Books, London

This used to be Simpson Picadilly - a 6-storey department store. Waterstones took over the whole building and converted it into the world's largest bookstore. An absolute nirvana for anyone who loves to read.

Set at least one day aside to explore the store.

Independent
book shop
looks like a green house inside, there is a wonderful room. huge windows

What to buy: BOOKs...
best-sellers as long as great opportunities to find some books that you really cannot find often.

What to pay: the usual....

Foyles claim to have over 1.4 Million Books in its shop, over 5 floors. It was the World's Largest Bookshop not so long ago.

You can find all sorts of books that you would never normally see in a bookshop. The internet may be good for buying books cheaply, but if you want to see before you buy, then Foyles is a great place to browse. The employees never try and rush you.

I have bought some great (but unusual) travel books in there that I would not have even known existed if I hadn't looked in!

What to pay: Typically the books cover price.

This store is a British version of Border's or Barnes and Nobles. There wasn't anything truly unique here. A true booklover would enjoy Charing Cross Rd much more with it's new and second-hand bookstores. They do have some comfy chairs if you need a break from walking around London.

Foyle's Bookstore is the ultimate bookstore. Far more enjoyable than any Border's or Half-Price Books has ever been. What's even more enjoyable for the jazz lover is Ray's Jazz Shop which is attached to the Foyle's. Some of the best Jazz records and cd's I've ever come across in person. They have clean restrooms which is something every tourist looks for!! Foyle's is a complete bookstore - it's not one of those top 5 type stores..they have everything from welding to nuclear physics - excellent selection on everything you could ever want. Ray's is similar -it's all about the substance. True jazz. Staff was very knowledgeable and very helpful -especially for two tourists that had a southern accent. :)

What to buy: Check out the clearance racks.. they are wonderful selections!!!

What to pay: 5 pounds all the way up.

This shop was neat but is was a disappointment. Everything they had you can order online and if you are coming from the US you must make sure you have a multi-region player when you get home if you want to watch any of your purchases. Britain uses a region 2 and the US uses region 1. They are not compatible.

Bright, airy and with *massive* sections for each genre if anywhere's going to have that book you're after in the London this should be your first port of call. At nine floors and capped by a pleasant bar & restaurant this is Europe's largest bookstore. The staff are helpful, knowledgable and most of all passionate about books. Which is a rare thing in retail these days.

Under the Waterlooo Bridge you will find this nice book market. There are loads of books, so browse through and see what you like. There is all sorts of books, new and old, fiction and non-fiction.

What to pay: Just haggle if you don't like the price you see or if you buy more than 1 book