This is by far the BEST spiritual/occult bookshop in the world…read more If you are a crazy bibliophile like moi, you owe it to yourself to get yourself to London, then get yourself to Cecil Court, an entire alley of rare booksellers and head over to Watkins Books, if you love all things spiritual, mystical and occult. It's no secret that J.K Rowling of Harry Potter fame based Diagon Alley on Cecil Court but not as well-known is that she too is a fan of Watkins Books. Yes, you'll find the usual New Age clap-trap, Law of Attraction, astrology, crystals, tarot books and paraphernalia, particularly on the ground floor. But head downstairs and that's where the real serious stuff is. When I mentioned little-known obscure mystical and spiritual writers like Martinus of Denmark, Mikhael Aivanhov on Bulgaria, Daskalos of Cyprus and Torkom Saradarian, no joke they had it all in their computer database and even a few titles on the shelves. While I took my pile of books to a table and sat myself down to look them over and decide which ones I was going to purchase, I could not help but hear the kinds of questions and queries, customers were giving to the sales associate behind the desk. People here know their stuff and it was fairly obvious that even the kinds of titles they were mentioning and the writers they were asking for showed a clientele of substantial spiritual maturity and insight. This will never happen in Quebec at least not for another 300 years. Please dear Londoners, do not ever let this shop go. A place like this needs to exist for seekers everywhere.

Really cool bookstore with a very unique selection of books everything from witchcraft and tarot to…read moreself help. I love bookstore row and this is a must see if you hit the spot!

Great esoteric bookshop that also holds events, talks and lectures on a wide range of topics…read more So if you are curious about paganism, wicca, the supernatural or the occult this is the place for you. Either call in or check the store website for an interesting list of events, which usually only cost a few pounds and is a great oppurtunity to explore new topics, make new friends and enjoy the friendly atmosphere. Also the store occasionally holds open days where you can enjoy cheese, wine and nibbles with the staff along with browsing the books, periodicals and small selection of craft gifts. Enjoy!!!!

Edit 17/12/2009: After having now been to some events, and spent more time, I have to upgrade this…read moreto a five. I've seen a growing book selection in my chosen topic/s over last time, gotten to know the staff better and seen the extras on offer. It's all I could really have hoped for! Original review in full below; So, I've been following this place for a good year or more now, but never got around til heading up - until now. I knew a lot about the place, and had a lot of expectations/pre-biased-ness, so maybe it'll reflect here. For those who have never heard of the place, the Treadwell's website sums it up far better than I could, so here's an excerpt; "Treadwell's Bookshop specialises in cultural history and esoteric belief. We have lots of British history, but also the history, religion and magic of Celtic regions, Europe, the Near East, Asia, Africa Australia and the Americas. "Yes, we are eclectic and wide-ranging! You will find a heady mixture of genres: poetry anthologies; fortune-telling guides; classic novels; grimoires, art books, folklore studies; occult texts; etiquette manuals; literary essays; almanacs; paranormal study journals; travel writing; philosophical works; antique dictionaries; tarot cards; biographies. "And it's not just books! You will find old engravings, carved wall-plaques, wall hangings, loose incenses, hand-made soaps, ceremonial daggers (including witches' athames), wooden wands, antique candle-sticks, rock crystals and ethnic jewellery. "Entering the shop is a step back in time: the building itself was constructed in 1710, and is listed. The interior is almost entirely original, right down to the archway sculpted with dancing fauns. The original hardwood floors are scattered with persian rugs and mismatched antique bookcases line the original plaster walls. Pride of place is given to the legendary "Browsers' Sofa" on which many a customer has spent a blissful hour." A bit of a long excerpt, but there wasn't a single part I wanted to leave out! It's welcoming to enter, and very laid back. The owner was sat at her computer eating an ice cream, yells of scripture from a play rehearsal downstairs could be heard over the shop music every now and again, and the amount of books all looking each as intriguing as the next takes a few seconds to come to grips with for where to head first. I had a few particular books in mind, and so with ease was able to track down the relevant category. I was a little let down to see just how few books there were for what I was after - the shop is quite small, and truly does cover many subjects, so I can understand. Now, I should point out, I've never been able to just 'waste time', without media. Be it music of my choice accompanied by some kind of game or work out, or a movie. Especially without chain smoking. However, I was able to pass an hour extremely quickly just browsing the books here. Under normal circumstances, as the only person actively shopping at that time, I'd have felt a little pressured or guilty, but thanks to being greeted as I entered by a sign reading something along the lines of "Browsers welcome, it's an all too lost practice", and the helpful, talkative but unpushy staff, it was a joy. I found a seat, I browsed, I read a few too many covers and pages, and was able to select the right books for what I was after - and then struggle to pick which of the many were what I wanted most. Thankfully, the prices were neatly written just inside the cover, at below back-cover prices, so it wasn't too hard on the wallet. After having a nice conversation with the owner on the books, an unreleased book which she showed me, and some subject matters as a whole, in which she also advised me of another nearby store that might have the other books I sought, I paid and went on my way with her directions. The only reason I couldn't warrant a five was, due to the size, the collection of books per topic matter felt a bit limited. This may be redeemed however, once I've attended some of their many events. For those with an interest in the esoteric, supernatural, and old religions, their website and facebook group are well worth a check. They host regular (1-2 a week, maybe?) gatherings, with generally well known names in the field, or authors on book launches. In fact, the shop and the owner have been mentioned in a fair few books, articles and websites, even involving a radio interview I believe at one point.

Magma carries all manner of gift items and is a particularly good shop if the person you're buying…read morefor is a designer, architect or otherwise keen about aesthetics. Here you'll find an array of design books, tote bags, games, toys and t-shirts. I fell in love with the Moomins at Magma. Who are these Moomins you might be wondering, and where do they live? This family of hippopotamus-like trolls resides in the Finnish forest in a house in Moominvalley. Their irresistibly cute snouts endeared me to them immediately and I simply had to purchase two placemats with their sweet likenesses on them. I have a glass dining table - which is not something I picked out myself (if I had my way I'd eat upon something made of wood) but it came with the flat so...yeah. Plates directly upon glass are jarring so I'd taken to putting down tea towels prior to the purchase of my Moomins. Now every meal is infinitely more pleasurable with these adorable characters on my table.

You know those people in your life that are impossible to gift? The ones that already have…read moreeverything, are extra picky, absurdly practical, or utter aesthetes? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about (or recognise that you're exactly the kind of person I'm writing about). Hey, it's fine. I resemble these remarks, too. Enter: Magma. It's the shop where the products contained within lean in the direction of purposelessness. They're whimsical yet thoughtful; they're strange yet sensible. You'll find all sorts of design-related books and magazines, a variety of non-Hallmark cards, a random assortment of obscure games and entertainment, and trinkets/bric-a-brac galore. When you're at your wit's end on shopping for that 'special' someone, pop into Magma to save your sanity.

We visited this store yesterday and really liked it. The selection in all categories was quite…read moregood, it's very attractive (including the beautiful bookcases), and the woman working there was very friendly.

I got 99 reviews but Daunt Books ain't one... Time to put that right!…read more Yep my special 100th review spot goes not to a blow-out tasting menu nor a sexy new bar nor a burger worth queuing two hours for. It goes to a nearby haven from my office that I have a real soft spot for, when it's just been one of those days (or I need a last minute present!). It's an ordinary-looking bookshop that's an oasis of calm in a desert of suits, surrounded by offices, banks and city-worker lunch spots. Easily missed but with tardis-like magic powers of being ten times bigger (more if you include the basement floor) than you'd think from outside. That smell of bookshops has soothed me since I was just a little bookworm with a big imagination and even bigger NHS glasses. Someone needs to bottle this smell and label it nostalgia, because walking in here takes me straight back to my childhood local Ottakar's, where mum would leave me reading the latest Point Horror while she did the rest of the shopping. So it smells great, but what else makes it special? Firstly, the layout. Bestseller chart by the entrance to attract the uninitiated, but you'll soon be lured further in. The table displays are well put together and (sadly for my wallet) will definitely make you pick up something you weren't even looking for. Upstairs follow the thematics - art, sport, self-help, and so on, whilst downstairs is arranged by geography. Go to Central Asia for Hosseini, Japan for Murakami, Scandinavia for the latest Larsson thriller. Some people will hate this imperfect pigeon-holing; I actually quite like it. I've been in the (lucky) position of living abroad for a few months in the past and wanting to find books set in or written by people from the local area. It's interestingly different, and to me it makes finding a book into a bit of a treasure hunt (and boy do I love those!) :D The staff here are also friendly and knowledgeable, and the guy at the till has often struck up a conversation over something I'm buying, whether it was lamenting the size of George R. R. Martin's latest paperback with me, or telling me I was in for a treat with Gone Girl (he was right!). They can also get things ordered in pretty speedily if you're looking for something specific. Given the location it's never going to be as quirky cute as some of the secondhand independent bookshops you stumble upon further afield, but it's warm and inviting and hey they give you a cloth tote bag instead of plastic carriers. Major win for that if nothing else! Though if they say they've run out then apologies, it must be because so many of them are currently sitting in my flat woops... Final bonus tips: they also sell awesome cards, notebooks and wrapping paper, and it's open on weekends too yay! Enjoy :D

When I used to work in The British Museum some time ago I would spend my lunch breaks in here and…read moreend up loosing track of time, oups. Atlantis is a great little occult bookstore on Museum Street. Here you will find a brilliant selection of alternative books, everything from magic, esoteric, tarot, feng shui, angels and ancient cultures. Fascinating stuff. There are always lots of interesting leaflets left in here for courses and workshops which i pick up from time to time.

This place has a lovely collection of Game of Thrones memorabilia, tarot cards, spiritual books,…read moreetc. I loved my experience here and even purchased a GOT mug!

The Orange Tree is a small shop filled to bursting with stuff. Not a chain store, it's one of those…read moreplaces you will find that gift fir the awkward aunt or favourite friend. Definitely one to look in if you are in the area.

I like this place a lot! It is like a wonderland, even if I don't need to buy anything I like to…read morepop in and see what's there:) And it's not a chain, which means that a lot of things are unique and I don't have to wonder whether I'm bringing the same birthday gift as the person next to me!

My absolute dream independent bookstore. I visited the area just to pass by this bookstore and it…read morewas everything I could have hoped for. Everything you could want about philosophy, art, photography, erotica. Little zines and cool things. Leave some space in your suitcase if you're visiting, you'll want to bring a few books home. Since it was before Christmas, It was quite packed with people and I loved the vibe. The person at the counter was incredibly helpful and friendly, too. Highly recommend a visit, I hope to attend one of their readings in the future!

A beautiful independent bookshop that stocks beautiful, beautiful books - forget Amazon, this is…read morewhere you should be spending your cash. Donlon houses books on music, art, philosophy, esoterica, fashion design, and gay and erotica, but their particular speciality is artists' bookworks and photobooks. They also regularly host book launches, readings, screenings and curated window displays. Nothing is better than ducking out of the well-dressed chaos that is Broadway Market on a Saturday, to spend the morning flicking through one of their titles and going home with something special.

This little bookshop is a great place to browse and find a great new read. Set up over a few floors…read morethe shop encourages you to spend time and look around. The books are arranged in various topics and it is easy to wander and find something you did not come here for. There is a tiny childrens section with a little chair for sitting which was great - as my son sat right down after a temper tantrum outside (he was sick of shopping!!) and got stuck into some reading !! Thank goodness -- a moment of relief and I was able to enjoy a moment reading the covers and opening the books and finally piccking out "bliss" a book about the geography of happiness.. cant wait to see how the Uk fares ! -

Who thought of opening a bookshop on Broadway Market? Brilliant! What would the place be without…read moreone? I can't imagine. It is also the perfect bookstore for the area. It is an independent business, which always goes down well. It is adorable in the way it is not too big, and the owners don't mind if you have a long browse through the shelves. Although it is small, it still manages to fit a variety of different books within its walls. The store has a real community feel about it. Like some of the other businesses on Broadway Market, there are little adverts for local events and things wanted and needed. As well as having staff recommendations in store, you can view them on the website, both current and past. The website can also keep you up to date with events held at the store.