The best of London 1 - bookshops along Charing Cross Road

Foyles is the grande dame of the many booksellers which line Charing Cross Road. It used to be famous as the store that looked more like a hoarder's attic than a proper shop, with its cramped rooms filled with stock piled onto rickety shelves in no particular order. What a fantastic haunt for booklovers!

It has now undergone a transformation, no doubt spurred on by the new Borders across the street. Burnt-out bulbs have been replaced, carpets have been cleaned and books have been neatly categorised. It still feels more like a library than a modern bookstore because of the sheer breadth of volumes. Obscure publishers and out-of-print titles continue to weigh down the shelves, so you are guaranteed to find something unique.

A jazz cafe now operates out of the basement, serving up coffee from the fine independent chain of Monmouth coffee shops. They have dived into the Internet Age as well with a website and plans are afoot to establish a network of branches across the UK.

It remains privately-owned and is no doubt the finest independent bookseller in the UK. You can read more about its history by following this link.

Along with Foyles, the aforementioned Borders and a flagship Blackwells there are many secondhand bookshops lining Charing Cross Road. Some are proper antiquarian booksellers offering fine first editions for the collector while others specialise in music, art, crime thrillers, etc.

We always find our way here and end up spending far more time and money than budgeted for. Even the tat shops that sell remainders, paperback flops and tacky TV tie-ins are worth a browse as you never know what you might turn up. Take a tip and make the trip!

INFO Foyles is close to Tottenham Court Road tube station (Northern & Central lines) and most of the bookshops that line Charing Cross Road can be found as you make your way towards Leicester Square - see map.