When anyone asks me what are the things I love most about London, bookshops come straight to my mind.

Bookshops are a little escape from busy city life, where time stops and I can just take my time to browse around the books, even though I will never have the time to read them all (snif). If reading brings you joy and happiness and you also go bookstores and buy way too many books, then I hope this list of my favourite stores will be helpful to you!

Daunt Books, Marylebone Highstreet

I am sure that you have already seen tote bags of this shop around London. Daunt Books is simply one of the most wonderful stores I have ever seen. Opened in 1912, it is located on Marylebone Highstreet, with a picturesque wooden storefront. But what makes it so special is the inside.  It is all in an Edwardian style, with long oak galleries. On top of the ordinary selection of fiction and non-fiction, they are specialized in travel books, with different sections corresponding to various countries.

However, little warning: it is very hard to go out of this shop without buying anything! There is just something in the atmosphere that makes it irresistible.

Waterstones, Gower Street

This Waterstones is another very pretty bookshop and is a listed building from the beginning of the 20th century. It houses on five floors a wide range of books, going from fiction and non-fiction to academia and specialist books. It is the place to go to if you need to buy university textbooks, as you can be sure that they have anything you need! What I especially love about this bookshop is the coffee inside, Dillon’s coffee. It is always buzzling with people, and there is even a little courtyard and garden at the back!

PS: Do not forget to register to the Waterstones card, as it gives you a 10% discount on every purchase!

Foyles, Charing Cross Road

Centrally located in London’s West End, this bookshop is a bit in the same style as the Waterstones in the sense that it is huge, with over 200,000 titles on 6km of shelves! What I love about it is that it is more modern than the other 2 bookshops, with a lot of light coming from large windows. There are also not only books, but a selection of stationary, music CDs, and DVDs. There is also a Café and Restaurant on the top floor. I have never been but promised myself that I will go at some point. With its large wooden tables, it seems like a nice place to study or read.

The Riverside Bookshop, Tooley Street

In the vibrant area of Southwark, a few steps away from the Shard and Borough Market, this small, independent bookshop made it onto my list because it has a very nice selection of books, while being less overwhelming than the previous 2 bookshops. I am fond of its cosy atmosphere, the view from the first floor on the Thames and, also, the great selection of cards on the ground floor. 

These are all my favourite bookshops in London, although I still have a lot to discover, so I would love to see your bookshops recommendations in the comments below.