10 places to visit when travelling to London for the London Book Fair

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From the most beautiful bookshop in London to having a post book fair pint where Dickens and Twain once drank. Here is our list of best spots around London to explore during your time at the fair.

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Literary Landmarks

1. The British Library (St Pancras) Just a short tube ride from Olympia, this is the "Holy Grail" for book lovers. Head straight to the Sir John Ritblat Treasures Gallery to see the Magna Carta, Shakespeare’s First Folio, and Jane Austen’s original writing desk.
2. ‍Shakespeare’s Globe (Bankside) A stunning reconstruction of the original 1599 playhouse. Even if you don’t catch a play, the guided tours offer a deep dive into the life of the Bard and the history of printing and performance in early modern London.

1. The Charles Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury) Visit 48 Doughty Street, where Dickens wrote Oliver Twist. It’s an atmospheric townhouse filled with his manuscripts, personal effects, and the very desk where he created his most famous characters.

Iconic Bookshops

4. Daunt Books (Marylebone) Widely considered the most beautiful bookshop in London. This Edwardian gem features long oak galleries, skylights, and a unique arrangement where books are organized by country rather than genre.
5. Hatchards (Piccadilly) Established in 1797, this is London’s oldest bookshop. It has held three Royal Warrants and feels more like a private library than a retail store. It’s the perfect place to find a high-quality gift or a signed edition.
6. Word on the Water (King's Cross) A 1920s Dutch barge converted into a floating bookstore on Regent’s Canal. It’s quirky, features a wood-burning stove in winter, and often has live jazz playing on the roof.
7. Foyles (Charing Cross Road) For sheer scale, the Foyles flagship is a "temple to the written word." With over four miles of shelves across several floors, it’s a great spot to hide from the London rain with a coffee and a new book.

Pubs & Social Spots

8. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (Fleet Street) One of London’s oldest and most famous literary pubs. Rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, its dark, panelled rooms were once frequented by Dr. Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
9. BookBar (Islington or Chelsea) A modern take on the literary social scene. It’s a bookshop and wine bar where the motto is "books are better when shared." It’s an ideal spot for a post-fair debrief with colleagues over a glass of wine.

The Library Bar at The Ned (City of London) If you want to lean into the glamour of the industry, this sophisticated spot offers famous cocktails and a massive collection of books to browse while you sip a martini.