Hatchards - Piccadilly

I’ve been walking past this bookshop since I was a kid and only just found out it’s actually the oldest one around. Honestly it has everything from kids books and fiction to history, architecture, politics, art, culture and even rare finds. Definitely worth checking out.

Definitely worth seeing. As the oldest bookstore, I expected to see something rundown and ancient looking. But this place is beautiful with multiple floors and every book you would want. Even with some great little reading spots to ensure it’s the right book. Experts on every floor as well so come with your questions and inquiries.

Precious bookshop, we were in London for a weekend and I was looking for a book for a deeper dive in Churchill and Queen Elizabeth biographies. Awesome the attention of Will who was helping me to find the best books for my curiosity. Really appreciate. A must in my nexts travels to London

Favorite bookstore to shop in London. The curation is fantastic any book I can’t find elsewhere I find here. And the interiors are so charming. I like going all the way to the top floor and sinking into one of the armchairs for a little read.

Hatchards is one of my favorite bookshops in London! It has such a Classic and Charming atmosphere, and I LOVE wandering through the beautifully arranged shelves. The selection is great, and it always feels special to visit. Definitely a go-to spot for book lovers!

What a beautiful, quaint and charming bookstore! Waterstones didn’t have a book I needed so I was sent here. The bespectacled gentleman that served me was very friendly and charming. I was offered a free paper bag with my book but chose a bespoke one as a souvenir. I will bear this store in mind if ever I need anything. A great way to finish my holiday in the capital!

Be sure to spot one of the original Paddington bears in one of the stair displays!! Such a cute and cozy bookshop, with the softest couch on the first floor (if I remember correctly). It's the oldest bookstore in London and that alone makes it worth visiting!! such a great selection of books too 😍🫶

Hatchards is one of the oldest book shops in London. They have an amazing collection of books on 5 stories. I loved that they have their own Detective Fiction department. If you visit, make sure you have enough time to browse all the amazing books.

Hatchard's is a fantastic bookstore close to Picadilly! We ducked in here to escape the rain, but ended up spending a fair amount of time here. Plenty of recommendations, classics, fiction, non-fiction, and history. It's easy to find your next classic among its many floors of books!

There aren't a lot of bookstores where you can browse beautiful rare books. On the top floor, we found Bronte, Dumas, Dickens, and even a novel by Winston Churchill. Because of the age and value of these books, they were protected by plastic dust jackets, and the clerk said we were allowed to pick them up as we browsed. He also gave us personal recommendations on books he liked and didn't. The prices ranged from £60-600 from what we saw, and while that was way out of our budget, it was exciting to take a look. New books of all genres are located on the lower floors, including a section for the British monarchy on the ground floor towards the back. This is one of the best bookstores I've been to and a historic gem in the middle of London! Don't just walk by, have a look inside.

Great selection of book titles and a staff that can make recommendations if you can't readily find it. Just as a bookstore should be with tables overflowing with enticing reads and shelves stocked with more good titles, arranged so you can find what you are looking for.

By and large, bookstores are hard to come by these days. Yes, I've read many a list of "bookstores you MUST visit!" and have had this place bookmarked for a long time. I was really happy coming in here after my uncomfortable experience in Maison Assouline a few doors down. It was crowded with people, but all book lovers... and let's be honest. By and large, book lovers are generally nicer and more respectful than the casual tourist or shopper. Five floors of books, some of them being special/first editions or cloth-bound volumes of classic and contemporary works. Some books were signed by the author, and there were also rare and out of print books. It was a lot of fun looking at what was on offer. I'd loved to have picked up a first edition of Animal Farm or The Plague, but I did not have £250+ to spend. I picked up a couple books. I had to. One had been in my goodreads queue for quite a while. The other was a special book published through the bookstore itself. Two little souvenirs from an epic bookstore. Even the shopping bag was fancy and keepsake worthy. Even if I never use or look at it again. It is the sort of bag that is not to be thrown away. Top three of bookstores I've ever been to! Must go!

STUNNING! So beautiful. We stopped by before our tea at fortum's and got two books. Knocking off a star since checking out took like 20 minutes since their card reader was down but still 4 stars for the selection of books, the set up, the cuteness and little sofas perfect for reading. A special place historically too.

If you are a passionate book lover, Hatchards is a must-visit while in London. It's an historical bookstore inside a beautiful building a few steps away from Fortnum and Masons. In this book heaven, you will find a very impressive selection of books for any ages and prices. The staff is very courteous and eager to help.

Lovely bookstore with lots of new and old books. Location is wonderful and staff were super helpful.

Appalling customer service, dodgy business practices, arrogance and dishonesty (Order 19861120) I think it is important to make this public. At least 6 orders we are aware of (but probably more) placed on 22 September 2021 for the Paul McCartney signed deluxe limited edition of The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present by Paul McCartney at 750 GBP were cancelled by Hatchards on 28 September 2021 arguing that: "a system error on our website resulted in more copies of The Lyrics Deluxe Edition being released for sale than we physically have allocated by the publisher". This was a blatant lie, as Hatchards covertly offered the exact same book for the exorbitant amount of 10,000 GBP on Thursday 26 January 2023, through a notice board stood outside their shop (see picture). As it now transpires, my order and others were cancelled despite the book being still available at Hatchards. They have shown absolutely no respect for their customers and displayed poor judgement, greed and dishonesty, a far cry from the mission statement of Tim Waterstone when he started the company. They are also most likely in breach of their publisher agreement and Waterstones policies. Do not buy from a store with such poor ethics.

I like order. I like the peace. It's what attracts me to bookstores (that and the books). I'm a fanatic when it comes to books. Being a fanatic is a weakness, the fanatic is always concealing a secret doubt. A longing to be somewhere, someplace, someone else that just maybe...they can never be. Reading is not merely for knowledge, it's empathy. Reading teaches us to put ourselves in another's shoes. The sociopath/psychopath doesn't read, I think, he watches, he studies. Not that I don't have sociopathic tendencies, we all do. I just own mine. I'm driven. What a beautiful find for a book store. So delicately peaceful, full of a menagerie of book lovers, and hushed tranquility. Palatial red carpeted isles overflowing with bound knowledge, and someone to direct you with oracular clairvoyance to your desired destination. My desire: Marco Pierre White's classic cookbook: White Heat I was looking for a first addition and at a reasonable price. You'd think that the place to find this would be in his home country. Having been originally published in 1990, and hitting a price spike after his Hell's Kitchen success, I was informed that such a unicorn dose not exist, most especially in the U.K. I bought it new. I did meet many likeminded cooking enthusiasts and had a robust exchange of ideas and favorites (they were very impressed by my recent visits to Antica Macelleria Cecchini and even more so by my knowledge of the duck shepherds pie at Balthazar). "By God! A Yank with standards!" The top floor: Used book section is loaded with rare finds! Hemingway's (First addition, superb dust jacket) Men Without Women (£195), and Winner Take Nothing (£395) both of which were fun to hold but For Whom the Bell Tolls would have been a deal breaker (and pocket, I'm sure). Then there was poor Graham Greene's The End of the Affair (£95). It's soon to be a relic, a bookstore dedicated to selling books, not coffee. Thank you for keeping it real. A place for readers. That was something my grandad taught me. Real men? They wash the dishes, they eat quiche (and any damned thing he set in front of them), and they read books. Aloha

Of all the bookstores I visited in London, this one tickled my fancy the most. Floor upon floor of delightfully curated tables and shelves. I especially enjoyed the wide selection of female writers. My only regret: I didn't leave myself more time.

Hatchards is appointed as the bookstore for the Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, and the Prince of Wales. The store, located near Fortnums, has been in existence since 1797 and I was told had been both a publisher and a store. I actually found a book published by Assouline that was not at Maison Assouline. Also, I had spent £4 less on a book that I found at Waterstones that was also carried at Hatchards. The store is old and beautiful. It was nice to see children sitting in the children's book department reading. The associates are very helpful. The stairs could be hard to navigate by some. (I assume there is an elevator.) There is a register immediately located at the entrance. There was a long line of holiday shoppers which made navigating the entrance of the store and accessing the stairs difficult. This bookstore is gorgeous and if you appreciate books, then I recommend you visit Hatchards. They also ship globally. FYI...there is no sales tax on books in the UK. They participate in Waterstones reward program and they also have a Hatchards reward program. www.hatchards.co.uk

Hatchards is one of my first stops whenever I visit London. I particularly like their extraordinarily complete sections on British history (especially the "wall" dedicated to Winston Churchill-related books) and biographies as well as their travel section which is always inspiring. They also specialize in carrying a huge number of autographed books. I have several signed books on the Mitford sisters that I bought at Hatchards many years ago and treasure. Last of all, be sure to pick up a copy of their complimentary book recommendation pamphlet up which I believe comes out every quarter.

Hatchards is a wonderful institution: as well as being the oldest surviving bookshop in the UK, it still has the feel of somewhere special: the interior is slightly cramped and on several levels, with an old-fashioned feel, but in a nice way. A little of the 1797 spirit seems to live on. Even the chairs for customers are Georgian reproductions - no leather-covered sofas here! On a more practical level, it is a great place to browse, particularly if you have interests in things like history, the arts or fiction. They may not have as extensive a stock as Borders on Oxford Street, or the Waterstone's down the road, but their stock is carefully selected: where else could you find the complete set of Pevsner's Buildings of England? Their staff are also old-fashioned in a very positive way: highly knowledgeable, helpful, and courteous. Overall, this is strongly recommended. Warning: browsing here may become an addiction

Simply a gorgeous bookstore. A must-visit for any bookworm. Quiet, well-organized, with friendly staff. One could browse here for hours.

Hatchards Booksellers stands to date as the oldest surviving bookstore in London. First established in 1797, Hatchards stands on Piccadilly opposite the Royal Academy of Arts and between Green Park and Piccadilly Underground. Once an independently owned bookstore that saw customers such as Queen Charlotte, Oscar Wilde and Lord Byron, Hatchards is now owned by UK's leading bookseller Waterstones. Although they don't publicise this fact, because of their joint ownership customers are able to use their Waterstone's card for purchases made at Hatchards. The Waterstone's card allows its holder to collect points upon purchases which cumulatively can be redeemed for future purchases at either store. The Waterstone's card is available free at any Waterstones bookstore and can be used at any of the store's many locations. Whether you are after that hard to find book or a signed addition by your favourite author, Hatchards is the ultimate treat for bookworms, historians and visitors to London alike. Customers are treated to multiple levels of the latest and hard to find books ranging from art, architecture, biography, children's books, cookery, gardening, hardback fiction, history, literature, performing arts, natural history, non-fiction and reference. I strongly urge all to stop by if not for the books themselves, then for the historical atmosphere that surrounds Hatchards Booksellers.

Pack your toothbrush and forward your mail - any bookworm is immediately going to want to move in here. I, too, thought the buzz was too good to be true. But even I was blown away. The selection was top-notch. The prices were competitive. And the displays promised to remind you of all the books you ever loved... and introduce you to your new favorite read. A must-visit for any book lover in London - just don't go too close to closing time or you'll need to camp outside and come back the next day!

This is an absolute must for book-lovers! There are four floors of books in nearly every subject once could imagine. The staff is very knowledgeable regarding their inventory and there are many places throughout the store where you can plop down with a book and while away the hours. It's a kindred spirit of Blackwell's in Oxford.

Hatchards has been selling books since 1797 and its experienced gravitas is reflected in the dark wood panelling and its position on Piccadilly close to Fortnum & Mason and Lladro, 2 other names synonymous with excellence. They have excellent displays, lots of signed copies as well as signing events - see their website for a list of upcoming events. There are quite a few floors and you can easily spend a few hours browsing away and before you know it, time has flown past. Yes, you can buy the books cheaper at Amazon but you may well miss some gems which have been carefully selected by Hatchards for their displays.

Great Book Store They have lots and lots of books. The books are well-organized. The books are well-priced. Many of the books are autographed. It's quiet. The staff is helpful.

Really cool bookstore - apparently the oldest in London? I was a big fan of their pretty extensive history/historical biography section as well as their various editions of classic books. There's more than a few floors lined full of books here, so it's pretty easy to while away time getting lost in their rooms of books. The decor is also pretty classy too, and it was nice and quiet in the store as well. I'm definitely putting this on my list to check out again and spend more time in the next chance I'm in London.

Spent the afternoon here with a fellow book loving friend. It's fun to just browse or check out the rare books they have! Spend at least an hour here to get the full experience!

My favorite bookshop in the whole world. Do not miss the opportunity to visit this wonderful quintessential store. Great books, helpful staff.

The paradise of every book lover! Hatchards has everything you could want to read, fiction, biography, even art or gardening books. The display is impressive with a huge section of classics, and everything is made to awake your curiosity. You could easily spend hours lost in the different floors discovering new authors. Furthermore, they have a section of books in other languages such as French, German or Spanish, which is great for homesick foreigners! Great books, charming place, nice staff! I'll go back there for sure!

I'm a massive bookworm, so this place is pure heaven for me. If I'm on Piccadilly, Hatchards/Fortnum and Laduree are must-go's. I love how books are literally packed on every corner of the store - they've even had to put board games and trinkets on the staircase due to lack of space. They've also got a great selection of autographed books, and I always get emails about book signings which is a plus in my books. Honestly, I could easily spend hours in here and lose sight of time - the experience of browsing and having books recommended is worth paying more money for the same book that I could get off Amazon for a fraction of the price. I was a bit gutted to find out that Hatchards is owned by Waterstones down the street. My glee at thinking that I'd found a convenient and favourite independent bookseller in London was destroyed. Oh well, you can't run away from big businesses anymore nowadays it seems!

Hatchards is a proper old school book shop and one of the best book shops in London. When you walk in, it feels like you've entered a space 70 years back in time. The shop has a life to it, when you browse the stacks you can almost feel the pulse of the books and you almost expect them to come to life. This is not a bookshop for the out of shape because the kids section is about 4 floors up and I don't recall seeing an elevator. But trust me the trek is worth it. If you are not in the best of shape then I recommend tackling one floor at a time. Each floor has its own stories to tell and just looking around is fantastic. I love the architecture of the building and the space is ideal for a little escapism, so it's perfect that it houses a book shop!!!

This shop has been here on Piccadilly for years and years and in many ways feels straight out of a period drama. You can tell the sort of people who shop here on a very regular basis by their choice of display books, predominantly historical biography and books about Britain catering for conservative out-of-towners and Sloanes who work on Jermyn Street just behind. However, it is a large space over several floors, with a very good overall stock, lots of signed editions and tempting displays in the shop. One thing that did really bug me last time I went though, was one of the assistants booming away about any old thing to any old person, completely destoying the usual hushed atmosphere of the shop and making it really hard to concentrate on deciding what to buy.

This is my favorite bookshop if not in the world, then definitely in London. As an unashamed book lover, I could literally spend days in Hatchards. There is a great selection of books of all kinds, including unusual selections, great editions of classics, and hard to find ones. Generally I just pop in for 5 minutes only to be dragged out by the arm by which ever long suffering/completely unamused unwitting person I have dragged in with me! I think Hatchards should be on everyones list of places to go to if visiting London, and if you've never beenwhat are you waiting for, get yourself down to Piccadilly!

A great place to come! Amazing interior which puts you in the mood!

My favourite bookshop. The atmosphere here is without a doubt something special with all those 19 century style couches and the wood panelling, it's really lovely. But what I like here is not only the atmosphere but also the friendly staff. The will never bother you if you want to sit down and start reading a book and are always very helpful and ready to find even the rarest or newest book. I've also noticed recently that they've published a new edition of English classic books and the covers looked really great.

This is the quintessential British bookstore with very nice classic interiors and selection of books (many are British focused). The fact that this establishment has been in business since 1797 adds to the charm. Going up the stairs, I lost track how many floors this has but there are a lot so you can definitely spend a few hours here if you wanted to.

A bookworm's paradise! I could spend hours and hours here on all the different floors in this store and spend all the money I don't have. A great selection of books and a lot of signed copies of more recent publications if you're interested in that sort of thing.

As earlier reviewers have noted, Hatchard's is the oldest bookstore in London. It is a gorgeous old-fashioned shop, complemented with an outstanding selection of books of all kinds. This is a perfect place for any booklover to browse.

I LOVE Hatchards. It's the store itself with it's own charm, nooks and crannys and floor to ceiling books; it's the staff who are knowledgable, personable, smile and chat to you; it's the selection of books including the first editions and signed copies. It's just everything! It's where all other bookstores should send their teams to learn how to do it properly!!!

I have worked close-by to Hatchards for over a decade, and it's sad to have seen it descend from a quality bookstore with experienced, enthusiastic staff to the current tatty state of the place. Tourist trap, confusing lay-out, difficult for elderly people or those with wheelchairs to get around, and the staff are either contemptuous or clueless. Plus, it's always dusty. Go to the LRB instead.

Hatchards claims to be London's oldest surviving bookstore. Stop in here after visiting the Royal Academy (opposite) or Fortnums which is nextdoor. Spread over several floors is an excellent collection of carefully selected books. The place itself is full of charm and style, and the building is quite beautiful. Particularly good for fiction, biography and history (especially military). One of the best places for browsing in Central London.

Great bookshop, great location, knowledgeable staff. Second only to Foyles bookstore.

Hatchards is one of my favourite bookshops in London. I particularly like their complete sections on British history and biographies as well as their travel section which is always inspiring. A good place to spend a few hours browsing away and before you know it, time has flown past.

wonderful place. you can find a lot of stuff here you wouldn't get elsewhere. in the case of my sis-in-law who visited a few wks ago, she found a bunch of regency romance novels that are hard to come by in the US. there is a great section of mysteries by english authors as well.