E W Marchpane Ltd

E W Marchpane on Cecil Court in Charing Cross is a specialist dealer in rare and antiquarian children's books, and it's one of the most remarkable shops of its kind in London. Cecil Court itself — a pedestrian alleyway off Charing Cross Road — is known as the city's booksellers' row, and Marchpane is its most prestigious address for vintage children's literature.

The shop carries first editions, illustrated classics, and rare children's books spanning over a century of publishing history. For adults who love children's literature, it's an extraordinary place — a chance to hold an early edition of a book you grew up with or discover illustrated versions of classics that don't exist in modern print. For book-loving older children or teenagers, it offers a genuinely educational window into the history of children's publishing.

With a 4.7-star rating, the shop is respected by collectors and casual browsers alike. The staff are experts in their field and happy to engage with genuine enquiries about provenance, condition and value. It's the kind of specialist shop that requires a certain visitor — you need to be interested in books as objects, not just as texts.

Cecil Court is a short walk from Leicester Square tube station and makes for a fascinating cultural detour on a day in the West End. Even if you buy nothing, the experience of browsing a collection of rare children's books is unique.