Wondrous Places: A Guide to Occult Bookshops in London – With Halloween just around the corner, those who are curious about the spiritual world but want to avoid an imported American style commercial Halloween are in for a treat, as London is home to some of the best Occult bookshops in the country selling everything from spell books to tarot cards.
Here gothic novelist Louise Davidson and author of The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond shares her favourite London bookshops.
Wondrous Places: A Guide to Occult Bookshops in London
With over a hundred independent bookshops and any number of branch sites found in London, the capital can easily be called a bibliophile’s paradise! But what if you want to step off the beaten path and explore a different type of purveyor? For those of you with a hunger for the supernatural or a preference for the eerie or unexplained, we have five of the best Occult bookshops to satisfy your spooky cravings…
Treadwell’s Books
First up, Treadwell’s. With a range of different titles on various subjects, if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, they would find it for you. But Treadwell’s offers more than just a stunning collection of books. They also host special events, tarot readings, lectures and online lectures, tickets for which can be purchased on their website. They also stock a range of tarot cards for those who are looking to start (or add to) their collection of decks. You can find Treadwell’s in Store Street, just a few minutes’ walk from Goodge Street Station.
Speciality: Books on a variety of different esoteric subjects from 19th Century Spiritualism to connecting with nature to source your power.
Treadwell’s Bookshop, 33 Store Street, London, WC1E 7BS
The Atlantis Bookshop
Located near to the British Museum, The Atlantis Bookshop was established 100 years ago in 1922 and is London’s oldest occult book shop, with Aleister Crowley, W.B. Yeats and Gerald Gardner all once being regular customers. These days it is a welcoming, cosy place run by a mother/daughter team where you can get everything from crystals to cauldrons. They also host events and give tarot readings by appointment as well as providing venue and prop hires. Not sure what you’re looking for or what something is? Feel free to ask – the owners are friendly, knowledgeable and happy to help.
Speciality: Magic ware such as mirrors, statues, herbs and candles – ethically sourced and constantly changing so you never know what you will find!
The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY
Watkins Books
You can find Watkins Books in the famous Cecil Square in the centre of London. The area is well-known as a hub for booksellers and Watkins Books is well worth the trip. Like the Atlantis Bookshop, Watkins has been in operation for over 100 years and has two whole floors dedicated to the esoteric, fantastical, and mystical. Watkins’ book collection is quite staggering so no matter what you’re looking for – they will either have it or find it for you. They have a whole wall dedicated to different tarot decks and offer both online and in-person readings as well as regular events and subscriptions to their newsletter.
Speciality: Tarot decks – there is a full wall with every kind you could imagine, including some literary-themed ones…
19 – 21 Cecil Court, London, WC2N 4EZ
The Astrology Shop
Head to the edge of the colourful, cosmopolitan Seven Dials and you’ll find The Astrology Shop – a favourite amongst London’s tourists. As the name suggests, the focus of this establishment is on Astrology so if you want to know the secrets of your sign or how to fortify yourself against Mercury in Retrograde, do stop by. You can order astrological charts, browse their selection of over 1000 titles on Astrology, as well as explore palmistry, pendulums and birthstone pendants. The Astrology Shop also offers a wide range of tarot cards, crystals and other exciting offerings so feel free to browse in order to get the full experience before making your purchase.
Speciality: Astrological charts and crystals to manifest, balance and maintain energy.
78 Neal Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9PA
Waterstones
OK so this one is a bit of a stretch but you would still be amazed at how many fantastic titles you can get at your local branch of Waterstones – they even sell tarot cards! A search of the Waterstones website boasts A Natural History of Ghosts by Roger Clarke, Meeting the Other Crowd by Eddie Lenihan and A History of the Vampire in Popular Culture by Violet Fenn. With branches across London and the UK – you’ll always have a place to find the best scary titles…
Speciality: Critical reading and historical information on esoteric subjects from vampires to witches to crystals to tarot.
A dark and twisting gothic mystery, The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond is a haunting coming of age debut exploring the supernatural world of tarot and fortune telling alongside the lot of women in Victorian England.
Louise Davidson’s debut novel The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond is published in Hardback on 26th October, just in time for Halloween. Available from all good bookshops at £18.99 – get it while stocks last.
Lilly Light