Stanfords — Local services in London

You walked into the old Stanfords and you felt excited about the visit as if the adventure began at the door. It was like the trip you were thinking about was born in Stanfords, the selection was vast, the maps fabulous and the building iconic. We would spend hours looking at maps and books and coming away with a great selection of goodies. The prices weren't always the cheapest but the shopping experience was worth it. We made day trips to London just to go to Stanfords! Oh how the mighty have fallen, this new location is smaller, off the beaten track and completely and utterly soulless. Gone are the wonderful floors with maps printed on them where you could walk between countries as you perused the store and welcome to grey floor tiles with one almost insulting map of London as a stark reminder of what Stanfords used to be. There's still a reasonable selection of guides, maps and gifts, but it's shopping now, not an experience and an adventure. We loved our old Stanfords and will sorely miss our trips there. Sadly I think it's likely the Internet has done for Stanfords and I for one will miss the Great old Icon of London as I too will now shop online rather than venture to the new modern shadow of the wonderful...

This is not only one of my favorite bookshops, but one of my favorite places in the whole world. Bookshops already open so many doors to other places via armchair travel, but Stanford's will inspire you to experience living under the Tuscan sun or retracing Shackleton's steps yourself. You can get maps that show you the best walking route through Cambria or the best cycling route through Patagonia. Want to know the exact layout of 1840's London? Stanford's has you covered. They stock absolutely every travel book ever written, whether it's a witty memoir or a gorgeous coffee table tome. (They also have a very nice selection of novels and other non-travel-oriented books.) Plus, the cafe is so cozy, and the owner, Vivian, is so friendly and knowledgeable. She'll share the latest little-known publications and is always happy to chat and make recommendations. This place is an institution for a reason, and it's the only place in London that I absolutely must visit every time I'm there. Cannot recommend...

Great shop, always grumpy staff!

I always love this bookshop and it’s my favourite place to go if I have time between meetings (in normal times) and I usually emerge having bought something interesting. But, goodness, every single time the staff are grumpy, offhand and really give the impression that helping you is the last thing they’d like to be doing. One of the last times I went in before lockdown I asked a staff member to check a price because it was only marked in $ and there was no £ price. He literally rolled his eyes as he went to the till. Which makes me wonder, how are management treating staff here to make them so miserable? It would be a tragedy if this place was to go under because of Covid and I sincerely hope it doesn’t but my favourite travel bookshop by far is Daunt’s on Marylebone High Street where staff seem genuinely pleased...