As the capital of the country from which the English language originated, London has a rich history of English literature, with some absolute must-visit sites for book lovers everywhere.
NoMad London
This luxury hotel in Covent Garden is what you get when you mash New York modernism and London sophistication together. It has 91 rooms and suites decked out in rich Victorian elegance and contemporary accents.
In addition to an on-site Mexican-inspired bar and the NoMad Restaurant, it has a library open to guests only. Decorated in deep reds and dark woods, it’s the perfect combination between a well-stocked study and a comfortable lounge, with plenty of seating and an array of snacks and drinks available for consumption.
Address: 28 Bow St, London WC2E 7AW, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 3PM
– Check-out time: 12PM
L’oscar London
Set in a restored former church, L’oscar London exudes luxury with velvet drapes, peacock motifs, and minute attention to detail. Also mentioned on our list of the world’s best book hotels, it features gorgeously preserved Edwardian Baroque architecture with high ceilings and opulent decor.
Its library room is especially luxurious, with well-lit bookcases holding hundreds of vintage texts and plush seating that makes for a comfortable reading space. It doubles as a dining area and can also be hired out as a venue.
Address: 2-6 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AA, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 3PM
– Check-out time: 12PM
Waterstones & Dillons Coffee
Waterstones and Dillons Coffee in London’s Bloomsbury neighborhood fit together like neighboring pieces in a puzzle. First up is Waterstones, one of many branches of the popular UK chain, spanning across five floors (a basement, ground floor, and three upper levels). It has everything from art to genre fiction to nonfiction texts on a wide range of subjects.
Located on the ground floor of that very Waterstones is Dillons Coffee, serving up a delectable array of beverages (coffee, alcohol, and more), plus plenty of sandwiches and sweet treats. It even has its own bookshelf for an extra dab of reading.
Address: 82 Gower St, London WC1E 6EQ, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
Waterstones
– Monday to Saturday: 8:30AM – 9PM
– Sunday: 12PM – 6PM
Dillons Coffee
– Monday to Saturday: 8:30AM – 8PM
– Sunday: 12PM – 5:30PM
British Museum Reading Room
Completed in 1857, the British Museum Reading Room is a landmark of Victorian architecture inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. It features a majestic 140-foot dome, cast iron and glass construction, and was once the largest dome in the world. It is also nominated among the most beautiful libraries in the world by the 1000 Libraries.
Though it hasn’t housed the British Library’s collection since it reopened as an exhibition space in the 70’s, the museum still holds a special archive that can be accessed through special appointments. Other than that, the reading room now serves as a historical and cultural venue open for public tours.
Address: The British Museum, Great Russell St, London WC1E 7JW, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Wednesday & Friday: 10AM – 5PM
– Thursday: 1PM – 5PM
– Saturday & Sunday: Closed
London Review Bookshop
Not too far from the British Museum is the London Review Bookshop, opened by the London Review of Books, a well-known literary magazine that’s been around since 1979. The bookshop offers a curated selection of around 20,000 titles, including world literature classics, contemporary fiction, poetry, history, politics, philosophy, and essays.
The shop is organized but stylish, with a long table that encourages browsing and reflects the intellectual and engaged motto of the magazine it came from. It also features an attached café known for excellent tea, coffee, and cakes.
Address: 14 Bury Pl, London WC1A 2JL, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 10AM – 6:30PM
– Sunday: 12PM – 6PM
The Maughan Library
The Maughan Library is the main research library of King’s College London, and just so happens to be one of London’s must-visit libraries. Housed in a stunning 19th-century neo-Gothic building, it used to be the Public Record Office until it was acquired by King’s College in 2001.
Its reading room is massively impressive, shaped in a dodecagon with an almost dome-like ceiling stretching over three levels of bookshelves. It holds over 750,000 items, including rare collections.
Address: Chancery Ln, London WC2A 1LR, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– For students only: Monday to Sunday: 9AM – 1AM
– Open 24/7 in the second semester
Stanfords
Though listed as a map store on Google, this shop sells books aplenty. It specializes in nonfiction travel books, as well as fiction where travel is a main feature, and is overall crowded with atlases, globes, and every chart and map you could ever want.
Stanford prides itself on having served renowned explorers and travelers such as Amy Johnson, Ernest Shackleton, and Florence Nightingale. It also hosts events like the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards, and even has a neat little café serving up baked goods and coffee.
Address: 7 Mercer Walk, London WC2H 9FA, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 7PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 7PM
– Sunday: 12PM – 6PM
Foyles
Founded in 1903 by brothers William and Gilbert Foyle, this historic bookshop has several locations, with its flagship on Charing Cross Road. Once famous for being the world’s largest bookshop by shelf length (and a bit infamous for its eccentric past practices), it has since modernized and shaped up, just in time for the new millennium.
Though Foyles is now owned by Waterstones, it still has its old and beloved brand. It offers extensive collections across genres and also hosts loads of literary events.
Address: 107 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0EB, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 9PM
– Sunday: 11:30PM – 6PM
Waterstones Piccadilly
Speaking of Waterstones, we can’t leave out this famous chain’s flagship store. Set in the historic Simpsons of Piccadilly building, this shop was a department store back in its heyday. The store spans six floors with over 200,000 titles, arranged by genre with dedicated sections like travel, biography, and children’s books.
This particular location is a real treat to the eyes with its ever-changing displays, some of which have included a giant LEGO Harry Potter and elaborate Christmas decorations. It also holds the Russian Bookshop, specialized in Russian literature, and features two cafés and a bar with rooftop views.
Address: 203-206 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HD, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 9PM
– Sunday: 12PM – 6PM
Maison Assouline
This former bank showcases a meticulously curated collection of rare books on art, fashion, travel, design, and more, though it’s best known for its selection of coffee table books. It is also ranked as the 8th most beautiful book café in the world by the 1000 Libraries community. The space exudes luxurious elegance, featuring antique furnishings and exclusive art pieces.
It’s not just about high-class decor and books, though. It also holds a swanky café/bar called Swans Bar, offering sophisticated cocktails and light meals.
Address: 196A Piccadilly, London W1J 9EY, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
Bookstore
– Monday to Wednesday: 10:30AM – 7PM
– Thursday to Saturday: 10:30AM – 9PM
– Sunday: 12PM – 6PM
Swans Bar
– Monday to Wednesday: 12PM – 9PM
– Thursday to Saturday: 12PM – 11PM
– Sunday: 12PM – 6PM
Hatchards Piccadilly
Founded in 1797 by John Hatchard, this is the oldest bookshop in London. It has been at its current Piccadilly location since 1801 and boasts a rich literary history. Over the years, it has attracted several notable figures, with Oscar Wilde, who famously signed books there, being one of the most prominent.
The five-story shop features a grand staircase that climbs through four of its floors, plus historic photographs and a table named after Wilde. Hatchards is even the proud holder of a Royal Warrant, meaning it regularly sells books to the British royal family. It’s one of the highest honors an English business can receive.
Address: 187 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LE, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9:30AM – 8PM
– Sunday: 12PM – 6PM
The London Library
The London Library was founded in 1841 by Thomas Carlyle and other intellectuals frustrated by the limited borrowing options at the British Museum Library. Although its collection began with a mere 2,000 titles, it rapidly grew under the patronage of prominent figures like Charles Dickens and is now one of the world’s largest independent lending libraries.
Today, the library houses over a million books across seven buildings. Its original location in St James Square has a simple, open layout that is inviting to guests without betraying the underlying sense of dignity in its square columns and labyrinthine shelves.
Address: 14 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LG, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday & Tuesday: 9:30AM – 9PM
– Wednesday to Saturday: 9:30AM – 5:30PM
– Sunday: Closed
Daunt Books
Here’s another bookshop chain for the books. Daunt has been around for 35 years, with its flagship store at Marylebone High Street in a 1912 Edwardian building. Distinguished by oak galleries, skylights, and a stained-glass window, it is a beautiful bookshop by any measure, and won 8th place on the world’s most beautiful bookstores list according to 1000 Libraries’ readers.
The store arranges its collection by country, mixing travel guides, literature, and history to inspire exploration. It’s also known for its serene ambiance and dedicated staff to help you find just what you’re looking for.
Address: 84 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4QW, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 7:30PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 6PM
King’s Library Tower in the British Library
Most people might think of castle ramparts when they hear the word “tower,” but the King’s Library Tower at the British Library is housed indoors, not outside. This six-story glass and bronze structure is an impressive piece to look at, and is worth at least one visit in a lifetime.
The tower holds King George III’s collection. Originally amassed in the late 18th century, it includes around 65,000 volumes of rare books, maps, manuscripts, and pamphlets representing the Enlightenment era. The King’s Library was first housed in Buckingham Palace before moving to the British Museum and then transferring to the British Library in the 1970s.
Address: 96 Euston Rd., London NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Thursday: 9:30AM – 8PM
– Friday: 9:30AM – 6PM
– Saturday: 9:30AM -5PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM
Word on the Water
Word on the Water is not the world’s only floating bookstore, but it’s still one you don’t want to miss. Ranked as the fifth most beautiful bookstore in the world, it’s now moored on Regent’s Canal at Granary Square, it spent its first four years after its establishment as a roving bookshop, making stops along the river to spread a love of literature. It wasn’t until 2015 that it decided to drop the anchor and settle in one spot.
The barge’s cozy wood-lined interior and leafy deck brim with new and secondhand books, while it also hosts live jazz, poetry readings, and literary events.
Address: Regent’s Canal Towpath, London N1C 4LW, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 12PM – 7PM
Islington Central Library
This century-old library was originally funded in part by Andrew Carnegie and houses thousands of books in English, French, and German. Its recent renovations have modernized it quite a bit, adding some shine and sleekness to the historic architecture, plus a brand new learning center.
As with most libraries, it hosts many events and programs to bring the community together and encourage debate and cultural exchange.
Address: 2 Fieldway Cres, London N5 1PF, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday, Wednesday & Thursday: 9:30AM – 8PM
– Tuesday, Friday & Saturday: 9:30AM – 5PM
– Sunday: 1PM – 5PM
BookBar
BookBar is exactly what it says on the tin: a bookshop-bar combo, here to wet your whistle and add a bit of relaxation to your reading routine. It has two locations, one in Islington and another in Chelsea, and today we’re going to focus on Islington for its down-to-earth presentation.
Here, you can expect to find a curated collection of contemporary literature alongside a wine and coffee bar, offering the perfect social lubricant for its book-loving guests. BookBar also hosts author events, book clubs, and more, making it a great place to get in touch with the community.
Address: 166 Blackstock Rd, London N5 1HA, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Tuesday: 10AM – 6PM
– Wednesday to Saturday: 10AM – 9PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 6PM
– Monday: Closed
Libreria Bookshop
Opened in 2016 in East London, Libreria Bookshop has a striking interior with a dark, mirrored ceiling inspired by Jorge Luis Borges’ story, The Library of Babel. Combined with the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, it creates a surreal atmosphere unlike any other.
Unlike most traditional bookstores, books are arranged in broad themes such as “Wanderlust” and “The City,” encouraging patrons to follow their heart rather than their head when searching for a new read. Libreria also showcases several programs and events, from literary discussions to debates.
Address: 65 Hanbury St, London E1 5JL, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Saturday: 10AM – 6PM
– Sunday: 12PM – 6PM
– Monday: Closed
Limehouse Library Hotel London
While the first two hotels on this list were in central London, this one’s a bit further out, near Mile End Park. Also, while many bookstores in the city are housed in former churches, department stores, and public offices, this one is set in a former public library originally built in 1901.
Limehouse Library Hotel London lives up to its legacy by presenting uniquely designed rooms dedicated to historical figures, including famous authors like George Orwell, Charlotte Brontë, and Mary Shelley. The hotel also features a library, art displays, and an on-site restaurant.
Address: Limehouse Library, 638 Commercial Rd, London E14 7HS, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 3PM
– Check-out time: 12PM
Phlox Books
Also mentioned in our list for London’s best book cafés, Phlox Books is an independent bookstore and café that proudly displays, “Books, Booze, Coffee” on its storefront window.
It has a wide selection of adult and children’s titles, plus fun touches like a mock tree in the back corner with mini shelves for recommended books. Paired with a café/bar serving coffee, beer, and wine, the shop fosters a welcoming, social atmosphere, where customers often come for a drink and leave with a book.
Address: 159 Francis Rd, London E10 6NT, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Friday: 10AM -1PM & 2PM – 6PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 6PM
– Sunday: 10AM – 5PM
– Monday: Closed
The Bookshop On the Heath
The Bookshop On the Heath Ltd is one of South London’s oldest independent second-hand bookshops, founded in 1949. It offers a wide range of books, from everyday titles to collectible modern first editions, fine bindings, and antiquarian books.
The shop stands out with its bright turquoise paint job, accented with golden lettering and detailing. Inside, it’s stacked from floor to ceiling with pretty much every kind of written word you could want, including illustrated children’s books, crime and adventure novels, military and history books, and more. It also sells posters, maps, vintage postcards, and other miscellaneous.
Address: 74 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, London SE3 0BW, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday, Tuesday & Thursday to Saturday: 11AM – 5:30PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 4PM
– Wednesday: Closed
Vanilla Black Coffee & Books
This cozy café and bookstore keeps things fresh with a Scandinavian-inspired interior that creates a stylish, welcoming atmosphere. The venue serves specialty coffee, brunch, cakes, and light lunches, featuring standout items like the Vanilla Black, which is black coffee infused with bourbon vanilla extract.
Alongside a curated selection of coffee table books and gifts, Vanilla Black provides a family-friendly space with a kids’ corner and outdoor seating in its courtyard.
Address: 308 Kennington Rd, London SE11 4LD, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 8AM – 4PM
– Saturday & Sunday: 9AM – 4PM
John Sandoe Books Ltd
Housed in a charming set of adjoining 18th-century shops, John Sandoe Books is a beloved independent bookshop with an impressive selection of around 30,000 titles across a wide range of genres tucked into almost every nook and cranny the store has to offer.
It optimizes discovery over strict organization, but if ever there’s a particular book you’re on the hunt for, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Overall, the shop maintains a warm, homey atmosphere and keeps regulars coming back with services like mail order, subscriptions, and private library curation.
Address: 10 Blacklands Terrace, London SW3 2SR, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9:30AM – 5:30PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM
National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum
The National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum was established in 1837 and is a major public library specializing in fine and decorative arts. Originally part of the Government School of Design, it moved to the current site in 1857.
It holds over a million items, including rare books and artists’ books, and supports art and design scholarships. Its historic reading rooms, built between 1876 and 1884, are especially gorgeous with impeccable architecture featuring high ceilings, skylights, and elaborate detailing.
Address: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Thursday: 10AM – 5PM
– Monday & Friday to Sunday: Closed
Hurlingham Books
Our final stop in this book lover’s guide is Hurlingham Books, one of South West London’s oldest independent bookshops. This bad boy is crammed full of secondhand books ranging from fiction and poetry to art and photography. It has so many books, in fact, that you can often see it piled up in stacks outside or filling outdoor shelves.
Most of its stock (roughly consisting of two million volumes) is stored in a warehouse off-site, so if there’s anything you’re hoping for that you can’t find on the shelves, always be sure to ask!
Address: Ranelagh Gardens, 91 Fulham High St, London SW6 3JS, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM(ish) – 6PM(ish)
– Saturday & Sunday: 10AM(ish) – 6PM(ish)
