London Review Bookshop

I was browsing this place’s Unilocal pictures one night and decided pretty quickly that I needed to stop by — which I did the very next afternoon. The entrance to the café area is a bit awkward, partially because you need to enter through the bookshop and partially because there’s really no waiting area. I literally found myself smack in the middle of the café once I passed the doorway.
The place is definitely on the small side, and I ended up grabbing a seat at one very large (communal) table. The waiter brought me a glass of water right away, and after browsing the cake display and the tea menu, I decided to go for the pistachio & rose cake, which I paired with the jasmine pearls green tea. The cake arrived first, and I had to try very hard not to eat it before the tea came (I like to wait for everything to arrive before indulging). Fortunately, the tea arrived just a few minutes later on this adorable tea set, which the waiter taught me how to use.
On the first bite of the cake, I was immensely satisfied. It wasn’t too sweet, and I also appreciated how it was on the denser side but not too moist. However, by the time I was halfway through, the cream/​icing on top became a bit too overpowering for me. Don’t get me wrong — I still finished the cake no problem, but I would’ve preferred a larger cake to icing ratio. Now the tea… the tea was REALLY good. The flavor was on the lighter side and not too bitter, which was perfect for me. I thought it paired especially nicely with the cake (it helped mitigate the strength of the icing… a bit like a palate cleanse). The apparatus was another plus since it was pretty fun to use, not to mention incredibly cute.
Overall, I enjoyed coming here! I might not get the cake again (especially since it was a bit pricey — 3 pounds for a fairly small slice), but I’ll definitely be back for the tea (3.75 pounds, but definitely worth it).

This review is for the café. I was desperate for a good slice of cake and cup of tea whilst in London (you can’t get good cake in DC, where I live), and this place hit the spot in the sweetest of ways. I enjoyed a smooth, flavorful cup of black vanilla tea with a slice of Guinness chocolate cake that paired the bitterness of beer with the tanginess of a buttercream frosting. The cake was daring in its eschewal of too much sugar: an adult cake for an adult tea enthusiast. Well done, London Review!

Cafes inside book shops aren’t any special occurrence. In my hometown there’s pretty much a Starbucks in every single one. But this is not your run-​of-​the-​mill average café.
My boyfriend is an English student so he loves going to all the different book shops around the city. I often accompany him because I enjoy reading as well. For the London Review Bookshop though, I did not come for the books. I came for the cake. And the cake did not disappoint.
I was tempted to order some tea as well as their tea list is impressive. The staff were very knowledgeable about recommending me some good choices to go with my cake but I was on a mission. The day I went they were serving a masala chai cake with walnuts. Pretty much my two favourite food items, I was instantly sold. The cake was really crumbly and moist. The buttercream was soft and subtly sweet. Overall, I was very happy I only wished I had ordered two slices instead of one. Actually, I should have just ordered the whole cake take away!
After the pleasant experience in the café, I browsed the books and found some very interesting titles. I would definitely come back for the books but they will always be second to the cake.

Hving read Andrew M’s review, I think that I can see a pattern. I too was lured here on the promise of London’s best carrot cake and like him, I was to be disappointed when we arrived as they had run out of said cake. It must be good!
My friend Sharon brought me here and she is an avid reader. If you love interesting books, this is a treasure trove with books covering a whole multitude of subjects. The staff are excellent at recommending and finding specific books for you
There’s a little café next door to the bookshop — reading can induce an appetitie, don’t you know? We snagged one of the little tables and went for alternatives to the disappointingly absent carrot cake. We chose the intriguing courgette and lemon curd cake as well as the mixed berry cheesecake
The courgette and lemon curd cake was great — a subtle hint of courgette so as not to be too vegetabley but lovely and moist with more dominant lemon flavour. The mixed berry cheesecake was nice but more conventional
Sharon was intrigued enough to try and recreate the courgette cake at home, always a sign of a good dish. Perhaps one day, Andrew and I may get the chance to try teh famous carrot cake

A favorite! Great selection, and atmosphere is wonderful for browsing titles. I also love the tea shop, the Jasmine Pearl Tea is wonderful!

I am become devourer of tea cakes. Books. Tea. Cookies. I was by turns entertained by their large Literary Criticism section in the basement, watered by their several tea types (the menu is sheaves of paper containing tea types, sheaves).
The tables are a little cramped, though. Be ready to make friends with your dining companions.

This place is great for studying if you can manage to part from your laptop for a while and just sit and enjoy the amazing décor, the quiet chatter, and the array of cakes! There’s no wifi or plugs, but with some form of reading or few good conversation mates, this place can definitely keep you occupied for a while! This store is pretty close to my school, and I’ve come here on a couple occasions to enjoy some cake and tea, and to ease the pain of mind-​numbingly dull readings. I’ve been here mostly when the weather is dreadful so I haven’t been able to sit outside, but I have seen their outdoor seating section and will be back soon as the weather is finally warming up in London!
The bookshop itself is extremely close to the British Museum, and is a great place to rest and get some good food if you know exactly where to find it, since affordable food or any food at all around the British Museum is basically non-​existent. The times that I’ve been here, the place has been pretty quiet, not extremely packed but there were definitely no empty tables. So don’t wait for the lunch rush hour! The prices for the food are decent and the bookshop itself is also really cool and a great place to get lost in all the books on a leisurely day. So come in and enjoy! :D

DONT BE LURED INTO THE CAFE BY THE BOOKSHOP!
This place has had rave reviews in the past, but sadly the staff now know it.
I had the most dismal customer service I can remember. The café was busy because it was lunchtime, but the waitress/​manager couldn’t cope. Instead she rudely told me to read the menu before asking her to come over, and on seeing my reaction to this rudeness continued to make me feel uncomfortable until I left.
If the attitude of this waitress/​manager isn’t bad enough to offend, the clash of constant bolshy shouting in an Australian accent against the calm bookshop surroundings certainly will.
The overpriced undersized sandwich (£6 for 4 inches of a baguette, no side) was also typical of a place that thinks it’s the best.
I think this place has had its time in the limelight. Stick to the bookshop and head elsewhere for lunch.

I was lured here on promises of the best carrot cake London has to offer. Unfortunately, when we showed up they had run out of carrot cake (which does in hindsight support the claim). Luckily, there was an almond and orange cake that looked delicious so the trip wasn’t a complete flop.
The venue itself is quite cool and as the name implies is filled with books. Pretty much everything you see is for sale (including some of the art on the walls) and you can browse through books while nibbling on a treat which is really the only way to shop. Speaking of treats, my cake was impossibly moist without being even a touch oily. The citrus notes in the orange enhanced the honeyed sweetness of the cake and the slivered almonds (when I was little that phrase always confused me… who would want to eat almonds made of silver?) provide a great crunchy counterpoint.
My lurer opted for a sweet potato and spinach quiche which I had to steal a bite of. It was one of the better quiches I’ve had in town with silky eggs providing a great foundation for the lush sweet potato and vibrant green spinach.
The staff are very friendly and even offer table service. They also are quick with recommendations and some pretty good banter.
I’ll be heading back after my next Saturday fitness session (sadly this place isn’t open on Sundays) for another shot at that carrot cake. If it’s half as good as my almond cake, it will definitely be in the running for the City’s Best Carrot Cake!

I initially came here for the pastries, but found London’s literary vibe so compelling I had to come back here to buy some books. I came here for tea on a weekday afternoon, and already most of the tables were taken. They have a small selection of savory food, a couple of sandwiches, some soups and salads. Their pastry selection is generally homey-​looking, and I had a Victoria sponge cake with a jasmine tea. The sponge cake was quite delicious, with fresh cream and raspberries. I think it’s a really nice place to just sit and read your newly-​bought book. Speaking of which, I bought a couple of books from the bookstore and I am a happy camper. :D

Damn good brownies!
Clearly, I went for the cake shop, but the bookstore was really cute and had some seating, so I expect to be back. This is my favorite books/​food combination… ever.

I have been to this bookshop loads of times, and I have to say, well very stocked with book titles I am always looking for, and they always seem to have them. The London Review Bookshop is very unique and it’s a very
warm and welcoming shop to visit, even if you’re just browsing. The London Review Bookshop was featured in the 2004 British thriller film, Enduring Love starring Daniel Craig and Rhys Ifans.

Not a mega-​market, but a real bookstore. The selection of great books here is amazing. This is the sort of place that you can come in and browse for hours. This is what bookstores should be like, and the complete antithesis of something like Foyles or Borders. Come here if you love books and want to run your fingers across the spines, and breathe in deep the aromas of new thoughts and ideas. There is also a nice café next to this, but it’s pretty small and the times I have come in it has been impossible to get a seat.
Bottom-​line: Best bookstore I know in London.

FANTASTIC book collection that doesn’t push NYT bestsellers in your face. i could spend a whole day here.
the cake shop is fabulous, with friendly staff and daily specials. i’m thinking about switching between here and the british library café this summer for some serious dissertation work time in a non-​dissertation work place.

Fantastic little place. Quite a bit of surprise to what I expected. The bookstore itself is nice. They have a pretty, comfortable size collection of books. The featured books on the tables are carefully selected, not the latest best sellers.
The café is not so big, but has a really pleasant, kind of a book lovers atmosphere. I wouldn’t recommend bringing your laptop to this place. The staff is quite cheerful and has a surprisingly familiar attitude with the customers. Many people seem to be regulars here.
Looking at the equipment behind the counter, I wasn’t expecting too much from the coffee… but, I was completely wrong. It might not match the best baristas in London, but they certainly come close enough.

My favourite bookshop in London.
Makes Daunt look like WH Smith. OK, not really, but, I have never had the experience at other bookshops that I have here.
Every single book is worth reading and buying. How rare is that?! It means that I can only venture so far into the shop before being completely overwhelmed, arms filled with books.
Total bibliophilic heaven.
The café is apparently great, but I’ve yet to score a table (though they have tables outside which will be great once it stops sleeting).
Come here with time to spare, money to burn, an intellectuo-​literary friend, and enjoy.

I like books.
I like tea.
I like cake.
I like the London Review Bookshop.
It really is that simple. I like simple.

Located only a stone’s throw from the British Museum, in a ferociously academic area of London, The London Review Bookshop is one of London’s best stocked, most intellectually rewarding and stimulating bookstores in the capital. As you might expect from a store closely associated with the London Review of Books, many of the publications of this small bookshop are aimed specifically towards students, armchair and real academics. A lot of these books will be hard to find anywhere else so if you’re a student struggling to find something for a course then this could be the answer.
With excellent sections in literature, philosophy, history and politics, the London Review Bookshop has a distinctly contemporary outlook without foresaking the past. As such you will find very new release publications across all fields as well as more classical pieces.
In keeping with the grand tradition of intellectuality, there is also a little café located within the shop where one can purchase refreshments at pretty reasonable prices. The staff are wonderful and really know what they are talking about so if you find yourself lost or unable to find something they will do their utmost to help you out.
A really first-​rate bookstore.

London Review Bookshop is an independent store, passionate about a good read and a good slice of cake. The bookshop itself holds an eclectic offering, stacked high, and you can help yourself to stair ladders to reach the top shelves. They have an interesting range of off-​the-​wall titles including good sections on politics, current affairs, travel writing and ‘memoirs’ as well as a solid classics library. There is a specialist magazine section well stocked with copies of ‘Wire’, ‘Stimulus Respond’, the ‘Eye’ and ‘Freize’ type reads.
To reach the small café you have to pass through the bookshop and it’s crowded with literary types (of course) all dissecting their way through the latest read. It has a very knowledgeable ‘book-​club’ kind of atmosphere and the cakes are delicious home made little numbers. They also make artisan sandwiches in focacia bread. Even if you can’t get a seat, I’d recommend trying the food to take out. If you can spot the blueberry crumble cake in the window as you pass by, DO NOT miss it! Scrummy!

This little bookstore next to the British Museum has a fantastic collection of books, as well as a café which is worthy of these five stars. The café is in a separate room to the bookstore, and serves a variety of fresh teas such as Darjeeling, Assam and Lapsang, as well as Oolong, White and Green teas. These are accompanied by some wonderful cakes — from I can recommend not one to single out from its comparable peers. They’re all yummy in other words.
The sandwiches are also pretty good, made with very fresh ingredients and always tasty. The narrow space near the counter is very cosy, and I could easily spend an afternoon surfing the books and reading with a large pot of tea with cake.