London is the hustling and bustling heart of England, and for centuries that heartbeat has been to the rhythm of the printing press, the typewriter and booksellers opening and closing their shutters for the day.
With history in every cobble, railing and pavement, there are bookish things to do around every corner of this ancient city. You’d think that living a bookish life in London is the go-to, but it often gets overlooked in the corporate race that many Londoners get swept up in when they live in this fantastic city.
Here’s my recommendations of bookish spots in London that literature lovers simply have to see when they visit!
Best Libraries in London
The libraries in London are some of the most comprehensive and welcoming in the world. Not behind ivy-covered stone walls like their Oxford and Cambridge counterparts, London libraries invite learners, researchers and work-from-home-ers to use those hushed spaces when they need a space to focus.
Senate House Library
I stumbled across Senate House Library whilst I was completing my MA in London, and I needed access to academic titles.
Senate House library was the perfect solution for me. It boasts one of the largest Arts & Humanities collections in the UK, is conveniently located in Bloomsbury, and is only £75 for the public to access for 6 months.
British Library
The brutalist masterpiece that is the British Library is situated on Euston Road, just a stones-throw from Euston & Kings Cross station.
While the public spaces and permanent exhibitions are open to the public, you’ll need a Readers Pass to use the reading rooms. Readers Passes are free, but for full borrowing membership, you’re looking at a £95 annual fee. Pretty reasonable if you ask me!
Wellcome Collection
Nestled on Euston Road, the Wellcome Collection is a literary space that’s open to all members of the public.
It’s part library, part museum, and for those working from home, or studying, it’s a great option for when you just need to get our fo the house! It’s free to enter and completely beautiful. Stay for an hour or three and soak up the academia vibes.
The Best Bookstores in London
London has been th beating heart of the publishing industry for the past 300 years – so it’s no surprise that it’s choc-full of some of the most incredible bookstores in the world. Honestly? We’re spoiled for choice, and these are just some of my favourites.
Daunt Books, Marylebone
Daunt Books is a beloved travel-themed bookstore chain in the UK, and the Marylebone store is the crown jewel.
In Marylebone, you’ll find the books categorised by country, with three floors to explore: ground, lower ground and a stunning mezzanine level. Go for the insta pictures, stay for the vibes (try to visit during off-peak times as it can be busy!)
Waterstones Gower St
Waterstones Gower Street is my favourite Waterstones branch in the UK- even taking the top spot from Edinburgh!
It is the largest new & secondhand bookstore in Europe, and it boasts a comprehensive academic collection to serve its student customer base. From special collections, to stationary, to a record store, this bookstore is truly special.
Hatchards, Piccadilly
Once Oscar Wilde’s favourite bookstore, Hatchard’s Piccadilly is a five-storey marvel that opened in 1797, and is one of the oldest bookstores in the country!
Stacked with signed first and rare editions, images of celebrity authors over the decades and a stunning original staircase, this bookshop makes you feel like you’ve travelled in time.
John Sandoe Books
A cornerstone of London’s independent bookstore scene, there’s a good chance you’ve seen John Sandoe Books before on bookstagram or booktok.
It’s nestled in the cosy corners of London’s poshest borough, Chelsea, and has been independently owned and run since 1957! There are over 30,000 titles in this little treasure trove, so visit and do some digging!
Bookish Cafés in London
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again – not every great café is a great bookish café. Luckily, in London, there are some fantastic bookish cafés, whether it’s the kind where you opt for a takeaway to enjoy the surroundings, the kind that doesn’t mind if you hole up with your study materials for hours, or the kind with comfortable chairs that invite you to linger.
Saint Espresso
Saint Espresso is the home of the best coffee in London. Go to the Baker St branch and bring your coffee on a stroll around Regents Park, passing the Sherlock Holmes Museum as you go.
Monocle Café
On the gorgeous Chiltern Street, Monocle is the aesthetic fodder for your bookstagram. Make sure to stop in their adjacent store for bookish and homely trinkets.
Dillon’s Coffee
Dillons Coffee is the best study-friendly café in London. Situated in Waterstones Gower Street, in the heart of the University of London buildings, it’s a students’ paradise.
WatchHouse
A stone’s throw from Daunt Books Marylebone, WatchHouse coffee is an aesthetic dream – the perfect spot to dig into your new read.
Art Galleries in London
Again, in London, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to art galleries, especially those that are free to enter. These institutions are pivotal to the city’s cultural feel, and a real joy to spend the day in. These galleries invite thinkers from across the globe to wonder at some of the most magnificent pieces of art to grace the planet in the past millennia. Do yourself a favour and add these spots to your itinerary.
The National Gallery
The National Gallery is outstanding and a must-see when in London. Don’t miss the portraits of the Romantic Poets and Delaroche’s ‘The Execution of Lady Jane Gray‘.
Royal Academy of Arts
Take a stop into the Royal Academy of Arts when you’re shopping on Bond Street for a refreshing change of pace. It’s simply stunning and the perfect escape from the hustle of Central London.
Tate Britain
The Tate Britain is my personal favourite gallery in London. Situated just north of the River Thames in Millbank (near Pimlico station), this stunning gallery is the perfect place to spend a few hours (probably dodging the rain!)
Don’t miss the iconic Sir John Everett Millais’ ‘Ophelia‘, or Henry Wallis’ ‘Chatterton‘ for two exemplary pieces of Pre-Raphaelite artwork.
Living a Bookish Life in London
London is the perfect place to soak up the rich literary history and present of the city. Enjoy a stroll around Bloomsbury and walk in Woolf’s footsteps, or head further east and discover more about Dickens. London has everything a book lover could want and more, and hopefully, with this guide, you’ll love London as much as I do.
Interested in finding out more about the bookish sides of cities around the world? Read our Dubai bookish city guide here.
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