Continuing our amble round London’s independent bookshops
(Edit: when we first visited Brick Lane Books it was called Eastside Books.)
Finally, finally, we get to a bookshop in East London. And what a bookshop for anyone who’s interested in London! (We guess that since you’re a gorgeous Londonist reader, this might include you.) Brick Lane Bookshop began in 1979 as part of the Tower Hamlets Arts Project, which worked all kinds of wonders with the local community. A couple of years ago the shop became independent of the charity and, in 2005, moved to Brick Lane where it continues to forge incredibly strong links with the area.
They’re involved in the Tower Hamlets Book Award, where the winner is chosen by kids themselves; they hold events with (it seems like) every author who’s ever written anything to do with East London; have published their own books; and run creative writing groups, reading groups and children’s storytimes on Fridays.
And that London section? Absolutely heaving with all sorts of interesting books on the city and the East in particular (without being overburdened with Jack the Ripper stuff, which you might expect of a less intelligent outfit). Then there’s the huge array of philosophy and criticism – those shelves must have TARDIS-like qualities to fit into one wee bookshop. In short, we love this place. Don’t wait for the ELL to open, go now.
Brick Lane Bookshop, 166 Brick Lane E1. Map after the jump, images author’s own. Know a good bookshop? Email us at londonist (@) gmail.com.
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