London’s Daunt Books Is The Most Popular Bookshop In The World
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6 hours ago
A new study has whittled down 100 of the world’s most recognisable bookshops and libraries to the ultimate top 12 – with a London venue taking the top spot
Hidden at the base of a towering redbrick townhouse, the original Daunt Books is hidden in Marylebone, a haven for bibliophiles and one of London’s most popular bookshops. With venues across the city now, Daunt Books was originally masterminded as a bookshop for travel lovers, tomes fictional and non-fictional arranged by country rather than genre – and this first branch retains that unique organisation, the shop itself emanating an aura of intrepid exploration.
To say Daunt Books is beloved is an understatement, and a new study has revealed it’s not just Londoners’ favourite venue, but the world’s most popular bookshop. To come to this conclusion, language learning experts Preply took the top 100 rated bookshops and libraries in the world and ranked them, distilling the top 12 based on Tripadvisor and Google Reviews to reach the final score. Daunt Books takes the top spot; here’s the rest of the list.
Top 12 Most Popular Bookshops In The World
- Daunt Books – London, UK
- El Ateneo Grand Splendid – Buenos Aires, Argentina
- State Library Victoria – Melbourne, Australia
- Bookstore Dominicanen – Maastricht, Netherlands
- The Last Bookstore – LA, USA
- Starfield Library – Seoul, South Korea
- Shakespeare and Company – Paris, France
- Tsutaya Books – Tokyo, Japan
- Trinity College Library – Dublin, Ireland
- Libreria Acqua Alta – Venice, Italy
- Klementinum – Prague, Czech Republic
- Livraria Lello – Porto, Portugal
To tick all 12 of these bookshops off your bucketlist, a global adventure is on the cards: venues stretch from London to Seoul, Paris to Melbourne. The most represented continent is Europe, with more than half of the entries hailing from here. However, while Shakespeare and Company is Europe’s most famous bookshop – perhaps even the world’s most famous bookshop – it enters the ranking in seventh place, beat out by two venues elsewhere in Europe (London’s Daunt Books and Maastricht’s Bookstore Dominicanen), as well as four venues from across the world.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires
Second place is taken by a South American venue – the only entry from that continent. This is El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a former theatre that dates back to 1919, which has been transformed into a bookshop. Open since 2000, the chairs have been replaced by rows and rows of bookshelves, while renovation work retained the theatre’s ornate balconies, richly frescoed ceiling and red velvet stage curtain, creating an opulent space full of drama. Think reading nooks hidden in former dressing rooms, and a stage transformed into a cafe so you can crack the spine of your new purchase under the spotlights.
In third place is the list’s first library, and one of the oldest libraries in Australia. Located in Melbourne, State Library Victoria is famous for its grand, old architecture and spectacular interiors, including an octagonal reading room topped by a huge dome spilling glorious natural light over the space.
State Library Victoria, Melbourne
Other honourable mentions in the list include the US’s only mention – LA’s The Last Bookstore, which scatters new and used books across a former bank, including the old vaults – as well as Dublin’s famous library at Trinity College. Spread across six buildings, this is Ireland’s largest library, with the oldest building dating back to 1712. Sally Rooney fans will recognise parts of the library from Normal People, with the book chronicling Marianne and Connell’s lives as students of the university.
Two venues in Asia also made the list: Seoul’s Starfield Library and Tokyo’s Tsutaya Books. The former is the most modern entry on the list, with its futuristic interiors mesmerising visitors as opposed to any antiquated charm. Home to more than 50,000 books, Starfield Library is a public space hidden in the centre of a mall, with a whole host of events taking place here, too. Tsutaya Books, meanwhile, is a three-building complex with ‘70s interiors and an unparalleled music library; think 120,000 albums with listening stations and a concierge to guide you to the right track. There’s also a book and magazine lounge complete with a bar and food menu, as well as a full service restaurant and outdoor terrace.
