Reviews of Archive Bookstore. (Shop) in London (London).

Archive Bookstore

106 Reviews

78 Comments

Shop

Book store

83 Bell St, London NW1 6TB, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Archive Bookstore, Shop in London (London)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of Archive Bookstore

Popular times

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Reviews of Archive Bookstore

G. W.

One of the coolest bookstores I have ever been inside. It remind me of those quaint archive areas in large library’s. Obscure titles, the smell of aging paper and authors that have disappeared into antiquity. A great place to spend hours on end. I left with 5 books, no doubt I will be back! The owner is quite accommodating as well.

S.

The only second-hand bookshop where you have to argue up the price! I heard a chap offered such a good price on a book that he said, "No, let me give you a couple of pounds more, it's worth it." Can be a bit hard to find things, but I've found gems there for a song, and both the chaps that work there know their stock really well.

E. B.

I think Tim D needs to rethink his priorities, and realize that the store is supposed to to be cramped -- that is part of its charm. I went in with a friend not long ago and was enchanted. It felt like discoveries were there for the taking -- something impossible in a modern, corporate shop. And then I realizesd that the beautiful piano music we were hearing was coming from downstairs -- a musician was riffing on Monk, on an old piano covered with books! Fantastic. Go to this store, patronize it, keep it going. It's a gem.

D. M.

Fabulous old school secondhand book shop, filled to the roof with lovely old books and printed music. Tim the owner is a proper gentleman and you can even have a tinkle on the piano downstairs if the mood takes you!

J. B.

A wonderfully eclectic bookstore. Filled to the rafters with books, a bibliophiles paradise where time and browsing will result in more finds. A vast selection of sheet music but I was taken with the Irish section - bijou, select and unexpected.

J. T.

A great discovery, can't believe I haven't been here before. Bought two Geoffrey Fletcher books I've been after for a while. Back soon...

j. b.

Situated on the somnambulant end of Bell Street under the shadow of the redundant Georgian Christ Church. An enduring offbeat presence smothered with a disarming disarray of books covering most genres, a large inventory of music manuscripts/scores and the rest. Potently inviting to book-lovers but also likely to appeal to the urban explorer with a keen-eye for the abstruse.

S. H.

Friendly owner and full of charm. Always has discounted books out in the front for people to take a look at. Piano downstairs to play if you're able!

R. J.

Great place great books great price and Jeff...A great person. Go there and get your gems for cheap and the hospitality of Jeff. Will go there again for sure.

r. L.

Any book or piece of sheet music that you need, you will probably find here. A total chaotic unorganised shop but boy!, what a shop!!!!. Browse away til your hearts content!.

B. A.

Exactly as secondhand bookshops should be… books in every corner right up to the ceiling, and a friendly helpful owner who guides you to exactly what you’re looking for. Stepped out with more than I thought I’d find. Thank you so much for being so wonderful!

A. O.

Fantastic second hand book shop, but maybe even more surprising is a basement full of sheet music and music related literature! A must visit for any musician, either instrumental or vocal.

A. B.

Amazing collection of second handed books! Even has a basement almost entirely dedicated to sheet music. From full scores for orchestral symphonies to chamber music in various settings to old vocal pieces. Everything is in pretty good condition especially for how old some of the books are. The book owner is really kind and helpful. I cannot recommend this place enough! One final note: you can pay by card, but visa only. The pin machine wouldn't accept maestro cards.

M. E.

Unfortunately, this specialist second hand book shop is only accessible to the fit and able. Books are in every available nook and cranny hundreds if not thousands of quality second hand books. Located in Bell Street, off the main drag and as a result not as well known as they deserve to be. An excellent selection of music manuscripts for all instruments. If music is your interest then The Archive Bookstore is well worth a visit. We do need to support independent independent book sellers such as Archive Bookstore, before it's too late.

M.

A charming old book shop with an equally charming gentleman running it.

R. M.

This bookstore is absolutely delightful. The owner is really nice and welcoming. We had the chance to go in a Friday afternoon and a pianist was playing jazz downstairs. We couldn't believe either our eyes, our ears, or our hearts. Thank you for this moment.

H. W.

Very nice atmosphere, the owner is very friendly and he is especially kind to students buying his books. There is a whole basement full of sheet music at very reasonable prices, including miniature orchestral scores, lots of opera and ballet scores as well as solo instrumental repertoire. I don't buy music from anywhere else!

M. Y.

Great spot to browse stunning range of books!

A. R.

Amazing selection of books. I for lots of unusual books for an art project I am sound. Very helpful owner and gave me a good deal. Will definitely return!

S. H.

Incredibly awesome (if small) used bookstore. Fantastic place. Books piled all over the place, in every nook and cranny. Huge amount of sheet music downstairs. The owner is the nicest person ever. I browsed through this bookstore with my wife and 2 kids. My youngest child (10 years) found a small, antique-looking book and asked me to buy it as an impulse buy. It wasn't expensive (under 8 pounds), but I said no because I knew we already had the book at home, and the value of the book was in its cool-looking cover and old age. I bought 4 used Tintin comics (2 pounds each), and we left the store. We were half a block down the road when the owner came running after us. In his hand was the book my child had picked up, and he insisted on gifting the book to my child. I've never had a shop owner run after me just to make a gift to me. What an effort! He really made my day. This man is a true book aficionado first, and a businessman second. Please support this bookstore, I wish there were many more like it.

T. B.

This is exactly what you want from a secondhand bookshop: eccentric, characterful, with books stacked in precariously towering piles around you, and barely enough room to move between high shelves filled with treasures and surprises. It's the sort of place which you pop into for a browse, but come out of with a bag of interesting books on subjects you never knew you were interested in. Have a chat with the owner and listen to his anecdotes from 40 years of bookselling in London. You don't get that from Amazon.

D.

It has a great collection of books and the shop owner is very friendly and knowledgeable. He suggested me plenty of interesting books

R. L.

Small place, almost no space to walk, books piled everywhere. People who love books, will love this place. The owner is really kind, one can see immediately that he loves books. I bought for two pounds a book that couldn't find anywhere else. it made my day. This place alone worths a trip to London

S.

A lovely bookshop with an extremely helpful owner. The shop has such charm: its dense network of shelves, its musty smell, its extraordinary music collection in the basement. Thoroughly recommend.

S. Y.

Lots of old music books. The owner is also a vet helpful person and assists in searching for the books and also suggests alternatives too. You save a lot of money from buying here as many books are in great condition

B. D.

Great bookstore with friendly staff. Didn't bat an eye when I told him I needed an old book for under 10 pounds. Highly recommended. Give yourself some time to dig as it is a bit unorganized.

R. P.

Brilliant. Basement full of books on serious music.

R. H.

I have recently come across a bookmark with your address. It was in a book bought at the store some 20 years ago... Since than I have never paid a visit and I was afraid you might have closed in the meantime, so I googled you. So relived to know that you very much exist! Will be visiting soon! Thanks

P. P.

The tightly packed shelves of books, both English and foreign language, the mix of new and old volumes, the narrowness of the space, and the friendliness of the owner make this one of my favourite London bookshops.

R. F.

Astonishing warren of sheet music. You'll have to hunt to find the gems but that's part of the fun! Very friendly and welcoming.

N. S.

"Bookstore" is an understatement. This is a fine book institution, with an owner who knows and understands books/literature. Unfortunately a dying breed.

J. C.

Very quirky and well stocked second hand book store. Some interesting artefacts to be found and good music collection downstairs also.

M. W.

Cute but cramped second hand bookstore. If you are looking for music scores then this place is great.

m. S.

This is one of the last genuine book shops left on planet earth. Makes books a joyful experience. Highly recommended!

D.

Great secondhand bookshop, lots of sheet music , friendly, interesting books.

E. H.

My favourite place in London. Great talks, a piano in the cellar and an excellent selection of books.

J. G.

Mans a legend, helped me get all the books I needed for my garden design course, excellent service.

S. K.

Packed to gunnels with books, this offers a huge selection of secondhand and vintage fiction and non fiction books. Run by the same owner for many years. Opens late.

C. S.

One of the old fashioned hidden bookshops.....for the true bookworm.. dusty and dark and wonderful..

M. J.

Lovely store and amazing owner A little scrambled but that just adds to the amazing character

D. B.

A real bookshop. Plus Tim the owner usually has tea or brandy on offer... What more could you want?!

R. N.

Dickensian second hand book store that stocks everything, helpful stuff on hand to advise & try find what you are looking for.

M. N.

Most interesting old music and bookstore, very friendly and helpful!

G. F.

It is my favourite place for burritos. Friendly staff and reasonable number of places to sit.

J. C.

My perfect type of bookstore full of gems you need to rummage for!

J. H.

Awesome bookstore. Jeff and Tim very helpful. Can't recommend enough

V. K.

A proper old bookshop. Lovely owner and very helpful.

V.

Really magic and authentic place. The owner is really helpful and for sure loves what he does!

C. V. L.

Lovely and quirky little bookshop, a must for book lovers

N. T.

Quirkily brilliant place. Helpful owner gave us tea and biscuits as we browsed.

J. C.

Lovely stock and helpful staff. We found exactly what we wanted

C. F.

Utterly wonderful place.

R. T.

A place where you can find gems of old music books

C. T.

A real Aladdin's cave of delights!

D. C.

If you love books, you will love Archive!

l. p.

Brilliant browsing and layers of inspiration

N. T.

As messy as an archive bookstore should be

J. W.

Great collection of sheet music

D. P.

Best place ever!

H. H.

Hi🙏

C. G.

Great place.

J. L.

Fabulous antiquarian bookshop with the book you always wanted hiding somewhere in the nooks and crannies.

J. I. I.

(Translated) The best sheet music and book store in London. What you are looking for there you will find, and even in original editions, all material will be provided by its owner who attends you in the best way, looks for you and explains what you want, with great kindness and warmth and above all with a lot knowledge. You can stay chatting about music and books, he is a great connoisseur of everything he has in there. And you cannot believe the amount of books on the ground floor and sheet music of what you order in the basement, it makes you want to spend a whole day looking at all the material. Old and used editions in perfect condition are the best. Great place!! (Original) La mejor tienda de partituras y libros de Londres. Lo que estés buscando ahí lo vas a encontrar, y hasta en ediciones originales, todo material te lo facilitará su dueño que te atiende de la mejor manera, te busca y explica lo que quieras, con una gran amabilidad y calidez y sobre todo con muchísimo conocimiento. Podés quedarte charlando de música y libros, es un gran conocedor de todo lo que tiene allí adentro. Y no se puede creer la cantidad de libros que hay en planta baja y partituras de lo que pidas en el sótano, te dan ganas de quedarte un día entero mirando todo el material. Ediciones viejas y usados en perfecto estado son lo mejor. Gran lugar!!

Y. L.

(Translated) The book is rich, and at the same time has a good atmosphere. There is an old piano in the basement, and some keys have their own sustain, but the sound is still very good. A bookstore that is now rare. (Original) 书类丰富，与此同时拥有好气氛。地下室有部旧钢琴，有些键已经自带延音了，但音色仍然很好。如今已经难得的书店。

A. H. T.

(Translated) German and English recession Nice old-school style bookstore in England, if you are there you should definitely stop by, the seller is very nice and has also given the best insider tips regarding the environment. Without these we would have been only half as good. A beautiful bookstore in old-school style. We are from Germany and we have spoke with the man in the store and he helped us so much and he also helped us to visit the city give us very good advices. God bless you for all your help. (Original) Deutsch und englische Rezession Schöner Buchladen in England im old-school style, wer mal da ist muss auf jeden Fall vorbeischauen, der Verkäufer ist sehr lieb und hat hab auch Umgebungstechnisch die besten insider Tipps gegeben. Ohne diese wären wir nur halb so gut unterwegs gewesen. A beautiful bookstore in old-school style. We are from Germany and we have spoke with the man in the store and he helped us so much and he also helped us to visit the city give us very good advices. God bless you for all your help.

Y. E.

(Translated) Place to get a book but more than that, place to get a really precious advices. Place you should go just to buy a book to read at a good coffee shop =) - This place deserves to be of unparalleled authenticity. I strongly advise it. (Original) Place to get a book but more than that, place to get a really precious advices. Place you should go just to buy a book to read at a good coffee shop =) - Cet endroit a le merite d'etre d'une authenticite sans pareil. Je le conseille fortement.

H. L.

(Translated) Nicer at first glance chaotic bookstore, but the seller knows exactly where to find which book. (Original) Schöner auf den ersten Blick chaotischer Buchladen, aber der Verkäufer weis genau wo welches Buch zu finden ist.

M. B.

(Translated) Magical place, from a storybook! 🙂 (Original) Posto magico, da libro di fiabe! 🙂

T. O.

G. S.

R. A.

A. S.

D. K.

j. l.

R.

J.

E. L.

G. F.

Contact

Photos