Waterstone's

Artemidor

Great place 4th September 2008

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I love this place. The bookstore is absolutely full of books, well ordered and presented in an attractive way. There are cosy sofas in which you can relax with your stack of books and peruse them at leisure. The coffee is not so good (that is my only complaint) and, in fact, it is very expensive. But if you like the smell, you can seat near and profit for it.

It has also customer toilets (very handy after a long day of shopping). Many people use to read there the magazines without purchasing them: that is an option, if you are squint. Great bookstore.

deadleg21

planky 22nd August 2008

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Waterstones has becmoe the place to buy your books, after buying out the competition. They offer very competative prices, even against internet websites, and usually have a great selection of offers available.
I often pop into the waterstones at Piccadilly when visiting london to pick up somthing for the train/car journey home and always find somthinng that grabs my attention. The flooring in this particular store is questionable but funky. the chairs are very comfortable and shouldn't be tested with a good book if you don't have time on your hands!
However be wary, waterstones are known to pressure authors/publishers for deals which does have a negative effect on the market, pushing small companies down.

Frankie

All very ship shape 4th June 2007

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As Waterstone's says on their website:

"Now Europe's largest bookshop, it was once home to the renowned department store Simpson's...the inspiration for the much-loved television programme 'Are You Being Served'."

This is a very comfortable and spacious book shop that seems as though it was born to be a bookshop! I love the convenient chairs with big arms that have a flat top for your notebook and pen. Yes, if you're cheeky enough, you can sit and take notes from the books here (as long as you don't damage them) and no-one seems to mind. Well, you're just noting down the titles of books you want to buy!

A special aspect of the shop is the art deco fittings. The women's toilets are decorated with shiny black bakelite (well I'm guessing) and there is a porthole in the door. Ahoy there! yeah.

The marble stairs are so well worn on the pivotal spots that they have potholes in them.

And then, on the 5th floor is the 5th View Restaurant and Bar (reviewed separately on TP by lots of people) with a terrific view. Very classy place to meet someone.