Jul 08, 2019 heres our guide to the best bookshops in london, whether youre in central, north, east, south or west london. According to legendary medieval lord mayor, dick whittington and his trusty cat, the streets of london are paved with gold. Jan 12, 2017 if youre a book lover like me, today i want to share 9 of the best independent bookshops in london with you. At housmans, in kings cross, london one of the longestrunning radical bookshops in the country, launched by a group of pacifists wiry comanager malcolm hopkins, dressed head to toe in. Dec 18, 2016 there are several such shops, which are also social spaces, in membership of the alliance of radical booksellers arb. Your can choose to collect your order from us instore at housmans or have your purchases delivered to you from just 99p per item or free if the order is over. Housmans, a radical bookseller culture 104 comments just round the corner from kings cross station, technically on the camden and islington border but in reality in the nether space that exists around large stations, lies housmans bookshop. A carefullyassembled map and list of london s bookshops. Housmans bookshop, caledonian road, london shoppingbooks. Islingtons lefty bookshop housmans is pride of london. Laurence enjoyed some success as an illustrator, poet, playwright. Housmans bookshop, one of londons last radical bookshop, was established in 1945 in kings cross as a permanent space to promote peace, pacifism, and progressive ideas post wwii.
Few general bookshops are interested in anarchism and there are few radical bookshops. Hunts bookshop is a well established traditional family run bookshop of 22 years. Send me recommendations, lets share them with the world. Londons most fabulous literary bookshops londonist. But what is the story behind londons radical bookshops. Housmans is one of londons last radical bookshops the.
We took a trip to kings cross to visit the radical, notforprofit housmans bookshop. On 47 stoke newington high street sits ti pi tin, an art book shop with a cute selection of illustrated work. On the other hand housmans and five leaves, in nottingham, are the only two newbook booksellers in the country signed up to the living wage foundation. Bookseller parttime, 3 daysweek housmans bookshop is seeking to hire a parttime bookseller for three days per week.
Housmans bookshop stock the largest range of radical newsletters, newspapers and magazines of any shop in britain. The shop is full of overlooked books that you are unlikely to see anywhere else, and they offer a book amonth subscription service. Housmans is one of londons oldest radical, independent bookshops. Housmans bookshop are a notforprofit bookshop, specialising in books, zines, and periodicals of radical interest and progressive politics. Housmans bookshop, one of london s last radical bookshop, was established in 1945 in kings cross as a permanent space to promote peace, pacifism, and progressive ideas post wwii. They also operate a feminist bookshop and often pop up at stalls across the city. The anarchist book fair, which is still held in london every year, was set up in 1983 with the help of housmans. Part of the bookshop s london s burning series on radical london. Kings cross st pancras phone 02078374473 web site housmans booksellers london supports a vibrant protest communitydont forget this is where karl marx fashioned his views that changed the worldand since 1945, the citys preeminent store. The feminist library, a large collection of movement literature has been operating since 1975 and recently launched its own donation process for helping it to secure a permanent residence in peckham later in 2019. Heres our list of the best stores to read, buy or smell the oldest books in london.
In a 2,000squarefoot space with over 55,000 titles squeezed on shelves, displayed on tables or even towered up on the floor skoob. Do you know of any bookshops in london that have a great feminist section. Housmans bookshopon the caledonian road has won an award for best independent bookshop. Founded following the end of world war ii, housmans mission as a. They offer a library archive of 1,400 books and 50,000 pamphlets. In addition to serving customers and helping with a wide range of daytoday shop activities, we also invite the successful candidate to act as a coordinator for our team of volunteers. There are several such shops, which are also social spaces, in membership of the alliance of radical booksellers arb. Finally it is one of the most beautiful shops in london a bibliophiles delight. We are an independent bookshop, based in kings cross, london since 1959. Hotels near housmans, london best hotel rates near shops. London supports a vibrant protest communitydont forget this is where karl marx fashioned his views that changed the worldand since 1945, the citys preeminent store for radical books has been housmans. Housmans has temporarily suspended its online shop in solidarity with. Diversity of ethnicity, of sexuality, of socioeconomics, of politics. Staff lis groenveld and nik gorelki the british book awards has published regional shortlists for the 2020.
Book online for instant confirmation and 247 live support. The hive network allows independent bookshops like housmans to sell a full range of books, dvds, cds, ebooks and stationery online. Housmans was founded in 1945 as a mail order book club for pacifists. Read more about their history and their exciting event. A carefullyassembled map and list of londons bookshops. Nowadays, those same streets are paved with row upon row of shops, all waiting for you to part with some of your gold. Oct 24, 2017 housmans bookshop, 5 caledonian road, kings cross, london n1 9dy. Its a sign of the times that more of these spaces are coming closer to being a reality. For starters, check out the the zingy, colourful windowpane by joe kessler, and the. If you have any problems finding us, give us a call. Housmans radical booksellers 5 caledonian road, n1 9dx london, united kingdom rated 4. Jun 14, 2019 if all else fails, have a browse in housmans, londons radical bookshop, which has a large series of books on gender politics and is an active and thriving notforprofit bookshop. About the shop we are an independent bookshop, based in kings cross, london since 1959. Housmans is at the bottom end of caledonian road where it meets with pentonville road.
Other than the london anarchist bookfair and a few smaller regional book fairs bristol, manchester, sheffield for example there are few places where anarchist books are seen. Founded following the end of world war ii, housmans mission as a bookshop is to promote ideas of peace. Independent bookshops in london from wellknown establishments to undertheradar gems, london has no shortage of unique places to look for new titles and rare first editions. The complete guide to londons best bookshops the city story.
Mar 10, 2016 housmans bookshop in caledonian road, which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, beat five other shortlisted shops across the capital to take the industry gong. From bloomsbury to brixton, london is home to a wealth of secondhand bookshops offering big titles at bargain prices. Oct 29, 2008 finally it is one of the most beautiful shops in london a bibliophiles delight. Books on a broad range of subjects from fiction and poetry to. Housmans bookshop 5 caledonian road, islington, london, n1 9dx. As well as stocking the uks largest range of books, this flagship store has a cafe, auditorium and gallery, and hosts literary and music events. Housmans is one of londons last radical bookshops the city. Islington book shops, including buy books and booksellers.
Housmans bookshop, caledonian road, london shopping. Apr 12, 2010 at housmans, in kings cross, london one of the longestrunning radical bookshops in the country, launched by a group of pacifists wiry comanager malcolm hopkins, dressed head to toe in. Weve put together a selection of some of our favourite books new and old. Youre not going to find most of the stuff here published back home. On the other hand housmans and five leaves, in nottingham, are the only two new book booksellers in the country signed up to the living wage foundation.
Foyles st pancras international london shopping books st pancras international, pancras road, kings cross, london nw1 4 minutes from housmans bookshop the familyrun foyles book shop has been in the book selling business since 1906. Were very easy to find just a two minute walk from kings crossst. Londons 10 best zine and mini comic shops londonist. At one time there were radical bookshops in the uk with a public magazine, the radical. The return of radical bookshops books the guardian. Housmans bookshop in caledonian road, which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, beat five other shortlisted shops across the capital to take the industry gong. With the support and assistance of other leading pacifists, he opened the original housman s bookshop with an apostrophe in those days on shaftesbury avenue in october 1945. Laurence enjoyed some success as an illustrator, poet, playwright and author and was a founder member of the mens league for womens suffrage and the peace pledge union. Housmans radical booksellers, 5 caledonian road, london 2020.
Bookshop of the month housmans bookshop, london just a stones throw away from londons kings cross station is the radical housmans bookshop, our bookshop of the month for july. Housmans bookshop is based at kings cross in london, and is one of the citys last remaining radical bookshops, as well as having been one. Were thrilled to find ourselves on the london shortlist for indie bookshop of the year at. Jul 01, 2019 bookshop of the month housmans bookshop, london just a stones throw away from londons kings cross station is the radical housmans bookshop, our bookshop of the month for july.
Abby thomas it is a ridiculously trendy location, but celebspotting is a side issue. We specialise in books, magazines, and periodicals of radical interest and. This vast bookshop has four floors crammed with every kind of book imaginable. Open since 1945, it has the feel of a bookshop that knows what it is talking about and with regular events it keeps itself up to date. From the famous notting hill bookshop to the east ends libreria, vogue rounds up the best shops for book buying in the capital. Laurence housman was a younger brother of the poet ae housman. Part of the bookshops londons burning series on radical london. Bookmarks bookshop, 1 bloomsbury street, bloomsbury, london wc1b 3qe. London stories at housmans bookshop talks time out london. Jun 10, 2016 housmans bookshop, one of londons last radical bookshop, was established in 1945 in kings cross as a permanent space to promote peace, pacifism, and progressive ideas post wwii.
The shop is full of overlooked books that you are unlikely to see anywhere else, and they offer a bookamonth subscription service. A treasure trove of alternative publishing, it is the only place in london you may find antinovels by stewart home, magazines like strike. Shopping in london according to legendary medieval lord mayor, dick whittington and his trusty cat, the streets of london are paved with gold. Housmans bookshop are a notforprofit bookshop, specialising in books, zines, and periodicals of radical interest and progressive. Housmans bookshop laurence housman was a younger brother of the poet ae housman. As the fire of world war cleared and the chill of the cold war began lawrence housman brother of a. Housmans radical booksellers, london, united kingdom.
If you live nearby you may want to join the persephone book group, on the first wednesday of the month, where they will feed you madeira, and bread and cheese. Housmans bookshop 5 caledonian road kings cross london n1 9dx uk tel. Housmans is now in contention for the overall independent bookshop of the year award, which will be announced at the british book industry awards on 9th may at a ceremony in london. Which makes london the perfect market for a whole host of radical bookstores. Independent bookshop of the year london the bookseller. On the 14th november 2009 housmans celebrate their 50th anniversary.
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