5 Best Bookstores in London (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Talise Sterling, Goods and Shopping · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Piccadilly alone has two bookshops with over 13,000 Google reviews apiece, and between them the bookstores in London below have logged well over 30,000. That kind of track record is rare on any high street, and it means the real differences here come down to atmosphere and specialty, not whether the staff know their stock.

Short answer: Waterstones Piccadilly leads with a 4.7 rating across 13,595 reviews, prized for its six-floor range and cafes. For something smaller and more specialist, Daunt Books Marylebone holds the highest rating on this page at 4.8 from 6,985 reviews, known for its travel-writing-by-country layout inside a stunning Edwardian gallery. Expect general new releases from £8 up and a free browse either way.

Jump to a business

1. Waterstones
2. Foyles
3. Daunt Books Marylebone
4. Hatchards
5. Stanfords
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How London's bookstores compare

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Waterstones	4.7 ★	13,595	Overall / biggest range	View ›
2	Foyles	4.7 ★	13,491	Specialist sections / manga and music	View ›
3	Daunt Books Marylebone	4.8 ★	6,985	Travel books / atmosphere	View ›
4	Hatchards	4.8 ★	2,458	Rare and first editions	View ›
5	Stanfords	4.7 ★	1,694	Maps and travel guides	View ›

Our picks, shelf by shelf

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Waterstones

4.713,595 Google reviews

Waterstones Piccadilly is the chain's flagship store, spread across six floors of a landmark Piccadilly building with three in-house cafes. It stocks fiction, nonfiction, travel, children's books and gift editions across nearly every genre, and its scale makes it one of the largest single bookshops in London.

What people praise

Six floors mean something for almost every reader
Staff repeatedly praised as knowledgeable and unhurried
Multiple cafes, including a well-liked one on the -1 level
Lifts available for anyone who can't manage the stairs

Worth knowing

Sunday hours are shorter than the rest of the week

Reputation scorecardrank in London

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume13,595 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown80% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The size and the review count both back this up as the safe first stop for browsing London's book scene.

Website +442078512400 Directions

203-206 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HD

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Foyles

4.713,491 Google reviews

Foyles on Charing Cross Road has been a London bookselling name since 1903, now housed in a modern multi-level building reviewers call a 'cathedral of books.' It carries over 200,000 titles including strong specialist sections in art, languages, military history and music, plus an in-house auditorium for events.

What people praise

Vast, well-organised stock across specialist subjects
Manga and comics section called out repeatedly
Bright atrium and easy-to-navigate layout
Cafe on site for a break mid-browse

Worth knowing

Busy multi-floor layout takes longer to learn than a small shop

Reputation scorecardrank in London

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume13,491 · 92th

Confidencevery high

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown79% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Foyles rivals Waterstones on scale but leans further into niche and specialist sections, making it the pick for less mainstream reading.

Website +442074375660 Directions

107 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0EB

#3🕑 Open 7 days

Daunt Books Marylebone

4.86,985 Google reviews

Daunt Books Marylebone occupies an original Edwardian shop with long oak galleries and a large stained-glass skylight, and it's known for organising its stock by country rather than by conventional genre. Its own site describes it as traditionally specialising in travel literature, alongside fiction, non-fiction and children's titles.

What people praise

Country-by-country layout is unusually useful for trip planning
Reviewers repeatedly call it the most beautiful bookshop they've seen
Calm, quiet atmosphere even when busy
The signature canvas tote bags have a cult following

Worth knowing

Smaller footprint than the bigger chains, so stock per subject is thinner

Reputation scorecardrank in London

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume6,985 · 86th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown84% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The highest rating on this page, and it earns it through a genuinely distinct browsing experience rather than just size.

Website +442072242295 Directions

84 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4QW

#4🕑 Open 7 days

Hatchards

4.82,458 Google reviews

Hatchards on Piccadilly is one of London's oldest bookshops, spread across four floors with a strong stock of first editions and antiquarian titles alongside new releases. Reviewers describe a staircase running through the whole building and note the charming, historic character of the space.

What people praise

Genuine rare and first-edition stock, not just new releases
Purchases come with a protective sleeve and printed bookmark
Staff called friendly and knowledgeable with strong recommendations
Historic building adds real character to browsing

Worth knowing

Four-floor layout means some searching to find a specific section

Reputation scorecardrank in London

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume2,458 · 81th

Confidencevery high

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown86% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The pick for anyone hunting a genuine first edition or gift copy rather than just the newest release.

Website +442074399921 Directions

187 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LE

#5🕑 Open 7 days

Stanfords

4.71,694 Google reviews

Stanfords near Covent Garden is a dedicated map and travel bookshop, stocking guides, maps, globes and travel gifts alongside a cafe. It's long been a go-to for Londoners planning a trip who want physical maps rather than a phone screen.

What people praise

Deep map and globe selection reviewers call unmatched
Staff took time to track down a specific out-of-print title
Cafe with pastries makes it easy to linger
Practical for planning any trip, not just leisure reading

Worth knowing

No lift to the basement, where most travel stock is kept

Reputation scorecardrank in London

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume1,694 · 75th

Confidencevery high

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown76% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A genuinely different kind of bookshop, and the right call specifically for maps, travel guides and gifts rather than general fiction.

Website +442078361321 Directions

7 Mercer Walk, London WC2H 9FA

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Watch: 5 Best Bookstores in London (2026)

How we score

Rating is the shop’s live Google average. Review volume measures how many customers actually left a review, ranked against the others on this page. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, and recency checks how recently people are still reviewing. No business can pay to change any of these numbers.

How much do books cost in London? (2026)

New releases at these shops start around £8-10 for paperbacks and run higher for hardbacks and illustrated editions, based on prices reviewers and shop listings mention. Rare and first editions at specialist shops like Hatchards vary widely by title and condition.

Serving central London

Every shop on this page sits within walking distance of Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden or Marylebone High Street, making a bookstore crawl genuinely possible in one afternoon. If you’re searching for a bookstore near me in the West End, Soho or Bloomsbury, all of them are a short Tube ride from each other.

What to ask before you visit a bookstore

Do you have this title in stock, or can you order it in?
Do you offer a loyalty card or discount scheme?
Can you recommend something similar to a book I loved?
Is there a cafe or seating area if I want to browse longer?
Do you buy or trade in used books?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these bookstores?

We compared bookstores in London using real Google ratings, review counts and what customers say in their reviews, then ranked them on that public data.

How often is this updated?

This page reflects Google data verified in August 2026 and is refreshed periodically as ratings and review counts change.

Which London bookstore has the biggest selection?

Waterstones Piccadilly and Foyles are the largest on this page, each spanning multiple floors with stock across nearly every genre.

Is there a bookshop in London specifically for travel books?

Yes. Stanfords and Daunt Books Marylebone both specialise in travel, with Stanfords focused on maps and guides and Daunt organising fiction and nonfiction by country.

The bottom line

Waterstones Piccadilly is the safe first stop for range and reliability, but if you only have time for one shop, Daunt Books Marylebone’s rating and setting make it worth the detour. Either way, call ahead if you’re chasing a specific rare title.

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