Ages, Temple Church and the surrounding Inner Temple Gardens and Elm Court is one of my favorite places to visit for a literary London itinerary.

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The Inner Temple Gardens are one of the most secret gardens in London, completely free to visit, and Temple Church only costs 5 pounds to enter.

Whether you are a book or history fan, you will want to check it out.

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You will find many other hidden gems on Fleet Street and nearby areas, which I would also heavily recommend:

Read here my guide to the historic Temple area and its hidden gems, from Fountain Court to the secret poetic sundial in Elm Court, photogenic columns facing Temple Church and more.

Secret Places in London to Visit: Highgate, North London

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Another one of my favorite secret places to visit in London as soon as I get the chance is the Highgate area.

The picture above shows you Holly Village, a hidden gem in North London few people know about.

Not only was the Highgate neighborhood used as a background in novels, it is also a historic area that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you’re visiting it.

We’re here in one of the poshest areas of London, absolutely gorgeous to walk around.

If you have the time, do visit the Highgate Cemetery, a great spot to see nature.

This is one of the most famous – and beautiful cemeteries in London, especially with the Egyptian Avenue inside, and one I always recommend visiting at least once.

The Gothic architecture of the Holly Village buildings is great to admire before Highgate Cemetery, as it already sets the tone for a day filled with history.

Read: How to Move to London – and Survive as an Expat

Secret Places in London to Visit: Barbican, City of London

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The Barbican neighborhood, much closer to Central London, is another one of the secret places that feel like they’ve been built following some type of Harry Potter or Peaky Blinders’ pattern.

Walk around the Barbican Centre to find St Giles Cripplegate, one of the City of London’s secret churches and a breath of fresh air with the artificial lakes around.

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Behind St Giles Cripplegate, you will also come across one of the Roman Wall sites in London, which are other favorites of mine when treading the city.

Other hidden gems in Barbican you should look out for are these:

  • The Charterhouse, an old monastery and almshouse
  • The St Bartholomew the Great Church and churchyard
  • The 41-42 Cloth Fair house, the City of London’s oldest house
  • The West Smithfield Meat Market, one of the most beautiful Victorian places in the city, in the Smithfield area

Read: How to Eat in London on a Budget

Bookish Places to Eat in London

Secret Places in London to Visit: Mariage Frères, Covent Garden

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Afternoon tea at Mariage Frères is another really cool bookish adventure to spend, this time, in the Covent Garden area.

We’ve already talked about the Stanfords bookshop earlier, and Mariage Frères, with its location in one of the oldest streets in London, makes for a cool addition to a literary bucket list.

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And while it doesn’t have any proper ties to the book world, Covent Garden was itself used as a background in several London-based books – and even shows and movies such as The Little Princess.

Read: How to Make Friends in London

Secret Places in London to Visit: Donutelier, Charing Cross Road

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Donutelier on Charing Cross Road, close to both Covent Garden and Leicester Square, is not that much of secret coffee shop anymore, what with its extremely colorful and delicious doughnuts.

However, close to Donutelier, you will find Cecil Court, which is but one of the London alleys filled with bookshops, from rare to second hand books.

Since the Alice Through the Looking Glass bookshop is located in Cecil Court, I thought that the Alice in Wonderland themed spot went quite well with the mindblowing creations at Donutelier.

Then, if you would like to find other cool bookshops or even book cafes, further up on Charing Cross Road, the Foyles Cafe is a great place to read or study with deliciously fresh cakes!

Read: The Prettiest Villages in London

Bookish Places in London to Visit: Cutter & Squidge, Soho

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Lastly in our guide to secret places to visit in London for book lovers, is one you cannot miss if you are a Harry Potter fan – Cutter and Squidge, in Soho.

The Potions Room afternoon tea at Cutter and Squidge is one I was given to try out a few months ago.

I mainly loved the fact that despite all the cakes in the buffet being vegan, every single one of them was especially delicious.

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The decor is curated, with brooms, books and cauldrons in the background that enhance the magical feeling you have as soon as you step into the room.

Bookish London Itinerary: 13 Unique & Secret Places to Visit

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There you have them, all the very secret places to have on a bookish London itinerary!

Whether you were looking for book locations or places that would remind you of books you have read in the past, you’ll hopefully have found here new unique spots to visit.

London is filled with hidden gems; there is so much to do here that a week or two are never enough to visit them all!