A captivating, family-run bookshop featuring tall bookshelves, weathered wooden floors, and expert staff providing carefully chosen literary gems since 1957.

Among the capital’s most distinguished and cherished bookshops, John Sandoe Books presents a considered and appealing collection of contemporary titles spanning the humanities, alongside a range of other services including seasonal catalogues, postal orders, subscription schemes, and even personal library curation.

John Sandoe established his modest Chelsea establishment in 1957 alongside Félicité Gwynne, sister of renowned culinary author Elizabeth David. The business has since expanded into the neighbouring premises, accommodating approximately 30,000 volumes. Literature fills every available space. A long-standing patron, reflecting on the shop’s formative years, observed that John Sandoe stocked “all the books one could ever hope to find in one place”.

John Sandoe Books is Chelsea Arts Festival’s Bookshop Partner.