Bookish Places

This T-shirt pretty much sums up my feelings about going out, so going to places where there are books is one of my favourite things to do. The same can be said of my children. Consequently, when we go up to London (or any other major city) we tend to gravitate to the nearest large bookshop. However, whilst Charing Cross Road might have the most bookshops, it's never really been the place I headed to on my semi-regular jaunts to the capital.

When I first started teaching, my husband was doing his MA at UCL and working part-time in the West End. We lived in Barking, within easy reach of central London and as a result, I spent many a Friday evening wandering the streets of the capital on my own, waiting for him to finish work. At the time, I was trying to complete my collection of paperback Agatha Christie novels, so would do a circuit of all the bookshops to see what they had in stock that week. Whatever else I did, my last stop was always Foyle's on Tottenham Court Road because they didn't close until 10pm (when he finished work) and had a cafe on the top floor. I would buy myself a book (or two...) and a cup of tea (and maybe some cake...) and sit and read until it was time to walk down to Leicest Square and meet him from work.

Unfortunately, Foyle's is no longer there, but there are plenty of other 'bookish' places for me to visit. These are some of my favourites - some are regular haunts, others I haven't visited yet, but one day, when childcare and work permits, I wil get to them, but for now I will just dream of the day when I can step inside and breathe in the books.

with my brother, showing him the 'sights'

1. Hatchards

My first place to visit when in London. It's the oldest bookshop in the city and I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of it until I came across a mention of it in a fiction book. Nevertheless, ever since, I've made a point of visiting as often as I can. I also try not to buy just any ordinary book there - it's always a nice hardback or a special edition of some kind.

from www.gladstoneslibrary.org

2. Gladstone's Library

This is the one I haven't been to, but have heard so much about that it feels as though I have. The reason this appeals so much is because it's a library you can sleep in! Not literally amongst the books, although that would be fine with me, but there is on-site accommodation. I love going on a retreat to write my books and it's something I've really missed over the last year and a half. The idea of being able to write surrounded by so much beauty and so many books is idyllic. When my youngest is old enough to get himself to school and be left alone until my husband gets home from work, this is a trip I've promised myself I will make.

from www.waterstones.com

3. Waterstones, Exeter

Most Waterstones I've been in are pretty good stores, but the one in Exeter is a particular favourite. It was somewhere I spent a lot of time when I was a student in the city and even made a cameo appearance in my first novel. However, since our family started spending more time in the West Country, it's become a firm family favourite as well and is always on my sons' list of 'places we want to go'. Not only is it huge, there is a cafe where we can read the books we've inevitably bought and we generally lose both our children when we go in. The youngest usually presents me with a stack of books almost as tall as he is and eldest isn't much better! There have been a number of occasions where I've had to go back in to look for the eldest because he isn't answering his phone and the rest of us have chosen and paid!

4. Independent Bookshops

We have three favourites - Red Lion Books in Colchester, Shrew Books in Fowey and Padstow Bookseller in Padstow. What I love about these places is the quality of the service you get. There is always a good selection of local books - either set in the location of the bookshop, or by local authors and the knowledge of the staff is exemplary, as is the customer service. When we've been down in Cornwall, I have had several conversations with the owner of Shrew Books about all manner of book-related topics. Padstow Bookseller were able to source and order in a particular book I wanted for a friend's birthday (it was a Cornish book I wanted to buy in Cornwall) while I was on holiday. And what can I say about our local, Red Lion Books? They remember their customers - when I call in an order, they recognise my name, they ask how my sons are getting on at university/school and they have yet to let me down when I've asked for a recommendation. Independent bookshops are an amazing resource and we should treasure them.

Photo Credit: MJ Ng

5. Libraries

Specifically, for me at least, our local one in Brightlingsea. Our librarians are amazing. They know their regular customers (to the point where when books come in, they can often work out who they are for without seeing the reservation details), they will go above and beyond to help customers and are generally just jolly nice people. Ours are also fantastic champions of local authors - they have a whole shelf dedicated to local authors and regularly invite us to take part in events they are running. Not only that, but in spite of our local library being very small, through the magic of inter-library loans, it is very rare for me to not be able to order a book I want to read. My husband is incredibly grateful for this service, as it prevents me bankrupting us with the amount I read! It's a rare day that they are open and I don't go in for one reason or another.

There are so many other places I could mention - if there are any you particularly like, let me know either in the comments or on Social Media!