A local’s guide to the prettiest bookshops in London, from Word on the Water to Hatchards and other very secret bookstores around town!
I have always been an avid reader, and I think that beautiful bookshops are one of the only places you can really get lost in, just you, dim lights, and the smell of old pages.
There are some really old bookshops in the city, like Hatchards on Piccadilly, and some more modern spots like Books for Cooks, filled with cuisine and color.
Whether you’re a first-time traveler to London or living here on a budget, there are many places to get that perfect Instagram or Pinterest picture, too.
London’s 15 Most Beautiful Bookshops to Visit
If you’ve been following The Working Line’s adventures, you might have seen some of these places mentioned in guides to the best book cafes in London, for instance.
Some others you’ve never seen here, and that’s precisely why it’s so exciting for me to share them with you.
There are also plenty of amazing second hand bookshops in London you might want to check out if you’re on a budget, by the way!
Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: Heywood Hill (Mayfair)
Heywood Hill is another one of the most instagrammable bookshops in London, really different from anything you might have seen before.
Indeed, this West London bookshop pretty much looks like a museum – perfect not only to get a curated collection of new books, but also a little picture at the same time.
There are lots of cool independent bookshops in London, but one cannot deny how at home we feel when browsing the racks at Heywood Hill.
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Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: Hurlingham Books
Located on Fulham High Street, Hurlingham Books is in my opinion one of the most beautiful bookshops in London.
Decently sized, it’s one of the only bookstores in London that contains that many fiction and non fiction titles.
When you’re inside, you almost feel overwhelmed with the quantity of books all around you.
But you never know when you’re going to find new hidden gems in London, and if you get the chance, you should really visit.
Hurlingham Books is indeed one of the coolest used bookshops in London – not the biggest, but still one of the most iconic places to get cheaper books in the city.
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Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: Daunt Books
Now for probably one of the most beautiful bookshops in London overall…
Daunt Books, in Marylebone.
I’ve told you some time ago about cool cafes to work in Marylebone, and if on your break, you’d like to relax at a super iconic London bookshop, that one is perfect.
From fiction to travel books, you’ll find everything there.
Plus, if you ever want to go for more shopping in London, you’re not too far from Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street.
And there are plenty of really cool shops on Oxford Street to pass by once you’ve shopped for new books.
Read: The Most Colorful Streets in Camden
Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: London Review Bookshop
The London Bookshop Cafe is another one of the most iconic bookshops in London, and it’s also located in one of the poshest areas; Bloomsbury.
I mean, we’ve talked about really posh areas in London on The Working Line, with beautiful pictures of Chalcot Square in Primrose Hill.
Or the colorful streets in Notting Hill.
But Bloomsbury is more of that old money kind of neighborhood; as such, you can imagine how trendy and chic the London Review Bookshop feels.
And if you’re ever looking for book cafes in London, there’s actually a relaxing coffee shop inside the London Review Bookshop.
Perfect if you’d like to plan a romantic date in London for a book lover, too, right?
Read: The Best Things to Do in Camden Town
Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: Foster Books
Foster Books is located in Chiswick, one of the cutest secret places in London – for travelers, at least.
This is another one of the most beautiful book shops in London especially if you tend to love shop windows.
That’s something I personally love taking pictures of.
At Foster Books, you’ll find plenty of first editions, rare volumes and leather bound books of the highest quality.
An iconic London bookstore for anyone who loves collecting books!
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Oldest Bookshops in London: Hatchards
Hatchards is the oldest bookshop in London, and one of the biggest too.
Established in 1797, Hatchards sells anything from nonfiction to literature, with a bit of everything from travel to language learning collections.
It’s located in another one of the poshest areas of London, Piccadilly, with St James’ Park a few minutes away on foot.
Hatchards’ black shop window makes it unmistakable – and one of the most beautiful bookshops in London in my opinion.
Closeby, for high-end shopping, you have one of the most famous department stores in London, Fortnum & Mason, perfect for perfume, makeup, clothes, and even macarons!
Read: The Best Candle Shops in London
Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: Word on the Water
Word on the Water is another one of the prettiest bookshops in London – most unusual too.
It’s located on the Regent’s Canal Towpath, close to King’s Cross station and Coal Drops Yard.
After some brunch in King’s Cross, or working in the nearby laptop friendly cafes, a visit to Word on the Water is necessary.
Lots of second hand books, a beautiful setting and a friendly team…
What more could us bookworms desire?
Read: The Best Budget Shops in London
Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: Atlantis Bookshop
The Atlantis Bookshop, close to the British Museum (one of my favorite free museums in London!) is very different from the other places I’ve given you so far.
Indeed, you’ll find there more magic-related volumes here, and everything from the occult to esotericism.
A full magic-inspired place, which I guess means this could be…
One of the most magical places in London?
In addition, you’ll find at the Atlantis Bookshop various candles, tarot decks and much more – a really complete place for studies of magic.
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Most Instagrammable Bookshops in London: Morocco Bound Bermondsey
I’ve only been to Morocco Bound a couple of times, but this is probably one of the most secret – and most beautiful bookshops in London.
It’s also a place where you can get a coffee should you wish to, and the whole bookstore is rather small, very original.
You really can’t miss it when you roam around the streets in Bermondsey.
With its bright orange and green colors and wooden furniture, it’s just a pure, simple, amazing place to write in London for a bit.
Plus, there are lots of cool Italian restaurants in London Bridge nearby if you’d like to go book shopping for a bit before ending with a beautiful dinner.
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Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: Lutyens & Rubinstein
Lutyens & Rubinsten is another one of the cleanest, purest, most beautiful bookshops in London.
It’s located in the same area as the Notting Hill Bookshop, but bigger and whiter.
Come for breakfast in Notting Hill, walk around the charity shops and Portobello Market, and pop in for a literary visit.
You might find here way more than what you were hoping for, and if you’d like to find bookish spots in London to meet authors, this is the perfect place.
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Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: Alice Through the Looking Glass
Cecil Court, close to Covent Garden, is not only famous for its specialist bookshops.
It’s indeed said to have inspired Harry Potter‘s Diagon Alley, and well, if you’ve been here before, you know I love Harry Potter.
I love finding new Harry Potter locations in London, and there are more than you’d expect.
Lots of cool Harry Potter shops, too, perfect for artifacts and collectibles.
Well, if you like Alice in Wonderland, you’ll probably love Alice Through the Looking Glass, a specialist bookshop that revolves around the Lewis Carroll’s heroine.
It’s not just a bookshop, either.
At Alice Through the Looking Glass, you’ll also find stationery, prints, and first editions to shop.
Closeby, on Charing Cross Road, you have one of the biggest TK Maxx in London, if you want to also go shopping for clothes, makeup, and, of course, DW Home candles.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in London
Most Instagrammable Bookshops in London: Kew Bookshop
The Kew Bookshop is located further from Central London than places like Daunt Books.
Yes, it’s another one of the most beautiful bookshops in London in my opinion, with its blue shop window.
You’ll not only find the Royal Botanic Gardens close to the Kew Bookshop, but also amazing views of London across the Thames just a few streets away.
Inside, books on all subjects, with vintage and rare volumes, kids’ books, and much more to satisfy your needs!
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Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: Books for Cooks
Books for Cooks is a perfect name for this cooking bookshop located in West London.
Not too far from some of the most colorful streets in London, since Books for Cooks is located in Notting Hill.
Inside, thousands of cookbooks and food-related titles.
More than you can ever imagine, really.
Also, Books for Cooks is one of the most secret restaurants in London – indeed, aside from the beautiful rows of books, you can have lunch there.
The bookshop offers lunch almost every day of the week, prepped directly from one of their cookbooks.
Delicious dishes and fresh cakes daily, we’ve not only got there one of the most iconic bookshops in London, but also a perfect place for a romantic date.
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Most Beautiful Bookshops in London: Libreria
Libreria, just a few seconds away from Brick Lane, elbows some of the coolest markets in Shoreditch.
And the atmosphere there is nothing but mesmerizing, with the play on lights, the mirror and the selection of books.
Closeby, you’ll find some of the best cafes to work in Shoreditch, as well as cool breakfast spots.
And some really cool Italian restaurants, too, like Pizza East.
At Libreria, fiction and nonfiction are mixed, so you can always discover new, curated selections and come across books you’d never thoughts you’d read.
After book shopping, pay a visit to the street art in Brick Lane – well worth a sight!
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Coolest Bookshops in London: Oxfam Bookshop Muswell Hill
Okay, straying a bit from all the beautiful bookshops in London with this one, but it’s such a hidden gem that you have to pay it a visit.
That is, if you want really cheap books on literally any subject.
Oxfam Bookshop in Muswell Hill is one of the coolest charity bookshops in London I have found, and I try to pop in whenever I get the chance.
One of the coolest bookshops, not so instagrammable, but still – you don’t really feel that you’re in a charity shop.
A little bit because of the prices and the specific smell, but that’s it.
There are also some other really cool charity shops in Muswell Hill if you ever want to shop for clean, brand new second hand designer clothes.
Just sayin’.
Read: The Best Charity Shops in Camden
London’s 15 Most Beautiful Bookshops to Visit
And there you have them, all the most beautiful bookshops in London!
From iconic names like Hatchards to quirky, instagrammable places like Word on the Water, you have here plenty to satisfy your eyes.
And if you love finding cute spots when traveling, check out the guide to the most colorful places in London.
In addition, whether you live here or are just visiting, feel free to discover my guides to the best hidden gems in London, East London, West London, North London and South London.
I’ve also shared with you some of my personal favorite secret spots, which you may enjoy if you’re into history, architecture or the arts: