Latest reviews for Arts & Culture in Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom

The Dover Bookshop - The Dover Bookshop by golem

golem — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:48:14 +0000

Review by golem

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7836 2111

This is probably the best visual arts and illustration bookshop in London. An amazing collection of visual material.This is probably the best visual arts and illustration bookshop in London. An amazing collection of visual material.

Lovejoys - Bargain Book Bonanza by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:15:53 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 1988

As a bargain book seeker I love this place. So what if its above a sex shop with a tawdry looking carpet. This is bookmans paradise ... stacks of remainder books and dvds at low prices. I always look here before I skim to HMV - the dvds are often cheaper - they stock a good selection of wild world cinema and offbeat classics. The manager has a good eye, the bookstock is nearly always interesting. Great place to pick up good books on all-round interesting topics. Always surprising.As a bargain book seeker I love this place. So what if its above a sex shop with a tawdry looking carpet. This is bookmans paradise ... stacks of remainder books and dvds at low prices. I always look here before I skim to HMV - the dvds are often cheaper - they stock a good selection of wild world cinema and offbeat classics. The manager has a good eye, the bookstock is nearly always interesting. Great place to pick up good books on all-round interesting topics. Always surprising.

Murder One - No Alibi for avoiding this bookshop by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:36:59 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 3483

With its own distinctive logo Murder One is the numero uno Crime bookshop in Britain. Over the years it's mushroomed into an out-of-control two shopper with new and secondhand books practically spilling into the aisles. They stock all kinds of Murder fiction related magazines. The second hand section is gob-smacking with all kinds of forgotten good reads there. Set up by fans, heavy readers of mysteries and all things literary this isn't a mere cash-in - even though prices can be murder. Its for swimmers in the secret sea of crime fiction. Murder Ones founder and main man, Maxim Jakubowski aka Jabbo the Hut may have a part Elizabethan hairstyle and a prim taste in clothes but this guy has forgotten more about pulp literature than most folks will ever know. Murder One is this Bibliophiles fat and growing baby and if you want Crime. Detective fiction or its mutant offshoots then this specialist shop is just for you.With its own distinctive logo Murder One is the numero uno Crime bookshop in Britain. Over the years it's mushroomed into an out-of-control two shopper with new and secondhand books practically spilling into the aisles. They stock all kinds of Murder fiction related magazines. The second hand section is gob-smacking with all kinds of forgotten good reads there. Set up by fans, heavy readers of mysteries and all things literary this isn't a mere cash-in - even though prices can be murder. Its for swimmers in the secret sea of crime fiction. Murder Ones founder and main man, Maxim Jakubowski aka Jabbo the Hut may have a part Elizabethan hairstyle and a prim taste in clothes but this guy has forgotten more about pulp literature than most folks will ever know. Murder One is this Bibliophiles fat and growing baby and if you want Crime. Detective fiction or its mutant offshoots then this specialist shop is just for you.

Watkins Books - Esoteric. New Age, Magic, Occult and Fringe by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:27:57 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7836 2182

This used to be a two store now its down to one. It's been going since the twenties. There are even connections to Aleister Crowley. They have books on every aspect of esoteric knowledge plus books on Yoga, mediation and internal martial arts. If you can't find something ask the staff they're happy to order it. There's a large secondhand section downstairs - plus shelves and shelves of books all divided into easy to rifle through subjects. At the bottom of the stairs is the rare books cabinet. Check out the prices. Woo-Hoo. There's moolah in this magic stuff. Look out for the Swami in the corner - he's nearly always busy, reading someones past & future.This used to be a two store now its down to one. It's been going since the twenties. There are even connections to Aleister Crowley. They have books on every aspect of esoteric knowledge plus books on Yoga, mediation and internal martial arts. If you can't find something ask the staff they're happy to order it. There's a large secondhand section downstairs - plus shelves and shelves of books all divided into easy to rifle through subjects. At the bottom of the stairs is the rare books cabinet. Check out the prices. Woo-Hoo. There's moolah in this magic stuff. Look out for the Swami in the corner - he's nearly always busy, reading someones past & future.

Henry Pordes Books - tasty Selection by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:23:21 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 9031

They keep the rare books near the checkout and other second hand books in the first space as you walk into the shop. Of more interest is the room next door with an amazingly good selection of new coffee table and reference books. Theres always some fabulous stuff here, mouthwatering books at incredible prices. The manager/owner has a good eye for whats cool and interesting. Kind of what separates a good bookshop from a run-of-the-mill books for cash place.They keep the rare books near the checkout and other second hand books in the first space as you walk into the shop. Of more interest is the room next door with an amazingly good selection of new coffee table and reference books. Theres always some fabulous stuff here, mouthwatering books at incredible prices. The manager/owner has a good eye for whats cool and interesting. Kind of what separates a good bookshop from a run-of-the-mill books for cash place.

Any Amount of Books - Bibliophiles Heaven by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:14:33 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 3697

During the Golden age of Charing Cross Road this was a two shop franchise that sucked in torrents of great books. Filling its shelves with prime book meat. Now its a one shop store and its still pretty good, depending on whats arrived that week - bargains in the basement - and assorted others upstairs - and fun things in the window. Great old style secondhand bookshop that can be a musty treasure trove.During the Golden age of Charing Cross Road this was a two shop franchise that sucked in torrents of great books. Filling its shelves with prime book meat. Now its a one shop store and its still pretty good, depending on whats arrived that week - bargains in the basement - and assorted others upstairs - and fun things in the window. Great old style secondhand bookshop that can be a musty treasure trove.

National Portrait Gallery - National Portrait Gallery by PinkPink

PinkPink — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:31:29 +0000

Review by PinkPink

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7306 0055

Website: http://www.npg.org.uk

Tags: paintings, photographic exhibition, modern art

I really, really loved this gallery. It is pretty easy to find and inside houses many, many magnificent paintings. You can find paintings of contemporary celebrities such as Judi Dench and JK Rowling. The entry fee is free and there is so much to see that it is worth the travel money to get there. Apart from paintings, they also have areas of the gallery devoted to stunning photographs.

Last time I went, there was a Vanity Fair Exhibition, I did want to see this, as it had been quite publicised and the photographs looked beautiful, but the entry fee was over Â£8!I really, really loved this gallery. It is pretty easy to find and inside houses many, many magnificent paintings. You can find paintings of contemporary celebrities such as Judi Dench and JK Rowling. The entry fee is free and there is so much to see that it is worth the travel money to get there. Apart from paintings, they also have areas of the gallery devoted to stunning photographs.

Last time I went, there was a Vanity Fair Exhibition, I did want to see this, as it had been quite publicised and the photographs looked beautiful, but the entry fee was over Â£8!