I'm not much of a shopper on vacation, but I do make exception for bookstores. Hatchards is…read moreexceptional, and I'm so glad we made for it on our short trip to London. The oldest bookstore in the UK, Hatchards was founded by John Hatchard in 1797. It's been in its current location on Piccadilly since 1801. Hatchards has sold books to the royal family since Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) became a loyal customer. The store holds appointments by royal appointment to King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Beyond its amazing history, it's also just an incredible shop. Several stories, with a gorgeous spiral staircase, Hatchards sells everything: rare books, signed books, Harchards publications (The Hatchards Library), and so much more. My husband and I spent less than hour browsing Hatchards (in different sections; I lost him for a while), and we left with maybe 8 books. The store is so well stocked, I kept finding more books I wanted to take home. The customer service was friendly at checkout, which was the cherry on top of a great store. It is simply one of the nicest bookshops I've ever had the pleasure to shop at.

I adore this bookstore. They have multiple levels and endless novel options. If you don't see what…read moreyou are looking for all the staff can assist in finding it for you. They are super helpful and kind. I was able to snag a novel I was searching for that I couldn't find because it had a different cover than in the US. So happy they helped me find it!

I'm never met with the most inviting vibe when entering this bookshop and I've been visiting this…read morecorner spot on and off for the past ten years. That being said, it's a cosy and tidy place with a pleasing array of non-fiction, fiction, travel, self-help, foreign language dictionaries, etc. If one is in Highgate Village, then a potter around Highgate Bookshop is in order, but don't expect to hear a peep from the counter staff unless you first pinch them on the arm, or something.

Hello, I'm a local and I visit the bookshop when I have a…read moremoment, mostly at weekends. They have a great selection of children books at the end of the shop and some wooden toys - so it's my place to get lots of birthday presents for the children.... this is our little gem in the village and one that we should all support. Great selection of adult books and helpful staff when you ask them to help you. Best regards Marta

Such a charming bookstore with a wonderful selection of books and gifts. It's a must-visit for book…read morelovers and Notting Hill fans -- absolutely worth the stop!

Visited The Notting Hill Bookshop during our trip to London and we loved the selection of books…read morethey offer. If you love the idea of "blind date with a book", this bookshop offers it and they have a lot to choose from and we were very pleased with the books we ended up getting. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend visiting this bookshop.

Step inside Maison Assouline where a quiet bookstore meets a hip bar experience. As you walk in…read morethere's an overwhelming sense of awe, that you can be in such a beautiful book store and grab one of the best cocktails in the area. Start by browsing the beautiful and unique variety of coffee table books. Inside Maison Assouline is a cocktail bar with the friendliest bartenders. Pop onto a stool, or grab a chair and table and immerse yourself into the historical building where culture meets luxury. Order whatever your pleasure is with some snacks and enjoy chatting with the local bartender, or browsing one of your book purchases. Relax, and enjoy after a day of exploring London (if you're a tourist.) The building was originally a banking hall designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1922. This bookstore surprised us as one of our favorite spots for a cocktail, and truly a unique cocktail bar! Lentz_Explore

Maison Assouline is more than a stylish coffee tablebook store, it's cultural and lifestyle hub,…read morewith gifts, Swan Bar on the ground level and galleries on the upper levels.  Assouline Publishing was established by Prosper and Martine Assouline in 1994 in New York, caters to non fiction books in fashion, travel, design, art, architecture and cuisine. The London location building was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and originally served as a bank before being converted into Maison Assouline in 2014, it was a high-security bank.

I'm surprised this very good used bookstore doesn't get better reviews and a higher placement among…read moreLondon used bookshops on Yelp. I found the prices excellent, display tables attractive, and staff to be very helpful. Heard of it myself, though, by word of mouth. Much of the stock seems to be remainder titles, but titles that are interesting and unusual. Very definitely worth a visit.

Used and new books galore! Boxes and towers of books greet you.. The different types of books are…read morecreatively shelved, piled and arranged as well as they can be. Nice for everything from travel to literary criticism. Lots of nice new coffee table books if you gifts.. Worth a stop and lovely to see places like Judd's full of people on a Saturday afternoon.

Great bookstore!…read more The selection is well-curated and there is something for everyone in here. The owners are friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to offer recommendations. Definitely worth a visit for anyone into books!!

Really, a lovely little bookshop with a long-standing history in this area. Where it could have…read moresuccumbed to the temptation to sell cool books to all the cool people that pass through this street (y'know how Fopp does it - bit of Orwell, bit of Camus, bit o' Kafka), they actually got a really well-stocked selection of fiction. The kind of fiction you've always wanted to read, or thought you should be reading. like Proust? And they do pretty greetings cards. There is a standard section on design, with big coffee table books about brazillian architecture or pictures of industrial decline. You do know them ones. But that's ok, their local history selection is beautiful and really appropriate for Brick Lane, where it would be easy to forget what it looked like last year. This bit's got nice books on the area's radical history, the stories of the Jewish presence in the area (I'd been looking for a Litvinoff book for ages) and the struggles against fascism and the National Front in London's East End. Which I felt really ties it to the area. It's definitely worth coming in 2 Eastside Books for a browse...

This bookstore is pretty big with four floors of books and restrooms at every level by the stairs…read more They do also have an elevator of course. You can spend hours here, but eventually they will have to ask eve time to leave when they close.

This is the second oldest bookstore in the world. Many floors including an elevator along with…read morerestaurant on the top floor. It is a lovely place. I spent several hours here. Amazing selection. Good value for what they have. Friendly service. Recommended.

Good bookshops are dangerous places, and Daunt Books is one of the most dangerous of all. You can…read morelose yourself for hours, browsing through the recommendations temptingly laid out on tables. And while you're queuing to pay, there are more temptations on your way to the till - for book junkies this is worse than the sweet counters in supermarkets! Daunt Books is a small chain of independent booksellers with an emphasis on travel and literature. I like the way they curate their shops and always succeed to find a gift here - but not without buying one or two books to keep myself.

A trip to Holland Park is in order when I feel like I want to treat myself to a view of upscale…read morehomes, eat fancy deli foods, and, a recent discovery, peruse the Daunt bookshop outpost tucked into the main drag there. Compared to the Marylebone locale--the only other Daunt that I've visited--this shop is smaller, quainter, and, on my trip, super quiet. Ahh. I found an interesting-looking book, 'Mendelssohn Is on the Roof', quickly bought it and went on my merry way. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/05/books/trying-to-murder-a-statue.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm