I have an affinity for stationary---namely fountain pens and nice blank journals. I will definately check out the stationary shops in Italy, but was wondering if there were some good shops in London? I went to numerous bookstores, but found only the same overmanufactured and overpriced journals---nice decorating, but nothing simple and hardcover.

Is there a good stationary shop you would recommend in London?

Look at Harrod's for good stationery.

Actually, I was not impressed with the stationary at Harrod's. I did purchase a couple of journals, but they weren't my favorite choices. And of the few that I really did like, the prices were a bit too high for the quality offered.

Actually, all of the stores in London are good and stationary. Except for a few merchants who ply their wares from carts, they only move around when they're disturbed by seismic or political events.

I guess I didn't find them. Or maybe it was that all the stores offered the exact same journals...usually a thread like embroidered covering and lined. I don't like embroidered coverings, and I prefer my journals unlined. Sigh.

Maybe I am just a too difficult writer...

Robespierre was making a joke.

Try searching for "stationery London."

Note the spelling.

THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE RUDE OR PEDANTIC -- BUT HELPFUL-- OK??

The easy way to remember stationary vs. stationery.

Stationary is spelled with an a -- which stands for "attached".

Stationery is spelled with an e -- which stands for "envelope".

Ah, I get it! Too smart for me...totally didn't even notice the change in spelling or definition....

My spelling has been getting horrible lately...don't know why. I am usually very good at grammar and have an impressive vocabulary, but lately I have been making spelling mistakes I shouldn't be making.....interesting.....

It's a relief for me to know that a native English speaker has mistakes too At least, you can say that they are just typos...hehehe

Yes, it has been weird lately..words that I know how to correctly spell I am mispelling. Hmm...maybe it is due to the fact that I have not been reading nearly as much as I used to?

Another one to remember: everyone in a cemetery is at e's.

smythson on new bond street is one obvious answer. they have all the royal warrants and are well known as the old stationery store.

i don't use expensive stationery so i can't recommend them personally.

what's that chain of stationary shops around london--it has the word "Ryan" in the name..I know there's one on Tottenham Court Road, near the KFC a few blocks up from the EasyEverything internet cafe, and I'm pretty sure there's one on High Street..

The way many people misuse <i>i.e.</i> and <i>e.g.</i> obscures the meaning of their writings - and it's not often possible to figure out what is <i>really</i> meant.

<i>e.g.</i> = EG-zample

it's ryman (the stationer) and they are on just about every high street. like wh smith, they sell mainly everyday office supplies. lovetotravel seems to be looking for perhaps a nice souvenir item.

ryman, that's the name, thank you.

Oh, underhill, your cemetery spelling is so much nicer than the one I learned. Mine was that everyone in a cemetery is embalmed.

By the way, there are a couple of really interesting stationery shops in the neighborhood of Covent Garden between Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Sorry I can't be more specific, but it's a fun area to poke around in anyway, and let your nose take you to Neal's Yard Dairy for amazing cheeses.

For traditional leather bound journals, walkinaround's suggestion of symthson is first rate.

For something a little less traditional, go to Shepherds Bookbinders for a full array of gorgeous handbound books, journals and albums. Leather, cloth, japanese silkscreen books, many of them bound by Shepherds' staff.

76 Rochester Row SW1 1JU next to Vincent Square. Nearest tube is (I'm pretty sure) Victoria.

I love this place.

I'd start at Symthons on Bond street. There is also a little shop off Bond Street (Alister Little????) that is great. Scrivo would be a good option, but they've closed their Marylebone shop.
The V&amp;A gift shop and the tate Modern also have nice selections. Waterstones and Paperchase have nothing too unique.