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Second Hand Bookshops

Soho

New

The Second Shelf

14 Smith's Court

W1D 7DP

A boutique shop dedicated to rare books, first editions, and manuscripts exclusively by women writers.

Female Authors

Intimate & Curated

Bloomsbury

New

Gay's The Word

66 Marchmont St

WC1N 1AB

The UK's first LGBTQ+ bookshop. A vital community hub with a carefully curated selection of queer literature and history.

LGBTQ+ Interest

Warm & Activist

Bloomsbury

New

Persephone Books

8 Lamb's Conduit St

WC1N 3LZ

Specializes in reprinting neglected 20th-century fiction by women writers, all bound in their signature grey jackets.

20th-Century Women Writers

Elegant & Uniform

Piccadilly

New

Hatchards

187 Piccadilly

W1J 9LE

London's oldest bookshop, established in 1797. It holds three Royal Warrants and exudes traditional British elegance.

History & Biography

Historic & Aristocratic

Piccadilly

New

Maison Assouline

196 Piccadilly

W1J 9EY

Housed in a former bank, this "culture lounge" specializes in luxury coffee table books on fashion, travel, and design.

Luxury & Design

Opulent & High-End

Covent Garden

New

Magma

29 Short's Gardens

WC2H 9AP

A design-led bookshop featuring books on architecture, graphics, and art, alongside quirky gifts and stationery.

Graphic Design & Arts

Cool & Creative

Mayfair

Rare

Heywood Hill

10 Curzon Street

W1J 5HH

Housed in a Georgian townhouse, this legendary shop is famous for its literary subscriptions and bespoke library building services for private clients.

Literature, History & Memoirs

Sophisticated & Aristocratic

Bloomsbury

Rare

The Atlantis Bookshop

49A Museum St

WC1A 1LY

Established in 1922, it is London's oldest independent occult bookshop. It serves as a historic hub for esoteric research and coven meetings.

Magic, Wicca & Esoterica

Mysterious & Ancient

Victoria

Second Hand

Oxfam Bookshop Victoria

34 Strutton Ground

SW1P 2HR

A compact but very well-curated selection of general second-hand titles located in a bustling market street.

General Fiction

Compact & Curated

Bloomsbury

Second Hand

Jarndyce Books

46 Great Russell St

WC1B 3PA

The leading specialist in 18th and 19th-century literature, particularly famous for their Charles Dickens inventory.

19th Century & Dickens

Dickensian & Rare

King's Cross

New

Housmans Bookshop

5 Caledonian Rd

N1 9DX

A landmark of radical literature since 1945, specializing in books on peace, social justice, and progressive politics.

Radical Politics & Activism

Intellectual & Progressive

Soho

New

Artwords Bookshop

13-15 Broadway Market

E8 4PH

A specialist in the most up-to-date publications on contemporary visual culture, including fashion and architecture.

Visual Culture

Trendy & Artistic

Covent Garden

New

Watkins Books

19-21 Cecil Court

WC2N 4EZ

Established in 1893, it is one of the world’s oldest shops specializing in spirituality, mysticism, and well-being.

Mind, Body, Spirit

Ancient & Spiritual

Notting Hill

New

Books for Cooks

4 Blenheim Crescent

W11 1NN

A world-renowned shop dedicated entirely to food and wine. It features a test kitchen at the back where recipes from the books are cooked daily.

Gastronomy & Cookery

Aromatic & Homey

Soho

New

Gosh! Comics

1 Berwick St

W1F 0DR

The go-to destination for graphic novels and comics. Known for its stylish interior and exclusive small-press editions.

Comics & Graphic Novels

Vibrant & Cool

Clerkenwell

New

Wordery

15-17 Exmouth Market

EC1R 4QD

A specialist in design, photography, and independent magazines located in the heart of Exmouth Market.

Visual Culture & Zines

Modern & Trendy

Covent Garden

Rare

Tenderbooks

6 Cecil Court

WC2N 4HE

A minimalist space dedicated to independent artist books, small-press publications, and rare contemporary art editions.

Artist Books & Art Theory

Minimalist & Conceptual

Bloomsbury

Second Hand

Skoob Books

66 The Brunswick

WC1N 1AE

London’s best-known academic second-hand shop. Located in a massive basement, it is packed with philosophy, history, and vintage Penguins.

Academic & Non-Fiction

Underground Treasure Trove

Highbury

Second Hand

House of Hodge

174 Blackstock Road

N5 1HA

A charming charity-run shop known for excellent bargains and a friendly, community-focused atmosphere.

General & Bargains

Friendly & Small

King's Cross

Second Hand

Word on the Water

Regent's Canal Towpath

N1C 4LW

A unique "bookbarge" moored on the canal. It features a wood-burning stove in winter and occasional live jazz on the roof.

Fiction & Children's

Quirky & Atmospheric

This site was created in response to my new years resolution: "Music 25 concerts in 52 weeks"

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