{"id":643937,"date":"2025-12-20T09:00:42","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T09:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/643937\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T09:00:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T09:00:42","slug":"bel-powley-to-hugh-bonneville-celebrities-london-book-store-recommendations-for-last-minute-christmas-gifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/643937\/","title":{"rendered":"Bel Powley to Hugh Bonneville: Celebrities&#8217; London book store recommendations for last-minute Christmas gifts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/newsletter_style_embed_desktop.png\" alt=\"STYLE\" width=\"158px\" height=\"158px\" class=\"sc-gytJtb kpUGLA\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The last date for standard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/business\/christmas-2025-last-date-to-order-presents-b1261640.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">delivery<\/a> from Amazon has now passed \u2013 and wouldn\u2019t you rather have the satisfaction of visiting a high street <a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/lifestyle\/best-independent-bookshops-in-london-a4393251.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shop<\/a>, browsing the shelves, and getting your shopping in your hands instead of waiting for the post to come?<\/p>\n<p>We take a look back at The Standard\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/topic\/my-london\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">My London<\/a> interviewees over the past year and delve into our archives to get the top picks to find a page turner.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/lifestyle\/russell-tovey-my-london-talk-art-tate-modern-b1219023.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Russell Tovey<\/strong><\/a> says shop local if you can, and recommends <strong>Hatchards<\/strong> on Piccadilly.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766221223_287_GettyImages-2199855229.jpeg\" width=\"3882\" height=\"5824\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"sc-eqUAAy kRUyJB\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Bel Powley loves Burley Fisher Books<\/p>\n<p>Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>Restaurateur <a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/going-out\/restaurants\/jeremy-king-london-what-do-b1253308.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Jeremy King<\/strong><\/a> recommends <strong>Heywood Hill<\/strong>, as does fashion illustrator <strong>David Downton<\/strong>, who described his experience at the Mayfair shop as \u201ceverything I\u2019d heard about it and more\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sara Cox<\/strong> says she grabs her books from whichever shop she happens to be passing that day. But this is where other celebs pick to shop for books in London:<\/p>\n<p>Famous names from <strong>Anya Hindmarch<\/strong> to <strong>Eddie Redmayne<\/strong>, and <strong>Joan Collins<\/strong> to <strong>John Cleese<\/strong> can be found shopping in <strong>John Sandoe<\/strong> in Chelsea. Nestled just off the hustle and bustle of the King&#8217;s Road, it has been stocking everything a bibliophile could desire since it opened in 1957. <strong>Joanna Lumley<\/strong> says it is her \u201cfavourite bookshop\u201d, while the late <strong>Tom Stoppard<\/strong> said he feels guilty if he buys a book anywhere else.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ella Richards<\/strong>: John Sandoe is the cosiest place to shop for books.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI192236206.jpg.jpg\" width=\"2333\" height=\"3500\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"sc-eqUAAy kRUyJB\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Emerald Fennell shops at John Sandoe<\/p>\n<p>Dave Benett<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pixie Geldof<\/strong>: It\u2019s a journey, but you could spend hours in that store. It looks like a movie and it\u2019s so peaceful.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gwendoline Christie<\/strong>: I truly love John Sandoe Books. It\u2019s a curiosity shop of brilliance and I truly believe in supporting independent bookstores.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Daunt Books<\/strong> is a popular choice for many, including singer <strong>Florence Welch<\/strong> and TV\u2019s <strong>Mel Giedroyc<\/strong>, and its canvas bags have become a statement accessory. <strong>Vick Hope<\/strong> said: \u201cYou can generally find me in a bookshop. Daunt Books is one of my favourites.\u201d <strong>Sophie Dahl<\/strong> praised the staff for their \u201cbrilliant selections, on the spot\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>And <strong>Riz Ahmed<\/strong> can be found there too: \u201cDaunt Books is good. My wife&#8217;s a novelist, so she can&#8217;t walk past the bookshop without going in.\u201d It has five London locations, including the original Edwardian bookshop on Marylebone High Street.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766221231_165_newFile-3.jpg\" width=\"4242\" height=\"2832\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"sc-eqUAAy kRUyJB\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Daunt Books is popular with many Londoners<\/p>\n<p>Matt Writtle<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kate Hudson<\/strong>: I love the Daunt bookstore on Marylebone High Street. This one guy in there, Chris, has given me the most amazing recommendations and I love every book he\u2019s told me to read. Hi Chris!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Saidie Jones<\/strong>: Daunt Books in Holland Park is the best bookshop in London.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hugh Bonneville<\/strong>: Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street for thrillers. I was at school with the owner and helped him stack his first shelves<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arlo Parks<\/strong> is among the celebs who can be found at <strong>Donlon Books<\/strong> on Broadway Market. Fashion designer <strong>Jonathan Saunders<\/strong> rates \u201cits incredible selection \u2014 particularly the Japanese books\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Donlon-Books.jpeg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Donlon Books\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"sc-eqUAAy kRUyJB\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Donlon Books on Broadway Market<\/p>\n<p>Daniel Lynch<\/p>\n<p><strong>Daniel Fletcher<\/strong>: I could browse for hours in Donlon Books on Broadway Market. There are endless sources of inspiration in there with their art, photography and cultural theory books as well as some excellent independent publications and magazines.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Charles Jeffrey<\/strong>: I spend all my pocket money in Donlon Books in Broadway Market. I am trying to model my studio after the store. I love everyone that works there, too. You can always find something rare and interesting that sparks your creativity.<\/p>\n<p>You might find an actor, a playwright or an author in Bloomsbury\u2019s <strong>The London Review<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/London Review Bookshop.jpg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2600\" alt=\"London Review Bookshop\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"sc-eqUAAy kRUyJB\"\/><\/p>\n<p>London Review Bookshop can be found near the British Museum<\/p>\n<p>London Review Bookshop<\/p>\n<p><strong>Simon Bird<\/strong>: The London Review Bookshop near the British Museum; it stocks brilliant books and there&#8217;s a lovely little caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Polly Stenham<\/strong>: I love London Review Bookshop \u2014 they\u2019ve got an excellent selection and you can ask lots of questions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>David Nicholls<\/strong>: I come to the London Review Bookshop once a month to read, drink coffee and try not to listen to people\u2019s conversations.<\/p>\n<p>All the best London book shops<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s where else to shop for books in London:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Olly Alexander<\/strong>: <strong>Atlantis Bookshop<\/strong> on Museum Street for all your metaphysical needs and <strong>Gay\u2019s the Word<\/strong> for all your LGBTQ+ reading material.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sheila Atim<\/strong>: I enjoy a <strong>Foyles<\/strong>. I\u2019m one of those people who loves to buy books and then not read them. Foyles is the perfect place to browse, kill some time and hang out in the caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1427bf7f7e4fddc0700698e7ffd3e9b0Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3OTY5Nzc5-2.23272310.jpg\" width=\"2249\" height=\"3369\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"sc-eqUAAy kRUyJB\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Kirstie Allsopp goes to Thomas Heneage for art books<\/p>\n<p>PA Archive<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sara Pascoe<\/strong>: There is a nice <strong>Waterstones<\/strong> in Crouch End that allows dogs so we can head there with all the family and each get ourselves a treat. The <strong>Foyles<\/strong> book shop in Waterloo Station is very well stocked with inspiring titles.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Giles Coren<\/strong>: <strong>The Owl Bookshop<\/strong> in Kentish Town. It\u2019s now owned by Daunt but is still a paragon of a local bookshop. I used to buy books there at least once a week and even went out with one of the sales assistants for three years.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jack Davenport<\/strong>: I always shop at my local bookshop on Northcote Road &#8211; I\u2019m a believer in supporting small <a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/topic\/bookshops\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bookshops<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tori Amos<\/strong>: <strong>The Riverside Bookshop<\/strong> in Hays Galleria off Tooley Street.<\/p>\n<p><strong>David Downton<\/strong>: <strong>Magma<\/strong> for books and magazines.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Zawe Ashton<\/strong>: <strong>The Wellcome Collection gift shop<\/strong> for eclectic books and gifts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alicia Vikander<\/strong>: I go and buy my books in <strong>Primrose Hill Books<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nadia Lee Cohen<\/strong>: <strong>Idea<\/strong>, for arguably the best collection of books ever, but also because its owners, David Owen and Angela Hill, are some of my best London mates, so I go there for the chat and the big pile of Fortnum\u2019s biscuits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The last date for standard delivery from Amazon has now passed \u2013 and wouldn\u2019t you rather have the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":643938,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7757],"tags":[54321,171435,748,114578,393,4884,257,197762,47389,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-643937","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-london","8":"tag-book-store","9":"tag-bookshops","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-christmas-shopping","12":"tag-england","13":"tag-great-britain","14":"tag-london","15":"tag-london-bookstores","16":"tag-my-london","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115751081559817254","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/643937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=643937"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/643937\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/643938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=643937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=643937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=643937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}