Hi
i was wondering if there is a spot in London where one can find these amazing dreamy book shops! And tea spots.
it has to be concentrated in one or 2 places as we just have a 12 hour stop over
we will take the tube from Heathrow

thx!

"dreamy" book shops..?

Foyle's on Charing Cross Road has five floors, and a café

Within walking distance, Waterstone's on Piccadilly also has a café.

Buth although they're both very well-stocked, I wouldn't say they're particularly atmospheric/quirky or historic.

Further along Piccadilly is Hatchard's, which is old-established, but no café.

You might be thinking of somewhere like Daunt's in Marylebone; or you might also like to check out the London Review of Books shop on Bury Place near the British Museum.

Or for atmosphere, you could have a poke around Cecil Court off Charing Cross Road.

Okay … well that’s a start!! Thank you!

Patrick beat me to it. Ditto all of the above. Big yes to Daunt Books, and several antiquary book shops in Cecil Court along with antiques and art dealers.

Word on the Water-The London Bookbarge was an interesting bookstore, it’s on a canal barge on the Regent’s Canal Towpath in the King’s Cross area.

Here is a list of book dealers that were at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair. If you search the page there are 19 from London.
https://www.nyantiquarianbookfair.com/exhibitors

I've spent a little bit of time in this one, and can confirm it's easy to part with some pounds there.
https://sotherans.co.uk/