743-745 Barking Road, London E13 9ER
newhambooks.co.uk

Brick Lane Bookshop is as iconic as the street it’s named after. Established in 1978, it was originally part of the Tower Hamlets Arts Project (THAP), which formed out of protest movements in the '70s. They stock fiction, non-fiction, books about London, children’s books, poetry, essays, feminism, travel, and more. They're open every day, and for the days you can’t pop in, they have a podcast too. With street food, quirky bars and more around, it's also one of the best bookshops in London to visit on a larger, itinerised East London adventure.

166 Brick Lane, London E1 6RU
+44 20 7247 0216
bricklanebookshop.org

Tucked just off Broadway Market, The Broadway Bookshop is a haven for literary fiction and thought-provoking non-fiction. Founded in 1999, this intimate, beautifully arranged shop punches well above its weight when it comes to book selection. Its staff are always on hand with warm, insightful recommendations and a genuine love for reading. Regular events and author readings bring the space to life, and their poetry and art section is especially well-curated.

6 Broadway Market, London E8 4QJ
+44 20 7241 1626
broadwaybookshophackney.com

Moored on the Regent’s Canal near Granary Square, Word on the Water is a 100-year-old Dutch barge turned floating bookshop. With a wood-burning stove, live jazz performances and a carefully chosen stock of new and second-hand books, it’s one of London’s most atmospheric places to browse. The boat has a rotating cast of booksellers and events, from poetry slams to talks and acoustic gigs. There’s even a little dog who might greet you at the door.

Regent's Canal Towpath, London N1C 4LW (near Granary Square)
wordonthewater.co.uk

As friendly and familiar as the local pub, West End Lane Books is a real neighbourhood favourite. With its worn floorboards and selection of classics, crime, contemporary, and kids’ books, this is a place with as much heart as history. Driven out of Libya by the Gaddafi regime, publisher Mohammed Fergiani opened the store in 1994 before launching its sister shop – Queen’s Park Books – in 2004, and both are still run by his son Ghassan. Around a quarter of the stock is for children, with the back corner dedicated to younger readers. In addition to books, the shop sells beautiful gift wrap, tarot cards, and notelets, normally under the watchful eyes of the two resident goldfish, Canongate and Faber.

277 West End Lane, London NW6 1QS
+44 20 7431 3770
welbooks.co.uk