London: Stanfords
Operating Hours:Monday - Saturday: 09:00 - 19:30. Sunday: 12:00 - 18:00
The Vibe:The world's greatest travel bookshop 🌍
Trading since 1853, Stanfords is the world's oldest dedicated travel and map specialist. Its Covent Garden shop holds over 30,000 maps and 60,000 books — supplying everyone from Ernest Shackleton (who was a customer) to modern bucket-list travellers.
Map drawers pull open to reveal tightly-rolled charts from across continents. Globes turn under skylights; guidebooks stack floor-to-ceiling across three floors.
- • Trading since 1853 — world's oldest dedicated travel bookshop
- • Over 30,000 maps and 60,000 travel books
- • Historic customers include Shackleton, Livingstone and Fleming
Fit For
- ✈️ Travellers: The single best trip-planning bookshop in London
- 🗺️ Map collectors: OS, hiking and ancient maps all in stock
- 📚 Literary travellers: Travel writing section is peerless
- 🎁 Gift shoppers: Framed vintage maps make strong gifts
Highlights
- Over 30,000 maps and 60,000 travel books
- Original 1853 founding with continuous operation
- Huge floor map at the entrance (a visitor tradition to stand on)
- Guidebooks for every country published in English
- Framed vintage maps and prints — Hidden Gem
London Local Expert
Sarah Riches
10+ years of experience
Table of Contents
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