The Big List 2025
The Big List gives details of all the bookshops across London. Those in boxes have registered to be part of the event - some will be offering extras with your bookshop crawl ID, and some won't but they should all know what's going on. Non-bold haven't registered but all bookshops are good bookshops!
213 Stoke Newington High St, London N16 0LH
Opening hours: 10.30am - 7.30pm Monday - Friday, 10am - 8pm Sat, 10am - 6.30pm Sunday
Abney Books is London's gravest second-hand bookshop! We are situated just next to Abney Park cemetery, in a part of London that is full of history. We have a good range of classics, poetry and penguin fiction, as well as all genres of non-fiction. We promote zines and champion fiction that is published by small publishers - including putting on poetry evenings and book launches to help support these writers.
35 Turnpike Ln, Harringay Ladder, London N8 0EP
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Mon - Sat, 11am - 5pm Sun
Accessibility: We have a ramp for the front door / main space, but our back room gallery and toilet are regrettably unaccessible due to the premises (step/narrow doorways)
Perks: Free tea/coffee and 10% discount on new books on production of bookshop crawl ID card
The All Good Bookshop is a community-run cooperative independent bookshop and events space, largely (and enthusiastically) staffed by volunteers. We stock a curated mix of new books and books donated by our local community to help support the shop. Among a massive list of activities and events going on here (see our website) we have a gallery with a new art show every month and a lovely back yard to sit in, drink tea or coffee, and read. :D
2A Church Ct, Richmond TW9 1JL
Opening Hours: 10am - 5.30pm Fri, 10am - 6pm Sat, closed Sun.
Accessibility: there are two steps to get into the Alligator's Mouth, but we have a foldable ramp we can put out on request
Perks:
The Alligator's Mouth is a specialist children's bookshop at the heart of our local community in Richmond. Our mission is to reach all readers: the confident, the beginner, and the reading-resistant. We often work with local schools, providing events or stocking libraries. In the past we have welcomed Jacqueline Wilson, Chris Riddell, Cressida Cowell, Oliver Jeffers and Axel Scheffler among many others. We actively recommend a range of children's books in the shop, on our website, and on bookshop.org, to help every child find a book they love.
We do also keep a curated adult section of favourites and curiosities
308 Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2TH
Opening hours: 11am -5pm Monday - Sunday
Accessibility: fully accessible
Perks: 25% discount on production of bookshop crawl ID card
We offer amazing quality used books, vinyl, and CDs - as well as a selection of new goods. You’ll find collectables, contemporary fiction, children’s books, and classics, and just about every genre of literature. Your money goes to a good cause that builds community spirit, which is a wonderful bonus of shopping at this store.
308 Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2TH
Opening hours: 11am -5pm Monday - Sunday
Accessibility: fully accessible
Perks: 25% discount on production of bookshop crawl ID card
We offer amazing quality used books, vinyl, and CDs - as well as a selection of new goods. You’ll find collectables, contemporary fiction, children’s books, and classics, and just about every genre of literature. Your money goes to a good cause that builds community spirit, which is a wonderful bonus of shopping at this store.
83 Bell St, London NW1 6TB
Opening hours: 10.30am - 6pm Mon - Sat, closed Sun
The shop for SECONDHAND BOOKS AND PRINTED MUSIC,
SECONDHAND MUSIC SCORES AND SHEET MUSIC OF ALL KINDS,
PRINTED MUSIC VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL
20-22 Broadway Market, London E8 4QJ
Opening hours: 9am - 8pm Mon - Fri, 10am - 6pm Sat & Sun
Bookshop stocking books about contemporary visual culture.
49A Museum St, London WC1A 1LY
Opening Hours: 10.30am - 6pm Tues - Sat, closed Sun & Mon
Perks: Free zodiac badges with purchases on production of bookshop crawl ID card
Specialists in the Western esoteric traditions for 102 years, this family run bookshop has an interesting past, intriguing stock and a busy programme of events.
71 Balham High Rd, London SW12 9AP
Opening hours: 10am -6pm Sat - Weds, 10am - 9pm Thurs & Fri
Accessibility: We have a ramp for wheelchair users/pushchairs. Our staff toilet (which customers can use) is downstairs so not accessible for wheelchair users
Backstory is Balham's independent bookshop with a bar serving coffee, wine and more. We host author events most weeks and run two book clubs (fiction and non-fiction) with monthly online meetings where the author joins.
We have a personalised book subscription service where subscribers are matched to one of our booksellers depending on their likes and dislikes, subscribers can either collect their book from us or we can post them out.
Instagram - @backstory.london Website - backstory.london
341-343 Roman Rd, Bow, London E3 5QR
Opening hours: closed Monday, 9am - 5pm Tuesday, 9am - 10.30pm Weds - Fri, 10am - 5pm Sat & Sun
Cafe/bar serving coffee & pastries from 9am and wines, beers & cocktails from 11am. Toilet available
Accessibility: Shop fully accessible by ramp, toilet not accessible
Perks:
Stores like Bard Books are examples of ‘third places’: much-loved local haunts that are neither home nor the workplace, but which we rely on for a sense of community and everyday socialising, with friends or strangers.
98 Church Rd, London SW13 0DQ
Opening Hours: 9.30am - 5.30pm Friday & Sat, 11am -5pm Sun
The Barnes Bookshop has been a proud part of the local community for over 30 years. With knowledgeable staff with a wealth of recommendations it lives up to it’s tagline as ‘quite possibly the best bookshop in Barnes’.
Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW11 8DD
Opening hours: closed Monday, 9am - 5pm Tuesday, 9am - 10.30pm Weds - Fri, 10am - 5pm Sat & Sun
Cafe/bar serving coffee & pastries from 9am and wines, beers & cocktails from 11am. Toilet available
Accessibility: Shop fully accessible by ramp, toilet not accessible
Perks:
Stores like Bard Books are examples of ‘third places’: much-loved local haunts that are neither home nor the workplace, but which we rely on for a sense of community and everyday socialising, with friends or strangers.
1 Windrush Square, London SW2 1EF
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Thurs - Sat, 12-5pm Sun, Closed Mon - Weds
Our mission is to collect, preserve and celebrate the histories of people of African and Caribbean descent in the UK and to inspire and give strength to individuals, communities, and society.
17 Pitfield St, London N1 6HB
Opening Hours: 10am -6pm Weds - Sat, closed Sun - Tues
Bookartbookshop is run by Tanya Peixoto and is situated in the heart of the art/clubbing district of Hoxton on the edge of London’s east end. The shop sells and promotes artist’s books and small press publishers including all currently available titles from both Atlas Press and the London Institute of ’Pataphysics.
20 Norwood High St, Norwood, London SE27 9NR
Opening hours: 10.30am - 6pm Mon - Sat, 11am - 5pm Sun
Accessibility: access via a ramp for the steps in.
We are second hand only bookshop, with thousands of books on display, mostly paperbacks, but some hardback, modern fiction first editions. We also sell Records, mostly vinyl, but a small selection of CDs. 90% of the vinyl is second hand
38 Golders Green Rd, London NW11 8LL
Opening hours: 10am - 7pm Mon - Sun
Established in 1990, The Book Warehouse is London's largest and longest established discount bookseller.
Offering a wide and varied selection of books, cards, gifts and educational toys, our product range is constantly updated, with many new and unique bargains appearing daily.
166 Blackstock Rd, London N5 1HA
Opening Hours: 10am - 6pm Tues - Sun, closed Mon
Accessibility: We are not wheelchair accessible at the moment, unfortunately.
BookBar is a bookshop, wine bar, events and social space that brings people together through books. We host regular events, a monthly bookclub, and run our Shelf Medicate service - bundles of books based on a theme or a mood.
166 Blackstock Rd, London N5 1HA
Opening Hours: 10am - 6pm Tues - Sun, closed Mon
Accessibility: We are not wheelchair accessible at the moment, unfortunately.
BookBar is a bookshop, wine bar, events and social space that brings people together through books. We host regular events, a monthly bookclub, and run our Shelf Medicate service - bundles of books based on a theme or a mood.
268 Chiswick High Rd., Chiswick, London W4 1PD
Opening Hours: 10am -6pm Mon - Sat, 11am -6pm Sun
Accessibility: Ground floor is wheelchair accessible but not the basement.
Opened in 1993, we specialise in discount tiles with a selection of full price books. Most subject areas catered for
Opening Hours: 11am - 5pm Monday - Saturday
Bookmarks is the UK's leading socialist bookshop and the official bookseller to the TUC.
We stock a wide range of radical literature. Our stock includes books on the trade unions, the history of the labour and social justice movements as well as cultural and literary topics.
We can supply you with books by Marx, Engels, Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg and Antonio Gramsci as well as work by Angela Davis, Fanon, CLR James and Walter Rodney.
Our Women section ranges from Alexandra Kollontai, Simone de Beauvoir to Judith Orr.
We have an expanding section on environmental issues and on LGBT+ topics.
439 Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8LN
Opening hours: 10.30am - 6.30pm Mon - Sat, 10.30am - 5.30pm Sun
Accessibility: fully accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs
33 year old, fairly large secondhand bookshop minutes from Brixton tube station.
20 Maxted Rd, London SE15 4LF
Opening hours: 11am - 6pm Fri -Sun
Accessibility info: steep ramp into the shop and a small step between the two rooms https://books-peckham.com/about-1
BOOKS is a secondhand book and zine shop based in Peckham, South East London; selling nice copies of good books for cheap prices.
175 King St, London W6 9JT
Opening hours: 11am - 5.30pm Fri & Sat, 12pm - 4pm Sun
Accessibility: Fully accessible
Perks: free badge & discounts on production of bookshop crawl ID card
Welcome to our second-hand bookshop, where the emphasis is on quality and building community spirit. Shopping with us means that you get to indulge in your love of books whilst making a vital contribution to our human rights campaigns. There is a lot to tempt you, from rare collectables to contemporary fiction, classics to children’s books, graphic novels and all the history and arts you can carry. Not to mention our top-quality cards and eco-friendly, Fairtrade, Amnesty-endorsed gift range.
4 Blenheim Cres, London W11 1NN
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Fri & Sat, closed Sun
Website: https://www.booksforcooks.com/index.html
the cooks book store for all cooks
80 Hill Rise, Richmond TW10 6UB
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Tues - Sat, 11am - 5pm Sun, closed Mon
Accessibility: a shallow step into the shop and two steps into the back room of the shop
Perks:
Located on Richmond Hill Books on the Rise offers a curated range of diverse contemporary fiction, drama and non-fiction. We host regular literary events and you can hire our literary lounge or event space for workshops, exhibitions, book launches, author talks or private events. Situated on beautiful Hill Rise in Richmond, you can visit us and continue up the hill to see one of the best views in London!
50 Westow St, London SE19 3AF
Opening hours: 11am -5pm Fri, 10am - 5pm Sat, 12pm - 5pm Sun
Come and see us in Crystal Palace for a well established independent bookshop with a great atmosphere and the widest range of titles south of the river.
The Bookshop on the Heath
74 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, London SE3 0BW
Opening hours: 11am - 5.30pm Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri, 10am - 6pm Sat, 11am - 5pm Sun, closed Weds.
Long established bookshop, selling antiquarian & second hand books since 1949, also maps, prints, posters & original art.
70 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Mon -Sun
Accessibility: Accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs.
Boom Cat Books is a family run independent bookshop in the heart of Camden Market, filled with second hand books, records, cds and works of art.
166 Brick Ln, London E1 6RU
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Mon - Sun
Accessibility: We have a ramp that we can set up for entrance into the shop upon request. There are some tight spaces, but there are no further steps
Perks: 10% discount on production of bookshop crawl ID card
Brick Lane Bookshop is thrilled to be the London Region winner of Independent Bookshop of the Year 2024! Whether you're into fiction, non-fiction, East London history, poetry, children's books, feminism, European literature, or classics, we have something for everyone. From books and tote bags to writing workshops and author events—including a short story competition—we're your go-to destination. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, we can also order most UK titles—often arriving the next day! Come and visit us or order online!
We run an annual short story prize and publish the longlist. The BLB Podcast is a new project from Brick Lane Bookshop created to celebrate and interrogate the short story form. On each podcast episode we invite a writer to discuss their writing and editing processes, how they got published, and what they’re reading.
96 Euston Rd., London NW1 2DB
The British Library Bookshop is a dedicated bookshop stocking a carefully curated variety of genres, catering for the curious and literary minded visitor. With defined sections, seasonal displays, knowledgeable staff, and a comfy sofa, it’s a great space for customers to find the perfect book. Having recently reopened following temporary closure due to the pandemic, the team are delighted to welcome customers back to the Bookshop, which is open alongside the Library’s main gift shop. Don’t miss the dedicated Bookshop loyalty card too!
6 Broadway Market, London E8 4QJ
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Fri & Sat, 11am - 6pm Sun
Welcome to The Broadway Bookshop – a small but beautiful independent bookshop in busy Broadway Market, Hackney. We specialise in literary fiction and have a good range of poetry, philosophy & essays, politics, biography, city literature, travel, art, fashion, music and children’s books.
400 Kingsland Rd, London E8 4AA
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Fri & Sat, 12pm - 6pm Sun
Burley Fisher Books is an independent bookshop in Haggerston selling both new and second-hand/antiquarian, with a general stock but a special interest in small press books. We have a regular programme of events and launches tOo!
51 The Cut, London SE1 8LF
Opening hours: 11am - 8pm Fri & Sat, 1pm - 5pm Sun
Accessibility: fully accessible but very little room
Perks: 10% discount on production of bookshop crawl ID
We are a unique bookshop specialising primarily in theatre, alongside a curated selection of books on politics, philosophy, psychology, and more. At the heart of London, we also serve as a vibrant fringe theatre hub, featuring a 32-seat theatre located at the back of our shop, as well as a rehearsal studio in our basement. Our mission is to keep books, performances, and rehearsal spaces as accessible as possible, providing vital support to London’s thriving fringe theatre community.
Arkwright Rd, London NW3 6DG
Opening hours: 11am - 6pm Fri - Sun
Our shop specialises in contempory art and theory books, with a selection of fiction, philosophy, LGBTQ+ Gender studies and current crital titles.
63 Wells St, London W1A 3AE
Opening hours: 10.30am - 5.30pm Tues - Sun
Accessibility: accessible by lift
The Cartoon Museum is the UK's only public gallery dedicated to the art of comics and cartoons and those who create them. Our shop is full of graphic novels, humorous greetings cards, gifts and exclusive exhibition related merchandise.
14 Lordship Ln, London SE22 8HN
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm Fri, 10am - 6pm Sat, 11am - 4pm Sun
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Chener Books is an authentic bookshop located in East Dulwhich. We have a great selection and a great kids section!
26 The Pavement, London SW4 0JA
Opening hours: 10am -5pm Fri & Sat, 10am - 4pm Sun
Accessibility: Fully accessible
A fantastic independent bookstore in the heart of Clapham.
29 Fortis Green Rd, Muswell Hill, London N10 3HP
Opening hours: 9.15am - 5.45pm Fri & Sat, 11am - 4pm Sun
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, staff assistance on hand for bigger wheelchairs and pushchairs
Perks: 10% discount and free proofs while stocks last on production of bookshop crawl ID card
Winner of Bookshop of the Year and Children's Bookshop of the year in 2024, we are the oldest running children's bookshop in the country. Filled with books from floor to ceiling, our friendly staff are always about to help find the perfect book for any younger reader - or their adults!
14 Old Town, London SW4 0JY
Opening hours: 9.30am - 5.30pm Mon - Fri, 10am - 4pm Sat, closed Sun
Accessibility: steps at the front so not wheelchair accessible.
ChocoLit is a tiny little bookshop bursting with fun book for babies to teens. Our mission is to help each child discover the joy of reading. P.S We also sell delicious chocolates!
260 Globe Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 0JD
Opening hours: Weds - Sat 12-6pm
A curation of books and magazines that define the current interplay between art, fashion, and photography.
118 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 7EE
Opening hours: 11am - 6pm Tues - Sun, with late night openings Tues-Friday for our packed event schedule
Accessibility: Shop is completely wheelchair accessible and has accessible toilets.
Intersectional Queer books
315 Brockley Rd, London SE4 2QZ
Opening hours: 12 - 6 Mon, 10 - 6 Tues, Weds, & Fri - Sun, 10 - 7pm Thurs
Accessibility: Fully accessible
Perks: 10% discount on used books on production of bookshop crawl ID card
Bookshop with trending new literary titles and retro used books and modern classics and rare esoteric. We pride ourselves on creative displays and curated collections whereby we are considered a museum as well as a bookshop!
61 Cheapside, City of London, London EC2V 6AX
Opening hours: 8am - 7.30pm Fri, 10am - 6pm Sat, 11am - 5pm Sun
Opening Hours: 9am - 7.30pm Mon - Sat, 11am - 6pm Sun
112-114 Holland Park Ave, London W11 4UA
Opening hours: 9am - 7.30pm Mon - Sat, 11am - 6pm Sun
84 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4QW
Opening Hours: 9am - 7.30pm Mon - Sat, 11am - 6pm Sun
383-387 High St, London E15 4QZ
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm Mon - Sun
Perks:
Small book/gift shop in Discover Children's Story Centre - immersive, exploratory play spaces where children and their imaginations can roam.
75 Broadway Market, London E8 4PH
Opening hours: 11am -6pm Mon -Fri & Sun, 10.30am - 6pm Sat
Donlon Books is an independent bookshop and publisher located at 75 Broadway Market in the diverse creative community of London’s Borough of Hackney
6 Croxted Rd, London SE21 8SW
Opening hours: 9.30am - 5.30pm Mon - Sat, 11am - 4pm Sun
Award-winning independent and much loved bookshop, Dulwich Books has been serving the local community for the last 30 years.
6 Chiswick High Rd., Chiswick, London W4 1TH
Opening hours: 9.30- 5.30pm Mon - Sat, 11am - 5pm Sun
Accessibility: Step free access to the adults area, children's area is downstairs with no step free access
Perks: 10% discount and free goody bag on production of bookshop crawl ID card
Everybody Reads is dedicated to building community through books. Its a place to pause, breathe, browse, learn, discover, meet, giggle and grow. We are passionate about books and here to help others - adults and children, committed readers and beginners - to move along in their reading journey. We will guide you to the books that are just right for you.
34D Broad St, Teddington TW11 8RF
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Mon - Sun
Accessibility: all level access and wheelchair accessible
We are a second-hand charity bookshop located in Teddington. We have a wide selection of books both for children and adults, all kindly donated for the benefit of FARA charity. This means that our selection of stock is ever changing with all sorts of new, old and unique books for sale. We have a strong community presence, believe in learning customer names, and going the extra mile to ensure our fellow bookworms leave happy.
All money raised from these sales goes to FARA charity which helps improve the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people living in Romania.
74 Chatham Rd, London SW11 6HG
Opening hours: 9.30am - 5.30pm Mon - Sun
FARA Clapham Books for Kids, the specialist children’s book shop is a must for all young bibliophiles and a fantastic local resource for parents. With a dazzling range of children’s literature and teen fiction, it is a great place for young ones to fall in love with reading whilst supporting the charity’s programmes in Romania
Welcome pack downloadable itinerary Balham, Clapham & Battersea
179 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8JR
New comics, graphic novels, fantasy and science fiction.
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Mon - Sat, 12pm - 6pm Sun
84b Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX
Opening hours: 12pm - 6pm Mon - Sat, 12pm - 4pm Sun
Accessibility: Our downstairs shop is ramp accessible via the main entrance
Perks:
Freedom Bookshop maintains the oldest and largest specialist anarchist bookshop in Britain. Alongside our own extensive back catalogue of classic works we stock thousands of books, newspapers and pamphlets on everything from history to sex, philosophy to workers’ struggles, fiction to anti- fascism, as well as the latest magazines, periodicals and newsletters from all the major anarchist and radical groups.
20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX
Opening hours: 10.30am - 5.30pm Weds, Sat & Sun, closed Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri.
The final home of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, and his daughter Anna Freud, a pioneering child psychoanalyst.
66 Marchmont St, London WC1N 1AB
Opening hours: 11am - 6pm Tues - Sat, 1pm - 6pm Sun, closed Mon
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible
The UK's Original, Independent LGBT+ Community Bookshop (if it ain't queer, it ain't here)
1 Portsmouth St, London WC2A 2ES
Opening hours: 10am - 7pm Mon - Weds, 10 - 5.30pm Thurs & Fri, 12 - 4pm Sat & Sun
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible
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