I love to travel, and my journey has recently taken me into London where I will be spending the next several months. I have a feeling I am going to get some miles under my feet! I love books and why not? There is nothing like picking up a delightful book from Daunt Bookstore and finding a park bench nearby (as there happens to be one right around the corner) and diving right in or hitting the nearest coffee shop, getting a pot of tea and losing yourself in your newly purchased book for the next hour!
My love for books brought my first walk in London to the famous Daunt Bookstore located at 84 Marylebone High Street, London. Getting here is simple (if I can do it so can you!). The best route is to take the Underground to Baker Street. From there it is just a six-minute walk to the most aesthetically beautiful bookstore I have ever been in. From the skinny balconies (I get that feeling I am going back in time) to the beautiful skylights and the William Morris prints. The floors creek and the Edwardian lamps speak for themselves.
The building was once an Edwardian antiquarian bookshop called Francis Edward and was constructed in 1910. Rumor has it, It is the first bookshop in the world to be built just for its owner. As you walk into the building you will see some beautiful skylights and long oak galleries housing rows and rows of books. James Daunt purchased the business in 1990, and at the time, it was initially focused on selling literature and travel books. In keeping with its original intent, this lovely shop is stacked floor-to-ceiling with books and guides from all around the world.Since the 1990s, its unique selling proposition has remained the same: the books are all organized according to the country in which they were published, regardless of the genre in which they were written.
I must admit the German, Polish, and French sections are my favorites. I have an obsessive focus on stories of the survivors of the Second World War. There's no need to tell you that I bought a few new books! You will find travel guides, biographies, and autobiographies in addition to the fictional stories from all over the world. There is also a section on the first floor where you can find classics, feminism, and the LGBTQIA. This section also includes works intended for younger readers and young adults.
Also, don't be shy about asking for help; the staff here is fantastic at making suggestions. Therefore, the next time you find yourself in London, make it a point to stop by this enchanting and high-quality bookstore.
