Foyles Bookstore, Charing Cross Rd

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Situated in Soho, the flagship store of Foyles is one of the best and biggest bookshops in London. Indeed, it is situated in this huge building that used to be, before 2012, Central Saint Martins school, my current university. A former art studio, the space is very clear and vast. The large atrium has a natural skylight, unlike other bookstores which often have a low ceiling and no natural light.

Originally, the Foyles flagship was situated in the building next door at 113-119 Charing Cross Road, since 1929. This new building is only a small shift from its historic place and it is still situated in a historical building, linked to art and design. It was indeed natural that they would move in the Central Saint Martins building, an art taking over another. They also have a great art book collection, to pay tribute to the place.

Now let's talk about the books; they offer any kind of books, from specialised poetry collections to the most famous children's books. As the Foyles' website says, they have "a range of over 200,000 different titles on four miles (6.5km) of shelves". They also have a wide range of gifts and stationery, perfect for gifts or to treat yourself. You can also find there CDs and DVDs, quite surprisingly as it is now more rare to find a place that sells those.

They also have a cafe, a perfect place to meet friends in a calm area in this busy neighborhood. You could also simply stay there to read after having bought books. The whole atmosphere of the place is amazing, so calm and peaceful, like a library but more chilled. They also apparently have an auditorium and a meeting room, to host events and venues.

#art
#books_writing
#charing_cross
#shopping
%wnlondon