Foyles is an institution. Simple as that. We were a bit wary of putting them on our list as with four stores they could be considered a chain store BUT Foyles is still independently owned - a fact celebrated by their 2007 London Independent Bookseller of the Year award. Their flagship store is Europe’s largest bookshop with 5 floors and more than 200,000 titles in stock plus a wide range of gifts and stationery, printed music and second-hand and rare books, as well Ray’s Jazz Music and Books, the Cafe and a Gallery and events space. Though founded in 1903, Foyles didn’t arrive on the Charing Cross Road until 1906, from where they quickly became the most celebrated bookshop in the world, famed for their breadth of range and in later years for the complexity of the Foyles experience, from trouble finding the book readers wanted amongst their vast stockholding, to the legendary chit payment system. Following the death in 1999 of the indomitable Christina Foyle, Foyles underwent a full refurbishment completed in 2004, which re-established them as London’s leading bookshop.

Foyles employ more than 80 expert booksellers who are more than happy to offer any help or advice a reader may need. Whilst these days most bookshops are stocked by books bought centrally from head office and distributed across the chain, at Foyles their heads of department are also our buyers, so they truly are experts in their stock and subjects.