Foyles is one of London’s great bookshop names. Its famous Charing Cross Road store is a landmark for readers, but there are also handy branches across the city, including Waterloo, the South Bank and Stratford. Whether you are looking for a new novel, a thoughtful gift, a children’s book or simply somewhere calm to browse, Foyles is always worth knowing about.

1. The flagship Foyles is on Charing Cross Road

The most famous branch is Foyles Charing Cross Road, 107 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0DT.

This is the classic Foyles experience. It is close to Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square, Soho and Covent Garden, so it is easy to include as part of a central London day out. With several floors of books, gifts and stationery, it is the kind of shop where a quick visit can easily turn into an hour of browsing.

2. It is brilliant for proper book browsing

Foyles is not just a place to grab a bestseller. The Charing Cross Road shop has a huge range of sections, from fiction, travel and history to science, education, art, music, cookery and children’s books.

It is especially good if you enjoy discovering something you were not looking for. You can wander from shelf to shelf, pick up recommendations, and leave with a book you would never have found online.

3. There are two useful Foyles branches near Waterloo

If you are on the South Bank, Foyles Royal Festival Hall is at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.

This branch is ideal if you are visiting the Southbank Centre, National Theatre, BFI, London Eye or taking a walk along the river.

There is also Foyles Waterloo inside Waterloo Station, London, SE1 8SW.

This is a handy stop for commuters, theatre-goers and anyone wanting to pick up a book before a train journey.

4. Foyles Stratford is useful for East London

Foyles Stratford is at 74–75 Lower Ground Floor, The Arcade, Westfield Stratford City, London, E20 1EH.

It is a good branch to visit if you are shopping at Westfield, meeting friends for food, or heading towards Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It gives you a quieter alternative to the bigger shops and is a useful place to find books, gifts and children’s reads.

5. It offers a calm break from busy London

One of the best things about Foyles is the feeling of stepping away from the noise of the city. London can be crowded and fast-moving, but a good bookshop gives you permission to slow down.

Foyles works well for tourists, families, students, commuters and anyone who still enjoys the simple pleasure of browsing real shelves. For the full experience, visit the Charing Cross Road flagship. For convenience, the Waterloo, Royal Festival Hall and Stratford branches are all worth keeping in mind.