Classic British Shops

Singular shops, makers and British institutions worth travelling for. Unique gifts for others, and perfect gifts to yourself.

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Stanfords

The map shop explorers used, selling charts, guides and globes since 1853.

Books & paperTrading before 1900

Photo by Mr Biz, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Also in Literary London.

Edward Stanford started in 1853 and the shop supplied Livingstone, Scott, Shackleton and Florence Nightingale; the Ordnance Survey and the Admiralty charts are still stocked alongside the guidebooks. It moved a few doors to Mercer Walk in 2019 after 118 years on Long Acre.

The map floor is the reason to come - large-scale sheets for almost anywhere, and the staff can find the one you need.

Where
7 Mercer Walk, WC2H 9FA
Nearest station
Covent Garden · 1 min walk

Hours

Monday09:00 – 19:00
Tuesday09:00 – 19:00
Wednesday09:00 – 19:00
Thursday09:00 – 19:00
Friday09:00 – 19:00
Saturday10:00 – 19:00
Sunday12:00 – 18:00

Hours from the page that lists them, checked 11 September 2026.

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Data is compiled from public sources including OpenStreetMap, under the ODbL. Hours change often, so check before making a journey.

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