Specialising in photography & fashion books and magazines, this independent shop can be a goldmine for rare and out of print books. Also if you’re lucky you’ll meet Otis, the lovely pug-cross resident.

Where 1984 of George Orwell got its inspiration from, the craziness of a real ministry of propaganda. 

The best things in London can be spied from this seat. Fact.

THE place for birthday presents and bookcases (mine was 50p).

It's a members-only library but you might be granted access with a research request. The writer's room is great but there's a few special, hidden corners among the bookshelves to tuck yourself away in.