With new indie retailers opening every year, London is home to hundreds of bookshops, including hidden gems and famous-for-a-reason spots.
Whether you’re looking to lose yourself in Jane Austen’s Georgian England or join Hercule Poirot on the Orient Express, there is something for every literary taste.
Perhaps the best-known bookshop in the city is Daunt Books, which originally only published travel books and launched its flagship store on Marylebone’s High Street in 1990. The custom-built bookshop is known for its Edwardian interior, oak galleries and unique arrangement of literature by country.
Waterstones Piccadilly holds the title of Europe’s largest bookshop and The Notting Hill Bookshop became a must-see spot after its interior was copied for the 1999 film starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
But it’s an under-the-radar hidden gem in London that has recently been named among the best in the world.
Cultured magazine has revealed its pick of the 11 greatest indie bookshops in the world, chosen by bookshop owners. Alongside stores in Baghdad, Paris and New York, a spot in London made the cut.
Read on to find out which bookstores topped the world ranking – including two in the UK.
Donlon Books in London
Donlon Books on Broadway Market was described by one TikTok user as ‘one of the best bookshops in London’. Now, it’s ranked among the best in the world
Founded in 2008, Donlon Books on Broadway Market regularly hosts book launches, screenings and readings.
It was nominated for Cultured’s list by Aimee Ballinger, founder of Glasgow’s Burning House Books.
She said: ‘The selection at Donlon Books is absolutely perfect and there isn’t a single thing in the whole store that could be considered boring.
‘I was lucky enough to work there for a bit many many years ago but I think I was bad at my job.’
On TikTok, the user @cansumerdamert shared a video of inside the shop, describing it as ‘one of the best bookshops in London’.
Librairie des Femmes in Paris
Des femmes bookstore is a unique feminist bookshop located in Paris, France. It has been honoring women’s literary creation since 1974
The name of this Paris bookshop translates to ‘Library of Women’ or ‘Women’s Bookstore’
The bookshop offers a huge selection of feminist works, classics and contemporary titles in French and other languages
Paris is often cited as the inspiration for great writers, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and George Orwell.
So it likely comes as no surprise that multiple spots in the French capital made the cut.
Recommended by Johanna Stein of Gato Sem Rabo in São Paulo, the Librairie des Femmes in Paris, founded by feminist activist Antoinette Fouque, is a pioneering bookstore and cultural hub specialising in literature by women.
The bookshop offers a huge selection of feminist works, classics and contemporary titles in French and other languages.
Dashwood Books in New York
Dashwood Books is an independent bookstore specializing in contemporary international photography books
Dedicated solely to photography, Dashwood Books is known for its selection of contemporary and rare international photography books, attracting artists, collectors and industry professionals.
Founded by David Strettell, it’s a hub for photography book lovers, offering hard-to-find titles, limited editions and hosting events, while also publishing its own works.
Neurotica Books in Los Angeles
Across the pond, Neurotica Books is known for its focus on rare and unique titles.
Recommended by Madeleine Alpert of Left Bank Books in New York, while it might not have a large physical storefront like major chains, it caters to niche interests, providing curated selections for dedicated readers in the LA area and beyond.
Codex Books in New York
Codex, an independent bookstore located in New York, specialises in second-hand literary fiction, art books and a selection of new titles
Located in New York’s NoHo neighbourhood, Codex Books is known for its selection of used 19th- and 20th-century fiction, art, and philosophy books.
It is a small and cozy space with plywood shelves with popular carts of $1 books spilling onto the street.
After8Books in Paris
The second spot in Paris on the list, After8Books, comes at the recommendation of a bookseller in Mexico City.
The independent bookstore is focused on contemporary art, theory and culture, known for its selection of books from international independent publishers, artists’ books, journals and zines.
Yvon Lambert in Paris
Yvon Lambert brings together a bookshop, publishing house and gallery
For more than two decades, Yvon Lambert Bookshop has offered a large selection of contemporary art books, exhibition catalogues, rare and out-of-print books and posters.
The bookshop brings together a bookshop, publishing house and gallery.
With a commitment to showcasing works by both emerging and established artists, Yvon Lambert Bookshop describes itself as a vibrant hub that appeals to artists and art lovers.
Abu Fatima in Baghdad
Iraq has a deep history of oral storytelling, fables and folk tales which inform modern writing.
The narrow lane of Al-Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad has stood as a resilient symbol of Iraq’s literary spirit for centuries
Known for its outdoor bookstalls, cafes and antique shops, the street is named after the renowned 10th-century poet Al-Mutanabbi.
Tucked away on the street is Abu Fatima, a bookseller which often displays his books on the street, inviting customers to browse.
The dusty shelves contain a variety of books in both Arabic and English, including rare gems about the 1960s and ’70s Arab cultural scene and Iraqi art.
Recommended by Sundus Abdul Hadi of Maktaba in Montreal, the bookseller writes: ‘As an Iraqi artist and writer living in Montreal, Al-Mutanabbi Street and booksellers like Abu Fatima are the inspiration for my bookshop.’
Burning House Books in Glasgow
Pictured: A selection of independent books and zines for sale at Burning House Books, a bookshop in Glasgow, Scotland
Specialising in art, experimental writing, counterculture and queer history, Burning House Books in Glasgow is known for its radical, curated selection of books and community focus.
It offers unique, often self-published titles and has gained international recognition as one of the world’s best small bookstores.
A Balzac A Rodin in Paris
Nestled in the Latin Quarter, A Balzac A Rodin is a charming, quintessential Parisian bookstore known for its classic atmosphere and rare books.
Run by a father and son duo, this shop in the heart of Paris’s literary district is a well-loved spot for finding art books, posters and unique literary items.
Monograph Bookwerks in Portland
Covered in flowering vines, Monograph Bookwerks is home to a collection of art and architecture books
One reviewer wrote: ‘Lovely gem that provides a great selection of art, vintage designer books and interesting objects’
If you’re looking for rare and unique books, this bookstore in the US is a hidden treasure trove.
Covered in flowering vines, this spot is home to a collection of art and architecture books, vintage studio ceramics and a deep archive of counterculture ephemera.
The website for the artist-run bookshop reads: ‘Rare and uncommon, and new and used books from around the world share shelf space with local publishers and small press editions.’
One reviewer wrote: ‘Lovely gem that provides a great selection of art, vintage designer books and interesting objects.
‘Fantastic place to kill time and learn a little something.’
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