From Bloomsbury to Brixton, London is home to a wealth of second-hand bookshops offering big titles at bargain prices. Here’s our list of the best stores to read, buy or smell the oldest books in London.
If you’re in Brixton, head down Coldharbour Lane to the characteristic Book Mongers. Buying and selling second-hand books of all shapes and sizes, this shop has been building an eclectic selection of books for the past 20 years. Owned and run by an American book expert that crossed the ocean to come to London, this shop welcomes its costumers with a gorgeous friendly dog who clearly enjoys the peaceful atmosphere of a bookstore. With volumes piled up everywhere and a homely environment, Book Mongers is worth crossing the seven seas for.
Established in 1967, the Book & Comic Exchange in Notting Hill is an absolute must for book hunters! Tightly but tidily packed, its shelves are stocked with books of literary fiction, poetry and plays, while a middle aisle is filled with vintage comics and magazines. We know you can already smell that ‘old book smell’! There is also a basement where customers can find hundreds of items available for 50p or even less. With friendly and competent staff, excellent music piping throughout the shop and a variety of books to choose from, Book & Comic Exchange is definitely a place to visit when in Notting Hill.
Claire Lancaster contributed additional reporting to this article.