A walk through one of the UK's most literary areas
When you think of a literary London, where does your mind go? Maybe over to Brick Lane, Notting Hill, Hackney? Well, here’s our case for centring the Square Mile at the heart of a literary London.
With so much history and a huge range of things to get involved in, the City NEEDS to be your next spot for a wistful day wandering around the past, present and future of London’s bookish fun.
Fleet Street
There’s no better place to start a literary adventure than at the heart of British literary history. The one and only Fleet Street is where printing and book publishing in the UK started, with not only its notorious journalistic history, but the first printing press and the first distribution of literary prints taking place in and around St Paul’s.
As well as its historic significance in publishing, Fleet Street has always been the beating heart of journalism in the UK since the publication of the first newspaper in the area in 1702 (The Courant, for any future pub quizzes), with most major newspapers settling in Fleet Street and printing the hottest news right here.
The Fleet Street Sundial
While most major papers moved out of the area in the early 2000’s, you can still hear the stories, explore the history, and even head to the journo pubs to try and get ahead of the latest news (The Punch Tavern is highly recommended).
If you head down to Magpie Alley, just off Fleet Street, the area is decorated with tiles showing the history of print and paper in the area. It’s a free little ‘exhibition’ you can wander at any time of day, and is a nice way to take in the history of the area.
Magpie Alley.
The history of Literacy
There’s much more history in the City of London’s literary scene than just Fleet Street’s journalist accreditations! We could go on, but two great hat tips go to…
Dr Johnson’s House
As the son of a bookseller, Samuel Johnson was destined for a life of literary fame. A notable character in the 18th century, Johnson is possibly most known for compiling the first ever modern dictionary.
He’s also noted as England’s second most quoted man, and I’m sure you’ll know him from ‘when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’. There’s much, much more to this elusive man, so, to find out more, why not pop round to his house and pay a visit to his home in Gough Square and sit right at the very centre of modern literacy!
You can even pop in after hours for a glass of something sparkling and take it all in, or join one of their many events and talks.
Dr Johnson's House
The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
Ever wondered why your pens and pencils are called ‘stationery’? Well, it’s not because they stay still. Introducing The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers… One of the City’s historic livery companies, the Stationers Company is the home of media, print and communications.
When print first expanded across the UK, sellers would have to register their printed pieces at the Stationers, and thus they became the bearers of copyright in the UK.
As print material would also have to go through the Stationers, newspaper sellers would then ‘station’ themselves outside of St Paul’s and the surrounding area to sell their wares, and thus the term stationary originated.
You can visit Stationers Hall, which is just around the corner from St Paul’s. They host guided tours, and you can also visit their archive which includes the first record in print of Shakespeare.
Stationers Hall © SusannahFields
St Giles Book Fair
Fancy indulging your hobby of buying books in a place like no other? Introducing the St Giles Book Fair. This book fair is an iconic experience for anyone to check out, and only happens four times per year over the course of a week.
St Giles Cripplegate Church gets taken over with used books for a bargain, and you’ll find boxes and boxes of books in a beautiful setting. You can grab some real gems, explore old and new, and do something one-of-a-kind. This is definitely our top tip for any book lovers in the Square Mile.
St Giles Cripplegate Book Fair
The Best Book Shops
Buying books and reading books are two totally different hobbies, so let’s indulge in a bit of both with these gems to go digging for your next read (we won’t judge if it sits on the shelf for years).
Daunt
Daunt Books is arguably THE best spot in the Square Mile to go book shopping. The Daunt tote bags are a staple of London’s fashion scene, and the shops themselves are the best place to get lost for a while.
Their City location on Cheapside has two floors of books with topics spanning from new fiction to local City specifics. If it's remotely popular, chances are Daunt will be able to get you it. We headed to Daunt ourselves, and you can check out our visit over on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
Leadenhall Market
Okay, so this one is a Waterstones, sure, but it’s right in the middle of one of the best locations, Leadenhall Market!
Chances are you may be popping by here, so having a venture in and browsing is always a great way to explore, experience the vibe of an area, and take something home from one of London’s most iconic spots.
Leadenhall Market.
Barbican
The Barbican is known for many, many things, but maybe its bookshop doesn’t at first come to mind. Well, that should change. Although a bit more specialist than your usual, the Barbican stocks a fantastic range of cultural and architectural books that are well worth a browse, plus, who needs an excuse to visit the area and have a wander?
Photo Credit: Max Colson
Reading Spots
Now this is where the City comes to shine. We all know the Square Mile combines centuries of history with modern glistening skyscrapers, and that makes for some of the best spots to grab a coffee and sit down with a book. The list is endless for this, but we’ve rounded up a few to get you started.
St Paul’s reflecting pool
The worst-kept secret around, St Paul’s reflecting pool is a sight to behold. Just behind One New Change, this gorgeous spot features a calming pool which reflects the image of St Paul's within its bounds, a perfect quiet spot in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
St Paul's Reflecting Pool
Barbican
One of the best! Not only is the Barbican a great spot when the sunshine is out, but you can also head inside and use their cafe/library areas to chill out, nestle into a spot and get stuck in.
Photo Credit: Max Colson
Love Lane
Read next to Shakespeare himself in Love Lane. This quaint spot just off of Guildhall offers cherry blossom surrounded by the Guildhall complex and a bust of Shakespeare himself, dedicated to the Editors of Shakespeare’s first folio.
Love Lane
St Paul’s Garden
Harking back to our Stationers history, the actual garden of St Paul’s is our personal favourite place to read. You’ll be just in front of one of the nation’s most iconic buildings while sitting right where the history printing began in the UK.
St Paul's Churchyard, corner of Paternoster Row © City of London Corporation
Postman’s Park
Famous the City over, if you know you know. This green spot is calm, surrounded by historic architecture, and has an abundance of benches so you can get comfortable while you read.
Host Café
Another indoor option, and this one is truly special. Host is a working cafe inside an active church, offering you pews to take a seat in and enjoy a hot drink. We've certainly spent a few lunchtimes reading in Host, and it’s certainly the go-to on a rainy day.
Host Cafe
St Dunstan in the East
This one is certainly no secret, but is worth a spot on this list for its beauty alone. It’s a frequent spot for any City goer when you need a quick breath of fresh air and a moment of calm in a busy area, but with benches around the bombed-out church, it offers a great spot for some people watching and page turning.
If you’re after some more Green Spaces, have a read through our full green space guide within the City of London.
No doubt we’ll have missed some of your favourite nooks to get reading in, with so many to choose from that are full of literary history, we always recommend getting out there, exploring, and discovering the area for yourself! Happy reading.