This is London's oldest bookshop, open since 1797 and beloved by writers themselves (customers have included Oscar Wilde, Rudyard Kipling, and Lord Byron) thanks to its cozy, independent character. Independence, however, is a matter of appearance only—Hatchards is owned by the same corporate giant as the omnipresent Waterstone's chain. Nevertheless, you can revel in its old-fashioned charm while perusing the well-stocked shelves lining the winding stairs. The staff has retained old-fashioned helpfulness, too.
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