A local’s guide to the best arts, crafts, and stationery stores in London, from notebooks to pens, brushes, with Scandinavian and Japanese stationery shops!
There are lots of shops in London that sell really beautiful stationery, of the kind that you want to keep for years…
And actually use.
Stationery supplies have always had the power of motivating me for work, especially when I became a full-time blogger.
Minimalist stationery at Monocle in beautiful Marylebone, full bloom with floral notebooks at Cath Kidston, refined pieces at The Journal Shop…
From bespoke to ready-to-use office beautifulness, you’ll find here all the best stationery stores in London!
The Best Arts, Crafts and Stationery Stores in London
If one of the things I write about most is study cafes and other quiet spots to work in London, another activity I love doing is, well, going shopping.
Being productive with work isn’t the easiest when you’re freelancing, and hopefully, you’ll find here the exact kind of stationery you’re after.
We’ve got here all kinds of shops in Covent Garden, East London, and even South London with one of the most unique stores you’ll find in town; Lead Tin.
Keep reading, and you’ll find here some of the best shopping spots in London!
Best Japanese Stationery in London: Artbox, Covent Garden
If you’re ever looking for Japanese stationery in the UK, then you’re going to love Artbox.
There are quite a few Japanese stationery stores in London, but Artbox near Covent Garden seems to be one of the most famous.
You can always spot people getting out of Artbox with a colorful bag full of plush toys, kawaii notebooks and pads, and other cute accessories.
You can not only get manga-themed stationery, but home decor as well, and they have an endless range of cute props and collectibles like T-Shirts and stickers.
Stationery supplies revolve around the kawaii vibe brought about by Japanese characters and people such as BTS or Hello Kitty.
Plus, if you want to treat yourself, there’s a TK Maxx store on Long Acre, super close…
And is there really anything better than the TK Maxx candles when you need study motivation?
Read: The Best Second Hand Bookshops in London
Best Stationery Stores in London: London Graphic Centre
Whether you’re looking for branded stationery or luxury stationery paper, London Graphic Centre in Covent Garden is one of the best stationery stores in London in that regard.
And that’s soon going to become one of your favorite stationery companies in London, that’s for sure.
I love big stationery shops, and I love one-stop shops where I’m sure of finding whatever it is I’m looking for; food, fashion, art, and anything that catches my heart.
The London Graphic Centre carries a huge range of art supplies, so if you’re studying art in London, or trying it out on your own, then you’re going to want to visit this shop ASAP.
Built on two floors, this is one of the stationery stores in London that is open seven days a week, so you can virtually get your branded notebooks, pens, and pencils whenever you want.
Most essential for artists, isn’t it, as you never know when inspiration is going to strike!
Plus, since you’ll be in Covent Garden already, you can visit Artbox nearby.
Then, get yourself a delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte, and go home to draw while burning some amazing Yankee Candle scented candles – that literally makes my day.
Read: The Best 24 Hour Places to Study in London
Best Stationery Shops in London: WH Smith
I mentioned WH Smith as one of the stationery stores in London with the best branded notebooks, and I stand by my word.
Whenever I look up the closest stationery store, WH Smith will almost always pop up on my Google Maps.
I happen to have lived in North Finchley, and nearby Wood Green has one very big WH Smith store in The Mall (next to Pret, one of the best cafes to study in North London).
There are lots of other WH Smith shops in London.
Yet, this particular one seems to be one of the biggest in London, so I am there every time I pass by Wood Green (where you also have one of the best free libraries to study in London).
Now, why do I think WH Smith is one of the best stationery stores in London? First of all, the brand is very creative when it comes to its stationery.
Their notebooks, especially the chunky spiral A5 notebooks, are my absolute favorite in the entire world. It might not be luxury stationery paper, but it sure does feel like it, at a fraction of the price.
If you’re ever looking for stationery in London Bridge, there is a shop there which carries a smaller range of stationery than, say, the bigger WH Smith in Stratford Shopping Centre, for instance.
The collections are always well-curated, pretty, and feminine mostly, and you can find anything in WH Smith from notebooks to planners, cute diaries, pens, and more.
Read: The Best Places To Write in London
Best Stationery Stores in London: Choosing Keeping
Choosing Keeping is one of the best stationery stores in London in East London.
If you’re ever in the area, you’ll quickly come to understand how much of the East London vibe Choosing Keeping has.
Located just off Columbia Road, it’s the perfect destination for a stationery lover who also has a little soft spot for flowers.
How about visiting the flower market before you get on with your stationery shopping?
Not many stationery stores in London have such a vibe, but then again, this is completely due to the Shoreditch area in which Choosing Keeping used to be located.
For some time now, the goods have been relocated to Seven Dials near Covent Garden, one of the most stylish markets in London.
There, you’ll find every basic stationery item you might need, from pens to papers and notebooks.
In addition, you’ll also find fashionable stationery goods, colorful, beautiful, and perfect if you’re looking for stationery to become a better student.
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Best Stationery Shops in London: Papersmiths
If you’re ever looking for luxury stationery paper, notebooks, and pens, then you’ll want to pay a visit to Papersmiths near Kings Road in Chelsea.
This is one of the best stationery stores in London for whoever wants to treat themselves, friends, or family to one of the most underrated and best stationery brands I’ve ever come across.
I’m talking about art supplies, but I’m also talking about office supplies from luxurious brands such as Crispin Finn, Moleskine, or Papersmiths house brand.
I’m of the opinion that a notebook is always one of the best presents to gift someone, and you’ll find plenty in the Papersmiths shops.
No fluff here at Papersmiths, no crowded designs as I usually like my notebooks, planners, and diaries to be.
Only very clean designs and luxurious materials are used in their notepads.
Since Papersmiths have various stationery stores in London, you’ll be able to snatch lots of high-end planners, pens, and papers wherever you are.
Read: The Best Free Quiet Study Spaces in London
Best Stationery Stores in London: Ryman
Ryman is a chain among the most famous stationery stores in London.
This is not one of the cool stationery stores where you’ll find Japanese stationery, for instance, or cute little notebooks filled with flower designs.
Ryman is more of a stationery brand for office supplies, and that goes from notebooks to pens, printer supplies, as well as some homeware and office organization items.
If this is one of the most famous British stationery shops in London, there’s a reason to that.
Ryman is very faithful to its brand image, and aside from the Ryman brand with its notebooks and planners, you can find some of the best stationery brands for pens and art supplies in their shops.
If you’re looking for Staedtler or Stabilo pens, for instance, that’s where you’ll want to go.
Ryman also always carries a great range of Sharpie pens, even the latest seasonal colors.
That’s one of the first stationery stores in London I ever visited, and it’s one I go to when I want an affordable notebook that I know will be of great quality.
Read: The Best Budget Shops in London
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Best Stationery Stores in London: Mount Street Printers, Mayfair
Finding bespoke stationery can quickly become a hassle, especially with the oh-so-many stationery stores in London that are popping up every now and then.
One of the best stationery online stores – and brick-and-mortar that we have in the city is Mount Street Printers, which offers everything from ready-to-use notebooks to bespoke cards and invitations.
If you ever need to get art or anniversary invitations, or even greeting cards printed, then that’s the stationery shop you’ll want to turn to.
There are no words to describe how friendly the team at Mount Street Printers is, nor how premium the finished products feel.
Surely, the prices follow the quality of the items you’ll get there, but that’s definitely something to expect when shopping from one of the very best stationery stores in London.
High-class all the way, with a product quality that you can literally not find anywhere else in the world.
Read: The Best Candle Shops in London
Best Stationery Stores in London: Present and Correct
Not only is Present and Correct one of the best stationery stores in London, but it is also a true artist’s den.
When you first step foot inside this oh-so-colorful stationery shop, you’ll be amazing at how carefully placed every single item is.
Everything is simple, white yet colorful, and it’s crazy to think that you didn’t know of this place until now – trust me, you’ll want to buy everything and start creating on the spot.
Present and Correct is one of the only shops in London that have this minimalist yet artistic feel to it, and unlike proper, sober office supply stores, you’ll really feel at home there.
If you love stylish art supplies and treating yourself to unexpected new pens and Washi tape, that’s one of the stationery stores in London you should have on your bucket list.
They also have an online stationery store, should you wish to stay at home and wait until your beautiful order comes your way.
In my opinion, Present and Correct has the same kind of vibe that Hema and Flying Tiger have to their own stationery goods.
However, Present and Correct has a much more artistic yet high-end atmosphere to each of their products, and you can definitely see that every item is carefully selected so we (almost) don’t have to.
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Best Stationery Shops in London: The Journal Shop
The Journal Shop is that tiny little independent stationery shop in London that brightens up East Londoners’ lives.
Located in the oh-so-trendy Boxpark, one of the best markets in Shoreditch, The Journal Shop was established after a trip to Japan.
During this trip, the founder was utterly attracted to the efficiency and cleanliness of Japanese stationery and decided to use it as his business inspiration.
One of the smallest stationery stores in London, The Journal Shop still has everything you might need in terms of minimalist stationery.
That means anything from notebooks to pens and even brushes, along with some small home decor bits and bobs.
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Best Stationery Stores in London: Monocle
If you’re looking for fine stationery shops in London, then you’d do well to pay a visit to the Marylebone shop Monocle.
The same team works on the development of the Monocle stationery and the Monocle magazine, and you can find luxury stationery and home items at the Monocle shop.
On the menu, is a stunning brass collection that includes a letter opener and paperweights, along with a collaboration with Leuchtturm1917 for their premium notebooks.
It is probably one of the most expensive stationery stores in London.
Yet, whether you’re looking to treat yourself to a new branded notebook or would like to gift a close one some high-end stationery bits, the Monocle stationery shop is the perfect destination.
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Best Stationery Shops in London: Cath Kidston
Cath Kidston is an institution of the UK stationery scene, and did you know that one of the biggest stationery stores in London is a Cath Kidston shop ?
Located on Piccadilly, Cath Kidston offers notebooks, pens, cards, and even backpacks all adorned with their liberty, recognizable flower patterns.
This is probably the best stationery shop if you’re looking for cute stationery in London, whether for yourself or as a present.
The Cath Kidston shop is huge, and beyond stationery, you’ll probably want to bring home a few vintage homeware bits as well.
Read: The Best TK Maxx in London
Best Stationery Stores in London: Brand Academy Store
Brand Academy Store in the Oxo Tower, near a Caffè Nero study cafe I visit a lot, is one of my favorite stationery stores in London.
Actually, it’s one of the best concept stores you’ll find in town whether you’re looking for independent stationery brands or fun presents.
Traveller’s journals, Harry Potter stationery, luxury scented candles, and plenty of pens, coloring pencils, and other notebooks are held in this hidden gem of a stationery shop in London.
After visiting Brand Academy Store, I often sit at their coffee shop, Coffee Academy.
Coffee Academy has some of the best hot chocolate in London (sorry, Dark Sugars) as well as vegan doughnuts from Crosstown, and everything there is delicious.
I promise you, if you’re looking for really cool stationery stores in London, Brand Academy Store is one you absolutely cannot miss.
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Best Stationery Shops in London: Lead Tin
Although Lead Tin is tucked away in South London, this is one of the stationery stores in London that definitely deserve a trip for their artsy prints, notebooks, and cards.
A very unassuming stationery shop that hosts all the stationery you might ever need, especially if you’re a notebook collector, Lead Tin was opened in 2019.
There, they hold a range of desk accessories oscillating between vintage, artsy, and ultra-modern.
Their motto, ‘curating the modern desk’, echoes with the high-end calligraphy pens from Kaweco and luxury inks signed Parafernalia.
For children, paints, coloring pencils, and wooden craft kits seem to be perfect gifts all year round.
One of the best stationery stores for amateurs and professional stationery crafters.
Read: The Best Cafes in Brixton South London
Best Stationery Stores in London: Liberty of London
When I visit the Liberty of London shop in Carnaby, I usually head off to the beauty and jewelry sections, which are some of the most beautiful in London, in my opinion.
And beyond their oh-so-famous Liberty printed fabrics and art prints, you’ve got some of the most beautiful stationery in London.
Covered in the Liberty print, the notebooks, wrapping paper, pens, and even sewing pouches will make you want to empty your bank account.
That’s how attractive the Liberty stationery range is.
With a mix of vintage and modern desk accessories, that’s one of the stationery stores in London you cannot miss.
The Best Arts, Crafts and Stationery Stores in London
There you have them, the best stationery stores in London!
It’s hard to understand which are the best stationery brands, and I’ll probably write a guide about that to enlighten you later on.
Whether you’re looking for Japanese stationery or bespoke shops, you’ll find everything you’re looking for in the shops I’ve listed above!