Best Independent Bookshops in Kent and London | #IndieBookshopWeek

This week is #IndieBookshopWeek 2021. A week to celebrate the brilliant independent bookshops across the UK and all of the amazing booksellers behind the scenes, particularly in your local area.

I’m a big fan of this week as I love to support my local indies, and since I’m based between Kent and London I thought I would share my recommendations for Independent Bookshops in Kent and London.

On Saturday 19th June, I went to my local independent bookshop in my hometown of Faversham, Kent – Tales on Market St – for a book signing. It was amazing to see friends and family, as well as meet a lot of book lovers in town. It’s newly opened and a great visit. So if you’re in Faversham anytime soon I highly recommend it.

Here are a few other Independent Bookshops in Kent and London that I highly recommend you visit.

Blackwells Bookshop

A chain of independent bookshops, you’ll likely find a Blackwells in any university town or city like Canterbury and Oxford. They’re a great chain of bookstores and stock a wide array of genres.

Tales on Moon Lane

If you’re after a great children’s book to read or to give as a present – or a place to take a true book-loving child – then look no further than Tales on Moon Lane in Ramsgate. A great place to browse and start the ultimate children’s book collection.

Sevenoaks Bookshop

Sevenoaks Bookshop is an award-winning Independent Bookshop and well worth a visit if you’re nearby. They host events, writers’ groups, book clubs, and anything a book-lover could possibly want.

Kirkdale Bookshop

Kirkdale is the closest Independent Bookshop to where I’m based in London, and it’s a great place to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon. I promise you won’t leave without a book in hand.

The Feminist Library

A true niche independent bookshop is The Feminist Library and it is spectacular! They sell exactly what they say on the tin – but only on Saturdays from 1-4pm – as well as act as a library and archive for the Women’s Liberation movement throughout the ages. They host amazing events and exhibitions and I highly recommend you check them out.

Liberia

If you’re a bookstagrammer or simply love stunning independent bookshops then you cannot go wrong with Liberia. This is the ultimate Instagrammable Bookshop and their stock of books is amazing.

The Riverside Bookshop

The Riverside Bookshop is just down the road from my office and I miss my weekly browsing sessions in-store. They are also the first independent bookshop to stock signed copies of my debut novel What Planet Can I Blame This On? so will forever hold a special place in my heart. I really recommend you stop by next time you’re near London Bridge Station.

Housmans Bookshop

Just down the road from Kings Cross Station, Housmans bookshop sell a wide array of political and social studies texts, as well as fiction and memoir. I spent a lot of time at Housmans when I was reading up on feminism and gender studies during university.

Gays the Word

And finally, for London Independent Bookshops you have to stop by Gays the Word. Not only is the bookshop featured in one of my all-time favourite movies – Pride – it is also a world-class bookshop that stocks a massive range of LGBTQA+ fiction, non-fiction, and memoirs. The booksellers are brilliant as well, and well worth chatting to for recommendations.

What are your favourite Independent Bookshops across the UK? Do you have a preferred independent bookshop in Kent and London? Let me know in the comments below. Happy #IndieBookshopWeek 2021.

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