Travel with Me for: London Coffee & Book Mornings

Travel With Me for:

Coffee & Book Mornings

Feelings felt: calm, thoughtful

Wherever I go, I carry a book with me like a security blanket – subway commutes, waiting rooms, bus rides. Most times, I don’t even read on the go, as there’s so much else that catches my eye! But knowing it’s there puts me at ease.

I keep a stack of “next up” books by my bedside, ready to go! A “good intentions” set that have been relegated to nearby shelves… I even keep a box packed for summers at my Paris apartment! Fellow book-lovers get it, I’m sure.

So, as you can imagine, I’m drawn to bookshops & market stalls, window displays and libraries. What treasures might I find?! I especially love to steal away for an hour to a comfy spot with a book and a latte, so I thought it would be fun to share some bookstore-coffeeshop “neighbors” that make that easy.

Notting Hill/Maida Vale

Pick up a food-related book at Books for Cooks in Notting Hill, then pop into Chai Guys for one of four different types of chai. Walk to a nearby pocket park - your chai will still be hot (so hot!) and enjoy flowers & birdsong while you browse recipes and reviews.

Alternatively, pick up a novel at Notting Hill Books (yes, the one from the movie!) — carry it to The Rug, in nearby Maida Vale, where you can tuck into a shady courtyard or cozy corner table with the most beautiful & delicious rose latte.

Bookstore Info: http://www.booksforcooks.com/

Bookstore Info: http://www.thenottinghillbookshop.co.uk/

UCL Campus

I love the coffeeshop attached to Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Burnt@Rada, for their daily-special lunches at extremely reasonable prices! It gets quite busy and is rather bustling, so grab a drink to go and head around the corner to shady Gordon Square. There’s also a little outdoor café, Momo’s, in the square itself. If you didn’t bring your own book, Waterstones Gower Street is a handy stop. (Yes, it’s a chain, but this particular location is stunning and worth walking past even if you aren’t shopping.)

Bookstore Info: https://www.waterstones.com/bookshops/gower-street

On the edge of campus lies my favorite local bookshop: Brunswick Books. Pop into Aux Pains de Papy by KingsX for a pastry & espresso and sit at a sidewalk bistro table with your new treasure for reading/people-watching. If you prefer not to be distracted while reading, the nearby Wellcome Library offers cozy, plump chairs & floor pillows in a quiet space. (Bonus: there is a gallery of historical medical arts & marvels woven into the space!)

Bookstore Info: https://www.instagram.com/brunswickbookshop/

Library Info: http://wellcomecollection.org/

Thames South Bank

Due to travel distance, I don’t frequent the south side of the river, but it makes a nice, occasional weekend-morning excursion, with so many markets and sights!

My family stayed in East Dulwich during a recent visit, and we enjoyed the most delicious (& beautiful) cardamom buns and cappuccino at Soderberg. Highly-rated Chener Books is just steps away.

Bookstore Info: https://www.chenerbooks.com/

I also love to wander through Shad Thames and Bermondsey on a Saturday morning. The sausage rolls at Chapter 72 are flaky and worth a stop. Wander (or take a bus) along to Southbank Book Market under Waterloo Bridge for vintage finds at bargain prices and find a bench along the Thames for waterside reading.

Neighborhood Strolls

Honestly, just strolling along the side streets of London will provide endless opportunities to indulge your book & coffee wishes! A few honorable mentions where I frequently pop in are Rye Deli for lunch with a book, or Word on the Water and various free libraries, such as this adorable Red Phone Booth outside a school in Islington.

Happy reading!