Stanfords

Stanfords on Mercer Walk in Covent Garden is the world's oldest specialist travel bookshop, and it's exactly as good as its reputation suggests. The shop stocks an extraordinary range of maps, guidebooks, travel writing and exploration-themed gifts, making it a genuinely unique destination in London.

For children who are into geography, history, or travel, Stanfords is a treasure. You can find maps of anywhere on earth, globes at various price points, illustrated travel books and guides to countries most bookshops don't cover. The shop has a sense of exploration built into its design that fires up the imagination in a way that few retail spaces manage.

With a 4.7-star rating, Stanfords has maintained its position as an essential London institution across multiple moves and reconfigurations. The current Mercer Walk location near the Seven Dials area of Covent Garden is well designed and comfortable to browse, with knowledgeable staff who genuinely know the geographical and travel world.

For families planning holidays or gap years, for children obsessed with other countries, for teens thinking about the world beyond their postcode — Stanfords provides a kind of lateral thinking fuel that you won't find in a standard bookshop. It's also an excellent source of unusual and personal gifts for adventurous children.