World Book Day falls on Thursday (March 6) and will mark a day when many children, teachers and parents alike will don costumes in tribute to their favourite fictional characters.
If you fancy getting in the spirit of the day, then a bookish tour of some of south London’s best bookshops may be a great way to mark the occasion.
From a Brixton bookshop with a resident cat to a Catford bookshop championing diverse children’s books and authors – there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Here are our top picks:
Moon Lane Ink, Catford
300 Stanstead Road, Catford, SE23 1DE
Over in Catford, Moon Lane Ink is well known for its dedication to promoting diversity in children’s literature with a wide range of books from different voices.
The shop also hosts regular author events and features displays dedicated to events like Black History Month and World Mental Health Day.
The business specialises in books for younger readers, with a vibrant and colourful space to browse through its many unique titles that are sure to make every child feel seen and heard.
The Bookshop on the Heath, Blackheath
74 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, SE3 0BW
Located on the fringes of Blackheath Village, The Bookshop on the Heath is a treasure trove for rare, second-hand and vintage books.
You can either delve through the shop’s Aladdin’s cave of books for yourself or ask a member of staff for help to find an edition of one of your favourite classics.
Kirkdale Bookshop, Sydenham
272 Kirkdale, Sydenham, SE26 4RS
This Sydenham bookshop has been a part of the local area since 1966 and is famously believed to be south east London’s “oldest” independent bookshop.
This cosy and quirky shop is a unique mix between bookshop and gallery, where you’ll find an array of artwork to look through created by local artists.
Here you’ll find a wide mix of books in different genres from fiction to works of art, history and philosophy.
Bookmongers, Brixton
439 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LN
Known for its quirky look and resident cat, Brixton’s Bookmongers has been going strong for 30 years.
They stock both new and secondhand books ranging from graphic novels and poetry to LGBTQ+ titles.
Review Bookshop, Peckham
131 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15 4QY
Located in the bustling area of Peckham, this dog-friendly bookshop is an intimate and cosy space to search for books.
This bookshop is known for its curated selection of titles, ranging from children’s fiction to contemporary fiction – they even have a dog-themed reading list to pay tribute to the dogs they welcome in the shop.
Alongside shopping, Review Bookshop also hosts regular events like author signings and talks, and they take part in Peckham’s Literary Festival every year
Backstory Books, Balham
71 Balham High Road, Balham, SW12 9AP
Over in Balham, this second-hand bookshop and café space that also serves wine is a great place to hang out with friends
If you’re an extrovert, they also host their regular book club ‘Get The Backstory’ for £16, where you can discuss your latest read.
But it’s not just us who think they’re worth a visit, this popular bookshop is also in the running to win Independent Bookshop of the Year at the British Book Awards 2025, with the winners to be announced in May this year.
