London’s Daunt Books: How to Visit the Beautiful Bookshop

A local’s visit to London’s Daunt Books in Marylebone – one of the most beautiful bookshops in London, close to Oxford Street, with an aesthetic interior!

There are seemingly bookshops in London at every corner; I’ve never had trouble shopping for books, and found lots of titles I really enjoyed there to brighten up my day.

Old bookshops and their aesthetic, with wood, curved windows and a Dark Academia vibe, have something on me I just cannot explain: I feel ready to take on the world, one book at a time.

That’s how I feel when I pop by Daunt Books in the Marylebone area, close to Oxford Street and Fitzrovia.

I feel like I want to get all the books, take all the pictures I can, and come back at the soonest just to be able to do it all over again.

It’s definitely one of those gorgeous bookshops that belong on a literary itinerary in London; both for the photo opps and for the book selection!

London’s Daunt Books: How to Visit the Beautiful Bookshop

Daunt Books is located on Marylebone High Street, a winding, village-like street only minutes away from Oxford Street’s shops.

All around Daunt Books, you can find some really amazing clothing and lifestyle shops, as well as the lesser-known Fisher’s cafe and FishWorks, one of my favorite fish restaurants in London.

The Marylebone branch to Daunt Books is in an Edwardian building with long oak galleries, stained glass windows and a beautiful skylight ceiling.

You’ll find all kinds of genres there, from biographies to literary fiction, gardening, children’s books, and a huge selection of travel books – a little like you’d find at the Stanfords Bookshop in Covent Garden.

Daunt Books organizes its travel books by country, which means that each place has history, travel, and fiction all in the same section.

If you’re ever hunting for unique things to buy in London, I’d recommend getting the famous Daunt Books tote bag; I’ve seen this one worn by people even in Paris and Rome!

Daunt Books, Marylebone, Central London Photo Gallery

London’s Daunt Books: How to Visit the Beautiful Bookshop

Daunt Books is undeniably one of the most beautiful places in London to buy books and bookish souvenirs, like their iconic tote bags.

Granted, it might not be a bookshop cafe like Books for Cooks in Notting Hill or Stanfords (it would have been even more of a must-have on your bucket list!), but the selection of titles and the atmosphere make it a meeting place for bookworms.

Should you be in the area, or looking for new photo spots, do check out Daunt Books – but come at the earliest as it does get very crowded!

When you’re done, if you want to go for more book shopping, I’d recommend one of the Oxfam shops for really cheap books, or another one of the second hand bookshops I’ve told you about in the past.

And, other beautiful bookshops you can visit if you want a stunning atmosphere:

• Hatchards on Piccadilly, Central London
• Maison Assouline on Piccadilly, Central London

If, on the other hand, you’d like to explore more of London’s literary and artsy scene, these are a few guides and reviews you may want to check out next:

• Shakespeare Sculptures in London: 8 Quirky Spots To Visit
• Free Art Trails in London: 7 Beautiful Artsy Places to Visit
• Artsy London Attractions: 10 Places to Visit for Art Lovers