There is a bit of a story behind the establishment now known to the locals as Clapham Books. This splendid store on Clapham High Street is a real labour of love, having been rescued from the depths of despair by the three current owners, Nikki, Ali and Ed.

Stocking a wide range of literary lovelies, from Jane Austen classics and flirtatious fiction through to the more serious coffee-table type tome, it’s a great place to potter around in search of your next read, as well as anything you might need to know on homes and horticulture through to travel and cooking. You’ll also find a whole host of local interest guides, published by the Clapham Society, as well as some gregarious greetings cards. The staff are all super helpful, highly knowledgeable and clearly very passionate about their trade.

Indeed the trio have made such a success of their venture that they recently opened a ‘small but perfectly stocked’ little sister to their Clapham shop down in Herne Hill. Both shops host a variety of engaging events all year round – have a peek at their website for more information.

Image courtesy of RachelH_ on Flickr