It’s important now more than ever to show your local independent businesses some love during lockdown to make sure they don’t suffer during this pandemic. We’ve compiled a list of our favourite independent bookshops you can support and find an incredible read to snuggle up with at home! If you don’t see your favourite indie bookshop on this list and still want to support them, we’d recommend using Hive as a small percentage of their book sales goes straight to indie bookshops.
Bookshop On The Heath
Order via Abebooks
74 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, London SE3 0BW
The Bookshop on the Heath have recently announced their re-opening in June, sparking excitement again in Blackheath booklovers. For those still wanting to stay at home, you can support this long-standing bookshop through Abebooks and browse their wide selection. The staff here are not only book lovers, but book enthusiasts, not letting this lockdown stop them from spreading the power and joy of the written word. As well as books, you can also purchase maps and vintage movie posters to decorate your home!
The Bookshop on the Heath
Dulwich Books
Order via website for delivery
6 Croxted Rd, West Dulwich, London SE21 8SW
We are seriously missing the bright and warm atmosphere that Dulwich Books creates, but what we can rely on, is this bookshop’s resilience. You can browse their selection across almost every genre you can think of at their website. Can’t decide on what to try? Check out their regularly updated ‘Books of the Month’, where the staff shed light on some of their favourite reads they think their customers need to know about. Just call at 020 8670 1920 or 07960 425396 to order and chat to one of their booksellers to get top quality recommendations!
Dulwich Books
Moon Lane Ink
Please contact info@talesonmoonlane.co.uk or call 0207 274 5759 to place orders or to ask for recommendations.
300 Stanstead Rd, London SE23 1DE
Moon Lane Books is a local bookshop renowned for its excellent selection of children’s literature, now available to order for delivery! This bookshop has gone beyond and organised several Zoom workshops for their local children missing the bubbly atmosphere of the store. On top of these workshops, you can also find book readings on their YouTube channel for you and your little one to enjoy. Moon Lane Books have been utilising their social media platform to its fullest, continuously spreading positivity and kindness in these difficult and uncertain times.
Moon Lane Ink CIC
Rye Books
Order online for delivery
47 N Cross Rd, East Dulwich, London SE22 9ET
Head to Rye Books’ shiny new website and browse their wide collection of diverse and inspiring books available to order. Not only can you happily browse their user friendly website, but the staff are still connecting with the community via book club meetings on Zoom! Whether you’re a casual or avid reader, locals love this book club, bringing the love for discussing books into the virtual world. All the books you see on their website are hand picked by the staff, each curated for their locals to devour and adore. Looking for more ways to entertain the kids? Check out their children’s book bundles, perfect for a treat or upcoming birthday gift.
Rye Books
Crystal Palace 90s Style Unisex T-Shirt
Herne Hill The Half Moon SE24 - Giclée Art Print
Small Print
Order via website for delivery
37 Davids Road, London, SE23 3EP
Small Print Books are dedicated to bringing incredible and imaginative stories to children and adults alike. You’ll be able to browse their entire collection on their website, from fiction to non-fiction and even subscriptions. Their subscriptions are perfect for parents having trouble finding age-appropriate books for their children, as Small Print have divided book packages for as young as 1-3 yrs, as well as non-fiction books and story books perfect for bedtime. They also have dozens of activity books to keep your children busy, especially when lockdown boredom attacks!
Smallprint Books
The Word Bookshop
Email info@wordbookshop.co.uk to order for local delivery
314 New Cross Road SE14 6AF
The staff at The Word Bookshop have been offering free local deliveries to provide New Cross book lovers with cosy reads to enjoy at home. The bookshop is also part of the Goldsmith’s College community and is still an essential resource for students or even locals with a hunger to learn. The Word’s team are working hard to keep popular and meaningful titles in their stock, but are also eager to hear locals’ suggestions and can provide custom orders, even in lockdown.
The Word Bookshop
Halcyon Books
Order via AbeBooks
266 Lee High Rd, Lewisham, London SE13 5PL
This family-run business started out in 1990 and is still a cultural hub loved by local bookworms. Now operating online through AbeBooks, locals can still support this independent store and purchase books from dozens of genres from self-help to science and many more. A large range of their books are also secondhand, which is a much more sustainable purchase and enjoy noteworthy books.
Halcyon Books
Clapham Books
Email shop@claphambooks.com to order for delivery
26 The Pavement, Clapham Common, London SW4 0JA
Clapham Books are determined not to let down locals and are providing an email-to-order service so we can still cosy up with a new book for lockdown. They hand-pick their entire selection of fiction, non-fiction, children’s and art books for locals to choose from and have delivered safely to their door. With more time spent at home, this is a perfect opportunity to get to that big, intimidating book you may have been putting off! Clapham Books have recently announced that they plan to reopen on the 15th June, so keep an eye on their social media for more updates.
Clapham Books
West Norwood St. Luke's Church SE27 - Giclée Art Print
Crofton Park 90s Style Unisex T-Shirt
Herne Hill Books
Call 020 7998 1673 or DM on Twitter to request order for delivery
289 Railton Rd, Brixton, London SE24 0LY
Known as the sister bookshop to Clapham Books, Herne Hill Books are also taking order requests to keep the bookshelves of locals full during lockdown. For both Herne Hill and Brixton locals, this bookshop has been a staple in the independent business community and has pushed through lockdown to keep spreading their love of books virtually. They have felt incredibly humbled by the amount of support they have received from loyal locals and will continue to give back and provide high quality books to the community.
Herne Hill Books
The Book and Record Bar
Email thebookandrecordbar@gmail.com to order from stock posted on website
20 Norwood High St, Norwood, London SE27 9NR
The Book and Record Bar believe in the marriage of literature and music and how they both encourage creativity and imagination. As well as accepting book order through email, you can also purchase their stock of records and CDs. The staff at this store have also kept providing their locals with the best tunes through their live radio sessions, often posted on their Instagram page. They are always actively seeking out unique and rare products to add to their stock and impress their customers!
The Book and Record Bar
The Bookseller Crow on The Hill
Email info@booksellercrow.co.uk to order for delivery or collection
50 Westow Street Crystal Palace London SE19 3AF
This bookshop is providing online order requests via email and continues to be active on their social media, recommending fantastic and perhaps underrated reads they want their customers to try out. Additionally, The Bookseller Crow on The Hill are hosting Zoom book club meetings to interact with their local community and discuss some of the most interesting and sought-after books on the market. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by their large stock, try their Flight Club monthly subscription service, where the expert staff will hand pick their favourite books to send straight to your door each month.
The Bookseller Crow on the hill
Chener Books
Email chenerbookshop@gmail.com to request order
14 Lordship Ln, East Dulwich, London SE22 8HN
If you still want to support Chener Books, they are able to offer a limited stock from their store and deliver out to East Dulwich locals wanting to keep this independent business alive. If you’re looking for other ways to connect and support this bookstore, they have been hosting online poetry readings and staying active on their social media to keep customers updated and informed. Chener Books are also planning to reopen on the 15th June and are working hard to develop their action plan so locals can enjoy the bookshop’s atmosphere in the safest way possible.
Chener Books
Crofton Books
Book a time allotted appointment to visit an browse in store
375 Brockley Rd, Brockley, London SE4 2AG
Crofton Books have set up an appointment system for locals to safely browse their shelves and get friendly advice from their booksellers. However, they are still offering home deliveries via DM on Twitter if you are still self-isolating. This bookstore specialises in selling secondhand books, giving these stories a second life and home for customers wanting to shop more sustainably. Booking an appointment at this store is a great way to feel connected again with the book community and have an in depth discussion about some of your favourite books you have discovered during lockdown.
Crofton Books, a Secondhand Bookshop in London SE4
What Is The South London Club?
The South London Club is a local discount card to help support small independent businesses across South London whilst saving all who live, work & play in South London money! With over 850+ local discounts to choose from, you will discover & explore all the best hidden gems in South London. Join over 7,000 of us & celebrate all that's independent & South London!