Great children's bookshop with not just your run-of-the-mill titles on offer. They've got some…read moregreat tales that focus on change, diversity, and cultural sensitivity - good teaching tools for parents or educators. I was especially impressed by their "scary" and fantastical section... some very cool picture books in this genre that I've never seen before - and these always tend to be a hit with kids... especially as they get older. Another really fantastic aspect of this store is the way that they encourage kids to read through events and other programs - right now they have a whole wall plastered with children's handwritten reviews of the same book title; very endearing to read. Only one peculiar thing among their collection - a picture book entitled "Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope." Ummm... really? I'm an American and a fan of the president-elect, but I think this is just odd... generally in the fact that it's been written and published, but especially that it can be found at an out-of-the-way British bookstore. But hey, now you know it's there... in case you were looking...

This independent bookshop is mainly aimed at children, and indeed most of their business is as a…read moremain supplier to local schools. They're incredibly helpful and friendly - I was trying to buy specific titles on behalf of my brother at Christmas. They called me back twice about availability and then helped me to find alternatives for the one that was reprinting. They have a small selection of adult (no, not that kind of adult publication) titles and will order in anything that is in print, and staff are very knowledgeable and affable. I think it's closed on Mondays, like a lot of the local shops.

I totally love local, independent bookshops. The Owl Bookshop is really very cute. Cosy yet large…read moreenough to hold a great range of books in every genre, with a nice mix of civilised people perusing the shelves. So I went in, after a couple of titles that I had been wanting for a while. I really wanted to support local business, instead of going to the usual major bookstores that would definitely stock said titles. Approaching the counter, I ask the woman if she could please check if The Owl stocked the titles I was after. It went downhill from there. She went from being curt to being downright rude: that typical mid 40s female bookstore worker that I've encountered more than once that somehow think that helping people with their enquiries is not part of their job description. After ten minutes of dealing with the wrath of said attendant that looked at me like I had asked for her first-born, I thanked her and left, disappointed that I couldn't support local business and that she was so damn rude. Plus I didn't get my books. I won't be heading back in there again.

One of the best bookshops in Central London…read more & owned by Daunt Books. This place has two special features for me : first its childrens' section which is large & good & they have a great relationship with local schools; secondly the travel section which is equally good with a wide range of maps. But it also sells foreign art DVDs,cards & stamps, & holds regular Author Events

Cute little bookshop in the village. Super friendly staff who will order whatever you need if it's…read morenot readily available in stock. They have the cutest children's corner and a reading hour for kids. I love to stop here and browse all their cards. You can also find some special gems for gifts such as candles and flower vases, etc.

LSE's bookshop. Lots of stuff written by LSE-ers, some course texts, and a good variety of pleasure…read morereading options. Some left-overs from previous years are often on discount, and there's an entertaining staff-selection shelf. Knocking it above three stars is the very helpful staff who are highly accommodating and knowledgeable.

By far my favorite London bookstore. I order a couple of times a year for books to be shipped to…read morethe US. Customer service is stellar. They wrap the books very carefully and the shipping is quick. They often have editions that you cannot find in the US, such as the Matt Haig novel The Midnight Library. A very special store that I have bookmarked and will buy from again

Lovely bookshop that focuses on signed first editions of all sorts of books! Fair prices. Staff…read morewere friendly.

West End Lane Books is everything a book store should be. The only trouble is they were playing Bob…read moreDylan when I arrived. I can not stand Bob Dylan. This store had a nice artsy sort of selection of the type of books people read who live in the NW postcodes, meaning NW3,NW5, NW6. I think this is not a bad thing at all. W.E Lane Books also had an impressive sale selection. I found the Modern Jewish Girl's Guide to Guilt reduced from 15.99 to 5.99. You look around and see Penguin Titles mugs and 5 pounds of the Mighty Boosh Book (not sure if this is a desirable book to acquire or not, you decide). The staff also shows your their favourites, in a section. A good shop but can the Dylan. Yikes!

Really top-notch bookstore. I used to stop in all the time when I lived around the corner, and was…read morejust back in yesterday. It's not big, but not too tiny, and is independently owned and operated. They carry all the latest fiction and non-fiction, and not just the best-sellers, either. They do special topical displays. Yesterday was a rack of about 10 books about finance and the global economic crisis. They have a large section of Jewish books, catering to the local demographic. Their sale/discount section is one of the best I've seen. It's a couple of shelves near the back, and one right under the cash counter, but they're not the typical cheapo books you see in those sorts of bins. I picked up books like The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Search-Six-Million/dp/0007251939/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223300537&sr=8-1) (marked from £25 down to £9), The Rolling Thunder Logbook (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolling-Thunder-Logbook-T-Bone-Burnett/dp/1860746403/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223300586&sr=1-1) (£14 down to £7), A Hedonist in the Cellar: Adventures in Wine (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hedonist-Cellar-Adventures-Wine/dp/0747588465/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223300656&sr=1-2) (£14 down to £7, I think), and more.

This second hand bookshop is excellent and unless you are unable to read it would be quite…read moredifficult to leave this shop without finding at least one book to tickle your fancy. Unless I need or want something specific I always get my books from here because it is ridiculously cheap and they have a great selection. I picked up an unread copy of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book today for £1.95, the recommended price on the back was £7.95. Between this place and Amazon there really is no need to step foot in Borders ever again apart from to peruse their magazines in the café free of charge and use the toilet. Added bonus is the man behind the counter who is a quintessential English gent and listens to classical music on radio 4, singing along like Toad of Toad Hall.

This little second hand bookstore has a plethora of great literature bursting from its seams…read more Everytime I walk in, I come a away a few pounds lighter, and several books heavier. Most of the books are in very good to almost new condition, and are very reasonably priced between two and ten pounds. There are even some speciality sections, with hardcover art books and science texts. There is also a range of texts to be found for children. As a literature student, I find myself frequenting many bookshops - this is one of the most reasonable and well stocked to be found in the area. If you have some books that you would like to sell or exchange, call Ben for a chat and he will be able to advise you on their value.

A proper bookshop...but more importantly, and independent one!…read more I really like this place and am so happy that they still exist despite the convenience of online shopping. But it's actually at shops like this where I get inspired for a next book. I'm pretty much fed up with the personalisation of Amazon; while they probably know what I like, they cannot tell me what I might also like. And this is where the independent book sellers like The Stoke Newington Bookshop have a real margin: they have passionate and friendly staff who love to read themselves and they in turn can recommend their customers something totally unique...as long as you're willing to let them take you to undiscovered territory.

This large and popular bookstore is a good place to pick up a weekend's worth of reading. I find…read morebookshops cozy places to browse around in, and I enjoyed the experience of this small but well stoked local bookstore. Frequented by many of the literati that live in the whereabouts of Stoke Newington, this spacious store also hosts book readings by local authors, and an occasional poetry night. They have a good range of children's books, as well as several magazines on arcane and current subjects. I found an interesting philosophy journal here, with short articles on the most challenging ideas of our times by eminent philosophers. Another addition to the overflowing bookshelf!