Odd books, good books
On Charing Cross Road, you have a handful of second hand bookshops. Any amount of books is known mostly for its large basement selection.
They tend to buy private collections, and, though not necessarily cheap, they do have the kind of literary little gems which will ensure you become a lifelong customer.
Dust aside, they tend to leave their just-bought-boxes, halfway opened in the basement. I never know if we are meant to look through them or not, but I always do, as do most of the people there. I remember finding a 1930s photographic Encyclopedia of Europe bound in red leather. I came very close to buying it, but could not afford the price. But it was that kind of material which made me return, and continue to return ever since.
And if the selection were not reason enough, they tend to keep late hours during the week, ensuring that more than one happy reader takes their respective nightbus book in hand.
tony4sure discovered this service :-)
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For all your paper needs (giftwrapping, decoration, gifts, calendars, cards, canvass &c)
I never knew all the different types of papers there are on Earth until I discovered this shop.
From small pads, to sheets of colored paper the size of a bay window, they really cater to all tastes. Paper with dried flowers, onion paper, see through paper, cigarette tissue, Azurelaid Paper, Antique Paper, Art Paper, in short, all the paper you will ever need, and then some!
Aside from all the types of papers, they also sell their very snazzy line of greeting cards, gifts, wrapping paper and stationary and it does a good line in kitsch gifts like stuffed animals and novelty mugs.
tony4sure discovered this service :-)
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Jewels in the dust
If you find yourself on Charing Cross road, and you need to buy a little something for someone special with a penchant for the out of print and the hard to find, you'd be pressed to find a better second hand shop than Quinto.
A stonethrow's from Leicester Square's tube station, here you will find a great deal in a range antique and second hand books on British, American and European history, art, music, and a wide range of war and military titles as well as books on gender studies and social sciences.
Beware, if you see something in the window and you want to buy it, don't wait til later and buy it on the spot!
Books at Quinto often literally fly off the shelfs, and its window display never gather any dust.
PS: Speaking of dust, wear a mask, some book are really really old here.
tony4sure discovered this service :-)
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Borders books
On Charing Cross Road and a minute away from Centerpoint, it is one of London's best book shops and certainly good value for money.
Built on three floors, with a coffee shop (Starbucks) on the first floor and a Paperchase concession to boot, it is the place to find the latest titles, and the best magazines from abroad, such as US Car & Driver, The New Yorker, US Vanity Fair, as well as the best academic journals : Foreign Affairs, Journal of Gay & Lesbian Studies, Millenium, &c.
It also has a great comics section, and a music & DVD section on the third floor.
A handy place when you need to buy someone a gift late at night.
Right in the middle of Soho, it is one of London's better American imports!
tony4sure discovered this service :-)