Whether you’re looking to upgrade your desk space, want a notebook for doodling, are looking for new pencil cases to start the school year or need a diary to keep you organised then we’ve got the perfect shop for you.
There are some wonderful independent shops in London selling everything from pens and pencils to beautiful designed notebooks and hand marbled paper. These stores cater to all ages from the younger children who might prefer sparkles and colour to adults looking for anything from wrapping paper and greeting cards to new stationery or even wedding invitations.
So, if you are looking to start the new year afresh, are getting ready to go back to school or simply think that some brand spanking new fountain pens and new notebooks will help you be more productive then this list of the best stationery shops in London will help!
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The best stores in London for stationery lovers
Head this way for the best boutique stationery stores in the city.
Choosing Keeping
Located in Covent Garden is Choosing Keeping, one of the best London stationery shops in town. The store started life along Columbia Road in East London but for the last few years has been here in central London.
The store is jam packed with beautiful stationery that have been sourced from small, independent suppliers. The focus is on high quality and stock includes Japanese and Italian writing papers, gold nib fountain pens, Japanese pencils, hand-marbled papers and more. It’s a treasure trove of stationery delights and you’ll be hard pressed to leave empty handed.
Where: 21 Tower Street, WC2H 9NS. Nearest tube Covent Garden or Leicester Square
Muji
Muji is well known for its fun minimal products that range from homewares to fashion but what we really love this store for is its Japanese stationery. This is the place to come for everyday essentials for work and school from desktop organisers and storage to tape dispensers and notebooks. We are particularly fond of their gel ink pen sets that make great presents. They also do a good range of coloured pencils.
Where: Various locations around London, try the one at Tottenham Court Road; 6-17 Tottenham Court Rd, W1T 1BF
Cass Art
Serious artists and serious amateur artists should head straight for a Cass Art store. Created with the aim of making art accessible for all, no matter age or experience, this small chanin of shops have been described as “a sweet shop for artists”. Come here for easels and canvases or stock up on pastels and pencils. They really do have everything you need to get creative.
You’ll find Cass Art shops in six locations around London including Hampstead, Soho and the flagship store in Islington. If you can’t pop into a physical store then they also have a very good online shop.
Where: Their flagship store is in Islington; 66-67 Colebrooke Row, N1 8AB
London Graphic Centre
Located in Covent Garden is this one-stop shop for anything you might need to either get creative or simply organise your desk. It’s been a favourite with graphic designers, artists, architects, students and more ever since it first opened. A wide range of tools and materials are displayed over two floors.
Where: 16-18 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9JL
Tate Modern Store
Although not a dedicated stationery store, the shop at the Tate Modern deserves a mention because it stocks some beautiful stationery items. Among the many creative gifts that they sell are sketchbooks and washable felt pens, a mannequin hand and gel crayons.
They also sell some cool craft kits for kids such as make your own hand puppets. We’re particularly keen on the Modern Artists notebook. They also have a good online store.
Where: Tate Modern Bankside London SE1 9TG
Cowling and Wilcox
Cowling and Wilcox have four shops both throughout London and in Canterbury in Kent. They stock a huge arrange of high quality art supplies from brands including Faber-Castell, Winsor & Newton, Reeves and more. Come here for fine and graphic art materials or simply to stock up your craft cupboard at home.
Where: There are three shops in London in Shoreditch, Camberwell and Highbury. Check the website for addresses.
Paperchase
The Paperchase chain is always popular with kids looking for anything from diaries and notebooks to Christmas cards and fun gifts such as water bottles and backpacks. They also offer a 15% discount for university students.
Where: Multiple locations in London, check website for details
Smiggle
Probably the best stationery shop for young kids, especially those who love a lot of sparkle, is Smiggle. These stores selling brightly patterned backpacks, colourful lunchboxes and water bottles, all manner of themed notebooks (some with glitter, others that are furry), funky diaries, and much more. The shops are a riot of colour (no simple Scandi design here!) and great fun.
Where: There are various locations around London, check the website for details.
Stuart R. Stevenson
Stuart R. Stevenson is a family run, independent shop in Clerkenwell who, in 1994, was granted the Royal Warrant by Her Majesty the Queen. They have been selling artist tools, gilding, restoration, graphic, craft and stationery materials since 1980 and today stock a wide range of products from metal leaf and gilding brushes and tools to artists pigments, wax stamps and sealing wax and much more.
Where: 68 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5QA
Present & Correct
This independent stationery shop in east London sells all manner of very cool and very practical products “for the modern workspace”. Everything stocked here is inspired by homework, the post office and school and includes design-led desk accessories and cool weekly planners. The owners regularly go on sourcing trips around the world and so their stock includes stationery from 18+ countries including a 1971 spring stamp set from Bulgaria, stainless steel scissors crafted in Japan and two tone ballpoint pens from Sweden.
Where: 23 Arlington Way, London, EC1R 1UY
Marby & Elm
Located in Exmouth Market is Marby & Elm, a small but perfectly formed shop selling an ever-expanding range of stationery. Their speciality are cards and prints with witty slogans that are designed, printed and packaged in-house. They also sell candles, gift bags, calendars, pens and more. It’s a great one for teens or if you’re looking for a fun present for a friend.
Where: 53 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QL
Search & Rescue
One of the most stylish stationery shops in town is Search & Rescue, which not only sells beautiful notebooks, weekly planners and the perfect pens to go with them but also a varied and stylish range of homewares. As well as candles and ceramics they stock jewellery (including fun embroidered brooches), fragrances and small range of kids’ wall art too.
Where: 129 Stoke Newington Church Street, London, N16 0UH
Liberty
One of London’s most famous stores and favourite British brands is also home to some beautiful stationery. Located on the ground floor of the iconic shop, the stationery department sells diaries, notebooks, desk accessories, cards and paper for wrapping presents all with the company’s signature print. These make the perfect gift or souvenir from London.
Where: Regent St., Carnaby, London W1B 5AH
Labour and Wait
Located in an old Truman pub that was once called the Dolphin is the very stylish Labour and Wait. The store is not a dedicated stationery shop, they sell all manner of household goods and practical items from brooms and buckets to felt slippers and enamelware, all designed and built to last. However they also have a very cool stationery section with pencils, notebooks, exercise books, postcards and much more.
Where: The flagship store is at 85 Redchurch Street, London, E2 7DJ. They also have branches in Marylebone, Dover Street Market and Bethnal Green.
Skandium
If you’re after cool Scandi minimalism when organising your office space then Skandium is the place to come. Items don’t come cheap (£45 for the Nomad letter tray and £59 for a story pinboard by Muuto) but all pieces truly are beautiful.
Where: 14 Bacon St, London E1 6LF
Oh Squirrel
This online stationery shop is perfect for teens and is included in this list as they sometimes have pop-up shops! Visit the site for calendars featuring motivational words, fun prints and fun hand lettered cards as well as the wide range of cool stationery, paper goods and gifts. Some of their stock can be personalised. They also have a very good online store.
Mount Street Printers
For beautiful and bespoke stationery head for Mount Street Printers who are experts in producing fine and luxury stationery. This is the place to come if you’re looking for personalised writing paper, one-of-a-kind party invitations or even wedding invites.
Where: 4 Mount St, London W1K 3LW
Photo Credits Depositphotos.com
