Biblio-Text: The Lion & Unicorn Bookshop

Rachel Holdsworth
By Rachel Holdsworth Last edited 179 months ago
Biblio-Text: The Lion & Unicorn Bookshop
The bright, bold and beautiful window displays of the Lion & Unicorn
The bright, bold and beautiful window displays of the Lion & Unicorn
Little keyring books for little hands
Little keyring books for little hands
Just when is it that you get too big for these chairs?
Just when is it that you get too big for these chairs?
Go walking in the air with the Snowman...
Go walking in the air with the Snowman...
... or flying with Harry and Ron
... or flying with Harry and Ron
Utterly fabulous pop-up books
Utterly fabulous pop-up books
Aliens, evil weasels, baby art - something for everyone, non?
Aliens, evil weasels, baby art - something for everyone, non?

Continuing our amble through London's independent bookshops

By rights, the Lion & Unicorn should be a gateway to a fantasy world of questing knights and castles and damsels. That it's a children's bookshop a stone's throw from Richmond Green, and a slightly longer hop and skip from the Old Deer Park, shouldn't disappoint; you'll just have to find enchanted lands within the books.

The Lion & Unicorn's been around since 1977 and was the first specialist children's shop to win Independent Bookseller of the Year (in 2000). They've hosted events with some of the top children's authors, including Philip Pullman, Anthony Horowitz and (be still, my beating childhood heart) Roald Dahl.

The shop is rammed full of books and audiotapes for children of all ages and as many as possible on low shelves for little hands to reach. If tiptoes won't do, just ask the staff. Their dedication to customer service extends as far as answering queries about the Moomins while sunbathing on their lunch break!

Lion & Unicorn, 19 King Street, Richmond. All images author's own. Map after the jump. Images author's own. Know a good bookshop? Let us know on londonist (@) gmail.com.


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Last Updated 14 April 2009