I Love Soho

I stopped into I Love Soho with a few friends in London and it was a really fun little place. Half novelty bookstore and half sex shop, it was welcoming and naughty without being outright creepy.
The upstairs is well-​stocked with an eclectic collection of interesting books on sex as well as art, culture, dogs, etc. It offers plenty of attractive browsing material, and as salespeople appear to be very hands off, you can look around at your leisure. It’s a small space, but it doesn’t feel particularly cramped. There are also greeting cards and the like.
Downstairs, you’ll find a standard dildo-​and-​handcuffs porn shop, small but packed with X-​rated goods. You can buy DVDs for any taste — a quick look revealed naked fat people, old people, and she-​males, among others. The prices seemed a little steep — I don’t know who would pay £50 for three DVDs now that the internet’s been invented, but I guess someone’s keeping this place in business.
While we browsed the PG section of I Love Soho, our group of four was approached by a duo of Brits in their early twenties. They were hilarious and engaging and almost seemed like they were enacting a comedy routine. They talked to us about pornography and London, and we explored the downstairs with their running commentary. It was an interesting encounter in an interesting place. I’m rather fond of that sort of thing.

I Love Soho loves Soho and I love Soho too. Their book selection is excellent. The main floor is filled with a myriad of art books, discount books and literary classics that would tickle the mind. The basement is more lurid, focussed on tickling the pickle. There is porn galore. If you’re into G-​rated products or you’re bringing the family along, stay upstairs. If you want to get kinky get down in the basement.