Hello, my name is Rebecca and I’m a book addict. I love reading books, listening to podcasts about books, piling books high on my bedside table, and discussing books with friends. My interest in literature is one of the reasons why I first moved to London: I wanted to be in the place where so many of my favourite writers lived and wrote their masterpieces. At any one time, I might be walking past the house that inspired J.M. Barrie in Peter Pan, or where Jane Austen came to stay when she visited London. Thankfully, I’m not alone, and there are endless places for book-lovers like me to congregate in the capital – not just Daunt Books or the British Library, but a multitude of bookish coffee shops, literary bars and storied pubs that once played host to the likes of Charles Dickens. To say that I’m in likeminded company would be an understatement.
So without further ado, these are the 11 best places for bookworms to shop and socialise in the capital.
Best for: the cool crowd, book and cocktail in hand
The brainchild of Jonah Freud (current beau of Lily Allen), Reference Point has been dubbed the sexiest library-slash-bookshop in London, thanks in large part to the addition of – you’ve guessed it – a fully-stocked bar. Opened at the beginning of 2026, it specialises in visual literature, with a collection of 10,000 photobooks and magazines to peruse at your leisure, and so far has attracted the likes of everyone, from fashion students to a curious Austin Butler. If you’re looking to recreate your meet-cute fantasy of bumping into your true love while browsing the shelves, then this is probably where you’ll do it.
Address: 2 Arundel St, Temple, London WC2R 3DA
Website: reference-point.uk
Best for: an intimate drink amongst vintage books
Secrets doors and hidden rooms are a mainstay of horror fiction, yet there’s nothing scary about The Drawing Room at the BFI Bar. Once you’re inside, you’ll find floor-to-ceiling bookshelves piled high with vintage books, which are more for admiring than actually reading. With a menu of cocktails named after films (this is the BFI, after all) it’s perfect for anyone wanting to discuss the latest book-to-screen adaptation.