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.
View Biblio-Text in a larger map