Here at Londonist we love a good independent bookshop. In fact we love them so much, we've mapped our favourites.
Far from being dusty old places, London's indy bookshops have got their feet firmly in the 21st Century — this lot are even on Instagram. Why not give them a follow.
Bookseller Crow, Crystal Palace
Once you've huffed and puffed your way up the hill as we did, you'll find waiting for you an excellent selection of fiction and children's books, plus a decent effort in the way of graphic novels and science reads.
Tales on Moon Lane, Herne Hill
This family-run children's bookshop has an stellar line-up of book events for little Londoners of all age. The Instagram feed covers events in the shop and further afield in London.
Kirkdale Bookshop, Sydenham
More than just a bookshop, this cultural hub has an art gallery and cafe in among the books. Follow on Instagram to stay up to date with the latest book releases and literary events.
Rye Books, East Dulwich
Children are very much welcome in this south London bookshop, which also offers free local delivery. New books and pictures of the local area brighten up Instagram.
London Review Bookshop, Bloomsbury
If it's fiction you're after, London Review Bookshop may not be the place for you. Set up by the London Review of Books, politics, philosophy and history titles lead the charge. Plus, the cake shop is worth stopping by for.
Riverside Bookshop, London Bridge
10,000 titles can be found in this treasure trove in Hay's Galleria. Although the shop's been going for over 25 years, it only entered the realm of Instagram very recently, so support it with a follow.
Artwords, Hackney and Shoreditch
This pair of bookshops unsurprisingly focuses on the visual arts. Our visit to the Rivington Street shop felt like being invited into someone's special stock cupboard (in a good way). Instagram mainly focuses on arty magazines.
Camden Lock Books, Old Street Roundabout
New and collectible books are available at this bookshop in the Old Street Roundabout, with members of Team Londonist often found browsing during lunch breaks. The shop's name reflects the original location of the shop, back in 1984.
Daunt Books, various locations
While Daunt Book has a regular Instagram account , real book lovers will want to follow @dauntbookssecondhand, which showcases some of the rare and unusual second hand books on sale in the Marylebone store.
Persephone Books, Bloomsbury
This one doubles up as a publisher and a bookshop. Owner Nicola Beauman specialises in books by 20th century female writers, and 'neglected' fiction by and about women.
Heywood Hill, Mayfair
This treasure trove stocks fiction and non-fiction, and children's books, as well as specialising in antiquarian tomes.
Stanfords, Covent Garden
If maps are your thing, this place will be heaven for you. The travel bookshop claims to stock the largest range of maps in the world, and who are we to argue? Globes, stationery and gifts are also available, and the store offers horse-drawn carriage rides through London twice a week.
Lutyens & Rubinstein, Notting Hill
Another relative newcomer to Instagram, this general bookshop has been furnishing the shelves of Notting Hill since 2009, with a decent schedule of author events.
The Notting Hill Bookshop, Notting Hill
Yes, that Notting Hill bookshop. Other than the travel department which made it famous, the store offers books in pretty much any category you can think of. Keep up to date with new book releases by following it on Instagram.
