From the 14th to 21st June, here in the UK & Ireland it’s Independent Bookshop Week. The week is a celebration of our indie bookshops, highlighting how important they are to their local communities.
Ever since I was little, bookshops and libraries have been amongst my favourite places to go. It’s pretty much impossible for me to walk past one without going in. Without a doubt, it’s my mum’s influence. When we lived in Singapore, there was a second-hand bookshop my mum would take me to - I loved those trips! And in Taiwan, my school had a fantastic library that both students and parents could make use of - I had so much fun discovering books to read together with mum.
What makes a good bookshop for me
I love browsing tables of books piled high with themed recommendations, scanning shelves with lovely hand-written thoughts from booksellers. That personal touch just makes such a difference. That smell of fresh new books in a bookshop, the cosy armchairs, chatting with booksellers.
Here are 4 of my favourite London indie bookshops:
Backstory, Balham. Friendly & welcoming with a coffee and wine bar too - making it the perfect place to stop for a while and perhaps read your newest purchase!
Book Elephant, Elephant & Castle. Cosy and so much bigger than you think. There are rows upon rows of towering shelves packed with books, there’s something for everyone.
Goldsboro, West End. A treasure trove of the most beautiful editions of books, signed, first editions, gorgeous hardbacks - the ones you’d want to collect and keep forever, the type that will create a stunning display on your bookshelf too. Plus its location on the pedestrianised Cecil Court is perfect for exploring independent bookshops, art and antiques.
Stanfords, Covent Garden. If you are looking for or interested in anything travel related, you absolutely should visit Stanfords. Filled with maps, travel guides and travel books, along with a selection of general fiction - it is fabulous. They also own Battersea Bookshop inside Battersea Power Station - another cosy bookshop you have to pop into if you’re in the area!
And further afield:
It’s only relatively recently I’ve started going into local bookshops when we travel. Here are a couple of my favourites in…
Hastings - there are so many quirky bookshops to stumble across! I really liked Hare & Hawthorn, fresh and beautiful and full of lovely stationery alongside the books.
Glasgow - head to Caledonia Books for second-hand books, you'll find walls and bookcases crammed with books, and more stacks of books along the floor! And go to Bigglestone Books (57 Glassford Street, Glasgow, G1 1UG) for a warm welcome and a cosy space with a fab selection of books.
Dublin - I loved the cosiness of the Winding Stair - as soon as you walk in, you feel how warm and welcoming it is, a place to linger, browse and buy. Books Upstairs was another favourite - you can’t miss a visit to Dublin’s oldest independent bookshop. It has a huge range of both new and secondhand books, along with a cafe, perfect for cosying up with a new purchase after!
San Francisco - there is so much to choose from, I loved a visit to XX with all these nooks and crannies to explore!