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.
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London's most famous book shop
You need a book? Go to Foyles, if it isn't there, it will be soon. Foyles was once listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest bookshop in terms of shelf area (30 miles/50 kilometres) and number of titles on display but it was equally famed for its anachronistic, eccentric and sometimes infuriating business practices. Although things have changed, expect the staff to be friendly and, occasionally, odd.
It is also known for its literary luncheons, which have been held since 1930, though they now also hold a large number of evening literary events in the spring and autumn of each year.
Whereas the shop used to sell second-hand and modern books side-by-side on the same shelves, it now primarily sells the modern books found in any other large chain bookshop. But not only that since from November 2007 it has started selling secondhand books again as well as remainders in a special new department on the third floor.
If you can't handle leaving home on a rainy day, go online. Well worth it!
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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 :-)