Book store Stanfords (focusing a little more on the travel genre) has occupied the little shop on Long Acre (around the corner from Covent Garden) since 1853. It's one of my favourite London stores, and I love the illustrated maps on the floors and the range of globes on display in the lower floor. I've always been fascinated with globes, so if any of my readers wish to get me a gift, I'd love a nice globe such as one of the ones you can store drinks in. Stanfords also have a nice range of books and gifts, and it's just a wonderful little shop to browse in. Unfortunately, I read that after all this time, Stanfords will relocate to a new shop a couple of blocks away on Mercer Walk.
The golden letters above the current shop on Long Acre were placed in 1901, but I'm not sure if there will be new lettering above the new shop. The move is expected to happen in January, so we will see what the new shop is like then.
One of the other wonderful attractions of Stanfords book store is the little coffee shop at the back. The hot chocolate is very nice here, though I've never managed to actually sit down and enjoy the ambiance in store. I am hoping that the new shop is as nice, but I will be sad to see it move and hope that it does not lose its character.
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