6 Must-visit Indie Bookshops in East London

East London has no shortage of independent bookshops, and the best of them do far more than sell books. They host events, champion small presses and offer recommendations you simply won’t get from an algorithm. If you’re local, popping in is the easiest way to keep them going. If you’re visiting, the six shops below are close enough together to cover in a day, ideally with a market stop and a coffee along the way. ## Pages of Hackney, Lower Clapton The smallest shop on this list, and all the better for it. Pages of Hackney sits behind a distinctive blue frontage in Lower Clapton and carries a carefully chosen selection, with a large staff recommendation shelf that’s worth a browse in itself. When you’re done, Lele’s and The Black Cat are both nearby for a break and a vegan lunch. ## Broadway Bookshop, Broadway Market Broadway Market is at its best on Saturdays, when the street market fills the road. The bookshop here pairs neatly with it: a market and a bookshop in one trip is hard to beat. The staircase is narrow and can get crowded, but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. Look out for a solid classics section, plus wrapping paper and postcards. A few doors down, Pavilion bakery turns out excellent sourdough loaves. ## Burley Fisher Books, Kingsland Road There’s a pleasant canal walk between Broadway Market and Burley Fisher Books, which makes the journey part of the outing. The shop specialises in small press books and feels bright and open, with a selection that rewards a proper look and staff who are genuinely helpful. There’s now a small café on site too. ## Brick Lane Bookshop, Brick Lane Brick Lane Bookshop is a good reminder that independent shops can order in almost any title they don’t have in stock, so it’s always worth asking. It can get busy, particularly when the market is on, but the display tables are well put together, there’s a dedicated section on East London and a good range of bookish totes and mugs. ## Libreria, Shoreditch Just off Brick Lane, Libreria is instantly recognisable for its yellow interior. The shop is beautifully arranged and organises its books into specific, often unusual collections rather than splitting everything into fiction and non-fiction. There’s also a small nook devoted to children’s books and graphic novels. ## The Common Press, Shoreditch The Common Press is a newer addition to Shoreditch, stocking around 1,500 queer books and titles about QTIPOC experiences. It’s well worth adding to the route. One note of caution: All You Read Is Love, which once featured on a bookshop tour of the area, has since closed. It’s a useful reminder to support local independents when you can, so the rest of them stick around.