Zine Store Hunting: London

Samuel Johnson famously said: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” Everything about London is told through its rich, remarkable culture. This time around, we are going to have a “WeChat browse” with all of you by going to some of the best photo book spots in London, whether it be in central, north, east, south, or west London.

Previously above a bookies offices on the capital’s traditional literary artery – London’s Charing Cross Road- Claire De Roune has always been held as a shrine to fashion and photography books since 2005. It moved shop a month ago to Charing Cross Road. With its many curiosities, Claire De Roune opened its paper arms to a wide range of photo publishers, from artist zines to rare, out-of-print, signed and collector editions sourced worldwide, and not readily available elsewhere. That is more than enough for its lovers to patiently wait for the one and a half months it will take for the re-opening! If you are planning on going to London, and are dedicated to photography, its a must visit.

Koenig is a German-weaned independent bookshop, specializing in photography, art, and architecture. It sells a diverse range of titles, from big-name publishers to independent and handmade zines. In London, Koenig Books has three branches: the original London branch is based in the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park; a small branch in the Whitechapel Gallery; and its newest store is on Charing Cross Road. All of the London branches of Koenig Books have full access to the stock located in the mammoth arts bookshop Buchhandlung Walther Koenig in Cologne. If you find what you want offline, they can order it to London for you!

KK Outlet is a gallery and bookstore of KesselsKramer, the Dutch creative agency. Located on Hoxton Squarem, KK Oulet is a multifunctional space, which stocks photography books along with hand-picked titles. It also hosts monthly exhibitions featuring the best visual creatives, mostly covering fashion and photography content. KK Outlet also sells books and magazines published by KesselsKramer Publishing which express their personal passions, whether that passion is a collection of found photographs, short stories, or a celebration of unusual artworks.

Part photo bookstore, part visual gallery, and part spiritual food. Know for its deep love for photography and camera, The Photographers’ Gallery was founded in London in 1971 as the first public gallery in the UK devoted solely to photography. Over the years, it became one of London’s best-loved destinations for all photography lovers. When you walk in, you are immediately lost in this heaven with many rare and limited editions, unusual camera equipment, analogue film, and a wide range of magazines. It holds regular events including publication launches, signings, talks, and workshops. To support people who are talented at photography, The Photographers’ Gallery also set up a program – Deutsche Börse Photography Prize, which annually rewards a photographer who has made the most significant contribution to the photographic medium in Europe during the past year. Make sure to pay a visit there and be transported to a wonderland with photography addicts.

Housing one of the most extensive portrait collections in the world, this dedicated bookshop at the National Portrait Gallery presents audiences with some of the world’s most notable everyday faces. As its name states, the specialist subject areas of the shop are portraiture. The shop hosts regular signing events and book launches, as well as the gallery’s exhibition catalogues and a modest selection of out-of-print titles.

Venture out into those London photo bookstores and hunt for treasure. Enjoy!