Independent bookshops fill the gaps left by high street chains, stocking thoughtful and idiosyncratic choices of books rather than market-driven selections. They sustain local interests and offer different ways for communities to participate in a range of cultural activities. They are crucial platforms for alternative publishing. 

The last issue of the London Bookshop Map featured new work by poet Holly Pester. Remaining free copies may still be available at one of the participating bookshops! Join our mailing list to find out when the seventh issue will be published.

Find your nearest bookshop on this website, or by downloading our free iPhone app. [Stop press: Currently awaiting update!] The app shows users the nearest independent bookshop to their current location in London, and allows them to search for specialisms including art, children’s, secondhand and many more.

The app also features a commission by artist Dora García. Choose to generate a story and it will be added to her ongoing project Twenty-three million, five hundred and eighty-six thousand, four hundred and ninety stories (2013–ongoing).

You can now also produce stories online here, twentythreemillionstories.org

You can view stories created by the project here, http://twentythreemillionstories.tumblr.com 

The London Bookshop Map was founded in 2011 to promote independent bookshops and to commission and distribute new work by artists and writers. The map is printed annually and previous print issues have featured David Batchelor (2011), Katrina Palmer (2012), Hannah Rickards (2012) Dora García (2013), Camilla Wills (2014–15) and Holly Pester (2016).

Some press articles about the map are here.

-----

Founding and Commissioning Editor: Louise O’Hare

Managing Editor: Jay Drinkall

Art Direction/Design: Ray O’Meara (The Office of Optimism) and Luke Gould

Creative technologist: Henry Cooke 

Website: The Fantastic Mr Franks

Treasurer: Gavin Everall

Special thanks to Sarah Auld, Louisa Bailey and Luminous Books, David Batchelor, Book Works and Eastside Projects, Jonathan Bryan, Henry Cooke, Dora García, Simon Goode, Kit Hammonds, Mat Jenner, James Langdon, Andrew Lewis, the London Centre for Book Arts, LUX, Poppy Moroney, Katrina Palmer, Holly Pester, Kate Phillimore, George Polke, Carrie Rees and all at Rees & Company, Hannah Rickards, Jane Rolo, Paul Sammut, Camilla Wills, Caroline Woodley and Ira Yonemura.

The iPhone app and commission by Dora García was funded by the Elephant Trust. The printed map is funded by donations from participating bookshops.

We wholeheartedly support the boycott of Amazon. Learn more here.