Independent Children's Bookstores (and bookstores that champion children's books)
It’s Independent Bookshop Week and I thought I’d take the opportunity to do a big shoutout to independent children’s bookstores and other independent bookstores that champion children’s books. Thank you to everyone on Twitter who told me about their favourite spots! You are amazing.
I’m in the middle of various deadlines, summer term mayhem, and a countdown to an India trip but I’ll put this in a more sensible order at some point and hope to add some details over time. I’d love to SOMEHOW visit all of these over the next couple of years. I hope you’ll keep them in mind on your travels too and pop in when you can. Independent bookstores do some fantastic work in connecting books to readers and they’re a lifeline for underrepresented writers and illustrators whose books aren’t always very visible. But bookselling is a tough business and these bookstores need our support. So show them some love, will you?
THE ALLIGATOR’S MOUTH, Richmond (@alligatorsmouth)
2a Church Court, Richmond, TW9 1JL
PICKLED PEPPER BOOKS, Crouch End, London (@pickledbooks)
10 Middle Lane, Crouch End, London, N8 8PL
THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP, Muswell Hill, London (@childrensbkshop)
29 Fortis Green Rd, London, N10 3HP
STOKE NEWINGTON BOOKSHOP, Stoke Newington (@StokeyBookshop)
159 Stoke Newington High Street, London, N16 0NY
WEST END LANE BOOKS, West Hampstead, London (@WELBooks)
277 West End Lane, London, NW6 1QS
THE BARNES BOOKSHOP, Barnes, London, (@BookshopBarnes)
60 Church Road, SW13 0DQ
MOON LANE BOOKS, London (@moonlaneink)
300 Stanstead Road, London SE23 1DE
SMALL PRINT BOOKS, Forest Hill, London (@Smallprintbks)
37 Davids Road, London, SE23 3EP
TALES ON MOON LANE, London (@talesonmoonlane)
25 Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill, London, SE24 9JU
ROUND TABLE BOOKS, Brixton, London (@BooksRound)
Brixton Village, 97 Granville Arcade, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS
CLAPHAM BOOKS, Clapham, London (@claphambooks)
26 The Pavement, Clapham Common, SW4 0JA
NOMAD BOOKS, Fulham, London (@nomadbooks)
781 Fulham Road, London, SW6 5HA
SOUTH KENSINGTON BOOKS, South Kensington, London (@SouthKenBooks)
22 Thurloe St, London SW7 2LT
OTTIE AND THE BEA, London (@ottieandthebea)
12 Old Dover Road, Blackheath Royal Standard, SE3 7BT
KIRKDALE BOOKSHOP, Sydenham, London (@KirkdaleBooks)
272 Kirkdale, Sydenham, SE26 4RS
SWAN BOOKS, Upminster (@SwanBooks)
27 Corbets They Road, Upminster, RM14 2AR
REGENCY BOOKSHOP, Surbiton (@RegencyBookshop)
45 Victoria Road, Surbiton, KT6 4JL
CHENER BOOKS, East Dulwich (@chenerbooks)
14-16 Lordship Lane, London, SE22 8HN
BrOOK’s PINNER, Pinner (@BrOOKSPinner) - now closed
44-46 Bridge St, Pinner, Middlesex, HA5 3JF
GERRARDS CROSS BOOKS, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire (@gxbooks)
12a Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross, SL9 7QE
THE BELL BOOKSHOP, Henley (@TheBellBookshop)
52 Bell Street, Henley-On-Thames, RG9 2BL
MOSTLY BOOKS, Abingdon (@MostlyReading)
36 Stert Street, Abingdon-on-Thames, OX14 3JP
THE BOOK HOUSE, Thame (@the_book_house)
93 High Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3HJ
THE STORY MUSEUM, Oxford (@TheStoryMuseum)
Rochester House, 42 Pembroke St, Oxford OX1 1BP
THE WOODSTOCK BOOKSHOP, Woodstock (@WoodstockBooks)
23 Oxford Street, Woodstock, Oxon, OX20 1TH
JAFFE & NEALE, Chipping Norton (@Jaffeandneale)
1 Middle Row, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5NH
BOOKS & INK BOOKSHOP, Banbury (@booksinkbook)
4 White Lion Walk, Banbury, OX16 5UD
HEFFERS, Cambridge (@childrenheffers)
20 Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1TY
THE COBHAM BOOKSHOP, Surrey (@CobhamBookshop)
12A Anyards Road, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 2JZ
TOP HAT & TALES, Faversham (@FavHatshop)
110 West Street, Faversham, Kent ME13 7JB
A BUNDLE OF BOOKS, Herne Bay, Kent (@ABundleofBooks) - now closed
6 Bank St, Herne Bay CT6 5EY
CHICKEN AND FROG, Brentwood, Essex (@chickenandfrog)
7 Security House, Ongar Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9AT
HARTS BOOKS, Saffron Walden, Essex (@hartsbooks)
26 Kings Street, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1ES
WOODBRIDGE EMPORIUM, Woodbridge (@WoodbridgeEmpor)
66 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1AL
ALDEBURGH BOOKSHOP, Aldeburgh, Suffolk (@AldeBooks)
42 High Street, Aldeburgh, Suffolk IP15 5AB
THE BOOK NOOK, Brighton (@booknookhove)
1st Avenue, Hove, BN3 2FL
BAGS OF BOOKS, Lewes (@BagsofBooks)
1 South St, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2BT
STEYNING BOOKSHOP, Steyning, West Sussex (@steyningbooks)
106 High Street, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3RD
OCTOBER BOOKS, Southampton (@OctoberBooks)
189 Portswood Rd, Southampton SO17 2NF
P&G WELLS, Winchester (@PGWells)
11 College Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23, 9LZ
MR B’s EMPORIUM, Bath (@mrbsemporium)
14-15 John Street, Bath, BA1 2JL
THE OLDFIELD PARK BOOKSHOP, Bath (@OldfieldBooks)
43 Moorland Road, Bath, BA2 3PN
TOPPING & COMPANY BOOKSELLERS, Bath (@ToppingsBath)
The Paragon, Bath, BA1 5LS
MAX MINERVAS, Bristol (@maxminervas)
39 North View, Bristol, BS6 7PY
STORYSMITH BOOKS, Bristol (@StorysmithBooks)
49 North Street, Bristol, BS3 1EN
WHITE HORSE BOOKSHOP, Marlborough (@whitehorsebooks)
136 High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1HW
BAILEY HILL BOOKSHOP, Somerset (@bailhill)
Fore Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7BG
HARBOUR BOOKSHOP, Devon (@HarbourBookshop)
2 Mill Street, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 1ED
DARTMOUTH BOOKSELLER, Devon - now called BROWSER
3 Foss Street, Dartmouth, Devon, TQ6 9DW
CREDITON COMMUNITY BOOKSHOP, Devon (@Credbooks)
21 High Street, Crediton, EX17 3AH
FALMOUTH BOOKSELLER, Falmouth, Cornwall (@falmouthbooks)
21 Church Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3EG, UK
ST IVES BOOKSELLER, St Ives, Cornall (@stivesbooks)
2 Fore Street, St Ives, Cornwall. TR26 1AB
SPENCER THORN, Bude, Cornwall (@spencer_thorn)
Belle Vue, Bude, EX23 8JS
YELLOW-LIGHTED BOOKSHOPS, Tetbury and Nailsworth (@YLBookshop)
21 Church St, Tetbury, GL8 8JG and 17 Fountain St, Nailsworth, GL6 0BL
CORSHAM BOOKSHOP, Corsham, (@CorshamBookshop)
16 Martingate, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 0HL
OCTAVIA’S BOOKSHOP, Cirencester (@octaviabookshop)
24 Black Jack Street, Cirencester, GL7 2AA
LEDBURY BOOKS, Ledbury (@LedburyBooks)
20 High Street, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 1DS
ROGANS BOOKS, Bedford (@RogansBooks)
26 Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3US
NORFOLK CHILDREN’S BOOK CENTRE, Norfolk (@NorfolkCBC)
Church Lane, Alby, Norwich NR11 7HB
THE BOOK HIVE, Norwich (@bookhive)
53 London Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1HL
KENILWORTH BOOKS, Kenilworth, West Midlands (@KenilworthBook)
12 Talisman Square, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1JB
WARWICK BOOKS, Warwick, West Midlands (@warwick_books)
24 Market Place, Warwick, CV34 4SL
BUTTON AND BEAR BOOKS, Shrewsbury (@buttonbearbooks)
3 Thornes Hall27/28 Castle StreetSHR SY1 2BQ
BOOKA BOOKSHOP, Owestry (@BookaBookshop)
26-28 Church Street, Owestry, Shropshire, SY11 2SP
LINGHAMS BOOKS, Wirral (@LinghamsBooks)
248 Telegraph Road, Heswall, Wirral, Merseyside, CH60 7SG
RHYME AND REASON, Sheffield (@RhymeAndReas)
681 Ecclesall Road, S11 8TG
THE BARRISTER’S BOOK CHAMBER, Retford (@BBookChamber)
33 Churchgate, Retford DN22 6PA
THE RABBIT HOLE, Brigg (@Therabbits21)
21 Market Place, Brigg, North Lincolnshire, DN208LD
SIMPLY BOOKS, Bramhall (@simplybooksNo1)
228 Moss Lane, Bramhall, Cheshire, SK7 1BD
READ. HOLMFIRTH, Holmfirth (@read_holmfirth)
Ground Floor, 41 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, HD9 3JH
CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP, Huddersfield (@Lindley_Books)
37-39 Lidget Street, Lindley, Huddersfield, HD3 3JF
THE BOOK CORNER, Halifax (@BookCornerHX)
The Piece Hall, HX1 1RE
THE LITTLE BOOKSHOP, Chapel Allerton, Leeds (@littlebookleeds)
47 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, LS7 3PD
IMAGINED THINGS, Harrogate (@ImaginedThings)
4 Westminster Arcade, Parliament Street, Harrogate, HG1 2RN
THE BOOK CASE, Hebden Bridge, W. Yorkshire (@bookcasehebden)
29 Market Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 6EU
THROUGH THE WARDROBE BOOKS, Mirfield, West Yorkshire (@WardrobeBooks)
2 Nettleton Road, Mirfield, W. Yorkshire, WF14 9AA
THE LITTLE APPLE BOOKSHOP, York (@LittleAppleBook)
13 High Petergate, York, YO1 7EN
WHITE ROSE BOOKS, York (@whiterosebooks)
79-81 Market Place, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1ET
BOOK CORNER, Saltburn, North Yorkshire (@BookCornerShop)
24 Milton Street, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, TS12 1DG
THE WHITBY BOOKSHOP, Whitby (@whitbybookshop)
88 Church Street, Whitby, YO22 4BH
DRAKE THE BOOKSHOP, Stockton-on-Tees (@drakebookshop)
27 Silver St, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18, 1SX
SEVEN STORIES, Newcastle Upon Tyne (@7StoriesBooks)
30 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 2PQ
FORUM BOOKS, Northumberland (@ForumBooks)
The Chapel, Market Place, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5AW
SAM READ BOOKS, Grasmere (@SReadBooks)
Broadgate House, Grasmere, Ambleside, LA22 9SY
THE HEDGEHOG BOOKSHOP, Penrith, Cumbria
19 Little Dockray, Penrith, CA11 7HL
THE NEW BOOKSHOP, Cockermouth, Cumbria (@TheNewBookshop)
42 - 44 Main Street, Cockermouth, CA13 9LQ
BOOKS CUMBRIA, Carlisle (@BookendsCarl)
19 Castle Street, Carlisle, CA3 8SY
BRIDGE BOOKSHOP, Isle of Man (@BookshopIOM)
Shore Road, Port Erin, IM9 6HL AND 62 Parliament Street, Ramsey, IM8 1AJ
THE EDINBURGH BOOKSHOP, Edinburgh (@EdinBookShop)
29 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4DH
GOLDEN HARE BOOKS, Edinburgh (@GoldenHareBooks)
68 Stephen Street, Edinburgh, EH3 5AQ
MAINSTREET TRADING BOOKS AND CAFE, St Boswells (@mainstreethare)
Mainstreet, St Boswells, Scottish Borders, TD6 0AT
GRIFFIN BOOKS, Penarth, South Wales (@GriffinBooksUK)
9A Windsor Road, Penarth, South Wales, CF64 1JB
CHEPSTOW BOOKS, Chepstow (@ChepstowBooks)
13 St Mary Street, Chepstow NP16 5EW
BOOK-ISH, Wales (@Bookishcrick)
18 High Street, Crickhowell, Powys, NP8 1BD
BOOKS PAPER SCISSORS, Belfast (@BooksPaperSciss)
15 Stranmillis Rd, Belfast, BT9 5AF
NO ALIBIS BOOKSTORE, Belfast (@NOALIBISBOOKS)
83 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1JL
Sneaky addition because they’re only online now but they’re doing some fantastic work so I couldn’t resist:
BIG GREEN BOOKSHOP, online (@Biggreenbooks)
Apologies for any broken links - I’ll review and fix soon. Typing in haste is always a bit dangerous but you’ll forgive me because I was so excited to see all these suggestions and wanted to get this list out into the world ASAP.
Any other favourites to add to the list? Let me know!
*Note to Bookstores - I wanted to put some photos in because WHO doesn’t love a peek into a bookstore(?!) but they ended up really S L O W I N G the website down (and me too!) so I’ve left them out for now!