London markets, bookstores, lesser known museums?

[Callie]

We're off to London for about 10 days this spring and I've started making a list of places to go and things to do. London isn't new to us; we've been enough times to have visited most of the usually tourist sites, so I'm looking for some different things to explore. We both enjoy markets - Camden Locks, Portobello, Borough - and bookstores like Foyles and Waterstones.

Can anyone suggest other fun markets or bookstores? Or any lesser known museums? Is there a neighborhood/street that has used books? My long term plan, if I ever get to it, is to visit a new neighborhood everyday, with a couple of planned destinations in that area. We'll see how far I get with that.

Thanks,
Callie

 

[PatrickLondon]

There's a secondhand bookstall under Waterloo Bridge, on the South Bank. Stanfords in Long Acre specialises in travel books and maps. Or there's Daunt: http://www.dauntbooks.co.uk/

Lesser-known museums? How long have you got......

How about:

Foundling Museum
Handel House
Florence Nightingale Museum
Dr Johnson's House
Freud Museum
Garden Museum
Wellcome Collection
Canal Museum (at Kings Cross, and there's a lot of new development around there that might be worth a look)

At Kew Bridge, there's a Musical Museum (mechanical instruments) and the Museum of Steam and Water (massive Victorian steam pumping engines) - both limited opening hours, so check.
Likewise, there are occasional open days to see the steam pumping engines out at Crossness, done up in their Victorian glory (you might have seen the building in the odd period film or TV drama)

(I take it you have been to the British Library - their temporary exhibitions are usually well worth while).

 

[Callie]

Patrick,

Thanks for the recommendations, especially the bookstores. I think we have wandered into Daunt at some time or another, but had totally forgotten about it. The bookstall and Stanfords are on the list now too.

I've actually been to a couple of those museums, but didn't know about some of the others. Our apartment is around the corner from the Foundling Museum. If anyone is heading to London and hasn't been, it's a small museum, interesting and very touching. Well worth a visit. Last trip the Wellcome was under construction and only a tiny portion was open. That was 2 years ago, so I'm guessing it's open now. And yes, we've been to the British Library and will go back. Their exhibits are amazing. We're a short walk to the British Museum, and will go every other day or so to visit some exhibit or another. It's so overwhelming that we try to limit ourselves to one thing at a time.

Callie

 

[jonathan]

When I saw this post, my first thought was 'Daunt Books' - and then I got distracted... Anyway, Patrick has posted the link, above: do try and get to their Marylebone High St shop, which has a beautiful, Edwardian interior, books arranged by country (see here for details), and informed staff. Definitely my favourite bookshop in London.

The V&A certainly doesn't count as lesser-known. But they've recently (just last month) opened their Europe 1600-1815 galleries, which have been getting very good reviews. I haven't been yet, but it's firmly on my list.

My own pick of the slightly lesser-known museums would be the Sir John Soane Museum, in Lincoln's Inn.

 

[Callie]

Jonathan,

Thanks for the link to the Sir John Sloan Museum. I had read about it on a list somewhere or other, but had not actually looked at the web site. I love those kinds of places and this one sounds particularly interesting.

The V&A is on the list already. It's another of those places that you just can't visit once and see everything.

Now 10 days is looking like not enough time to see everything.

Callie

 

[Felicity]

Not actually strictly speaking a museum, but a museum-like house, Denis Sever's House One of my favourite small museums is the Geffrye but that may not qualify as 'lesser-known'.

Regarding books, has anyone recommended Keith Fawkes in Flask Walk, Hampstead to you? I am not entirely sure it still exists (it doesn't have a website so I can't check) but here it is mentioned in a blog a couple of years ago and it was certainly alive and kicking a year ago. The blog will lead to you to lots of other bookshops in that area and beyond...It might be worth taking a trip up to Hampstead?

 

[Callie]

I visited the Denis Sever's house a couple of years ago. It was one of the most unusual "museums" I have ever visited. Such an interesting idea and very well executed.

A trip to Hampstead is not out of the question at all. I'll try to track down Keith Fawles and will check out that blog. We stayed in Hampstead many, many years ago - 25 or so - and haven't been back since. It would be a fun visit. Thanks for the nudge.

 

[SusanSeattle]

It's not unknown, but I love Hatchards.
www.hatchards.co.uk
I love the atmosphere inside & the staff is lovely - helpful and friendly.

 

[Debra]

While this bookstore doesn't qualify as a destination bookshop like Daunt Books, I could have spent a few hours here going throught their selections. http://www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/

I'm planning a trip soon on my own (a first) and I will keep an eye on this thread.

 

[Callie]

I'd forgotten about this thread until Debra's note. While in London last year, I discovered Persephone Book Store. Such beautiful books and such an interesting selection. As best I can remember, it's owned by 3 women who re-publish books out of copyright. Fascinating books, paperback, with covers in copies of wallpaper appropriate to the time of publication.

Don't have the address easily available, but it's in Bloomsbury on a pedestrian street. Nice little restaurants around there as well.

 

[SusanSeattle]

Thanks for suggesting Persephone. I looked at their website & am intrigued. It's now on my list for my short stay next spring.