Browse old books and first editions in Cecil Court
- London, United Kingdom
- Posted on
About this tip
Cecil Court is a short pedestrian lane between Charing Cross Road and St Martin's Lane, lined with Victorian shopfronts and around twenty independent antiquarian and second-hand shops. Look for first editions, children's classics, maps, prints and occult books. It was nicknamed Flicker Alley when early film companies worked here, and a plaque marks Mozart's stay. Opening days vary by shop, so check before you go.
Where
Browse old books and first editions in Cecil CourtCecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new tab)More Tips & Traps in London
24 posts from Local Friends and travelers who know the city.
TipSleepSleep in the Gothic Midland Grand at St Pancras
London, United KingdomThe hotel at St Pancras station is the former Midland Grand Hotel, a High Victorian Gothic landmark designed by George Gilbert Scott that opened in 1873. It closed in 1935, was restored and reopened in 2011, and a further renovation was completed in 2025, so you sleep inside a railway palace that has been brought back…
TipSleepStay in Bloomsbury for walkable museums and rail links
London, United KingdomBloomsbury sits in the middle of the West End, next to Covent Garden and Soho, so you can walk to the British Museum and the theatres from a quiet street with leafy garden squares. It has hostels, B&Bs and mid-range hotels, with many budget options near King's Cross St Pancras. Euston, King's Cross and St Pancras…
TipEventsLord Mayor's Show: free pageant in the City each November
London, United KingdomThe Lord Mayor's Show is a free street procession through the City of London on the second Saturday of November, starting around 11am from Mansion House. Many roads close for most of the day and cars and buses cannot enter the City, so arrive by Tube, train or river bus. The route passes St Paul's and reaches the…
TipMusic & NightlifeGigs inside a Gothic chapel at Union Chapel
London, United KingdomUnion Chapel in Islington is a working church and a live music venue, hosting around 250 concerts and events a year inside a Grade I listed Gothic Revival building from the 1870s. Its Victorian organ and rose window make it a memorable setting for a gig. Check the What's On page, book ahead for popular nights and…
TipEventsOpen House Festival: free doors across London in September
London, United KingdomEvery September the Open House Festival opens hundreds of buildings across all 33 boroughs, with free access to many places that are normally closed to the public. Ticketed activities need a free account on the festival website, and popular ones book out, so register when bookings open in mid August. Dates change each…
TipMusic & NightlifeLate Late Show at Upstairs at Ronnie's
London, United KingdomRonnie Scott's, the famous Soho jazz club on Frith Street, reopened its first-floor room in February 2026 as Upstairs at Ronnie's, a 140-capacity venue for jazz, soul, gospel and more. It runs its own Late Late Show with grassroots artists and a range of ticket prices. Check the programme on the club's website before…
TipShopColumbia Road Flower Market: go early on Sunday
London, United KingdomColumbia Road in the East End turns into a flower and plant market every Sunday, with stalls in front of small independent shops, galleries and cafes. The official advice is to come early for the best plants, and Time Out notes that the market winds down toward the end of the day, when traders may cut prices. The…
TipPhotography & ViewsKing Henry's Mound and the keyhole view of St Paul's
London, United KingdomIn the Pembroke Lodge gardens of Richmond Park, King Henry's Mound has a protected sightline to the dome of St Paul's Cathedral, framed by trees more than ten miles away. Planning rules keep the view clear, and the mound also looks west over the Thames Valley. Go on a clear morning so the distant dome stands out, and…
Know London well?
Share a tip, or warn travelers about a trap. It only takes a few minutes.