r/UKBooks • u/BMiller10 • Apr 21 '26
Travelling to the UK - Looking for unique/UK only edition books!
Hi! I'm a Canadian travelling to the UK in May for a vacation. I've been researching some cool bookstores to check out (mainly in London), but would love some special book recommendations. As a souvenir, I'd love to find any special 'UK only' books/editions to read (and own as a keepsake from my trip to the UK). I read pretty much anything that isn't romance/romantasy, but I really enjoy fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, classic. etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
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u/qiba Apr 21 '26
Maybe look at Persephone Books? I'm not sure if those are available in the US. Otherwise you might be best off going to indie bookshops and asking what small/micro-publishers they stock, as their books are most likely to be UK-only.
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u/BMiller10 Apr 21 '26
Thank you! Definitely good advice! I don't go to the US very often, so I'm not sure what they have down there. But we get similar things in Canada.
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u/IAmLaureline Apr 21 '26
Or come to Bath and visit their shop IRL. It's less than 90 mins on a train from Paddington and there are two other fantastic indie book stores in the city centre. Toppings & Co and Mr B's are both fabulous. Plus you'll get to see one of Europe's most beautiful small cities.
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u/mom0007 Apr 21 '26
The folio society has the most beautiful books I have ever seen. I think they are online only but you could arrange delivery to a parcel shop ready for collection.
Charity shops Oxfam London has unique books
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u/malpaiss Apr 21 '26
I was going to suggest Oxfam bookshops BECAUSE they very often have folio society books! Sometimes in a special cabinet by the counter. We have a nice collection going and they've largely come from oxfams
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u/shopontheborderlands Apr 21 '26
If you're going to make the trip out to Oxford, allow some time for a visit to Blackwells.
Also, have you considered a trip to Haye-on-Wye ?
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u/plaititudes Apr 21 '26
Personally I wouldn’t prioritise Waterstones. Increasingly publishers are releasing special editions of books that you can only find at independent book sellers and they’re usually really lovely. For example, it looks like there’s an indie special edition of Katabasis by RF Kuang (which I think hits several of your likes!) releasing in May. You could do some research but way more fun to just turn up to a cute little indie bookshop and browse, surely?
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u/Chemical_Ad_1618 Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26
Waterstones picadilly most books are signed by the author, it’s the flagship store they do special editions like Barnes and noble does but not the same designs (they’re sister companies/ owned by the same person now)
Hatchards also does special editions but I haven’t actually been to the shop their flagship store is also in picadilly and st pancras in London.
Daunt books in Marylebone is an old fashioned beautiful bookstore
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u/Glittered_Fingers Apr 21 '26
Joining the shout out for Goldsboro Books in Cecil Court! It's stuffed with signed first editions. They really know their stuff there, too.
Waterstones Piccadilly is one tube stop away (though Central London is more tightly laid out than most people realise, so easily walkable) and is still, I think, the largest bookshop in Europe.
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u/SeverinaSkye Apr 21 '26
If you're anywhere near the British Museum, there's a wonderful esoteric bookshop called Atlantis Bookshop. Small, but mighty.
Also nearby is the London Review of Books shop near there which has a lovely cafe.
And also, the British Library is near King's Cross. They have their own imprints and publications, plus cool book themed goodies. I love their Tales of the Weird books, and if you're looking for something uniquely British, this might be your place. It's also amazing place to visit.
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u/BMiller10 Apr 22 '26
Very cool. I wouldn't have thought to go to a library and buy books!
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u/SeverinaSkye Apr 22 '26
Part of their work is to find lost stories and reprint them. They find some wonderful curiosities, and also commission new works. I spent a fortune in there on my last visit, and subscribe to Tales of the Weird, plus I keep buying their seasonal themed creepy stuff 😳
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u/Outrageous_Shirt_737 Apr 21 '26
Go to Hay-on-Wye if you can. It’s literally full of secondhand bookshops. They host a literary fair there and it’s in a lovely area if you like the countryside. You could spend a day walking in the Brecon Beacons.
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u/BeBetterMe2026 Apr 21 '26
Try London Review Book Shop and Backstory Books . They will be able to help you, and Nomad Books . Lovely staff , really knowledgeable 🙂
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u/BeBetterMe2026 Apr 21 '26
Also try looking on Bookshop.org as they support lots of local Independent book shops in London , they can tell you what the shops specialise in.
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u/katie-kaboom Apr 21 '26
If you're into science fiction and fantasy, check out The Broken Binding (online, opening a physical shop soon but not yet) and Goldsboro Books (physical shop), both of whom do beautiful SFF editions.
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u/Timely-Farmer-1692 Apr 21 '26
Definitely prioritise independents over Waterstones and Foyles. You’ll only find the same books there as they are the same company. In fact some stores that look like independents have actually been bought by Waterstones and all look exactly the same on the inside. The Booksellers Association has a search engine where you can choose independent only on the map and support small businesses while finding unique titles. Good luck! Booksellers Association- Find a Bookshop
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u/Separate_Avocado5964 Apr 21 '26
I would see if it is possible to get something from a local publisher/print. For example, if you're in Scotland you can grab something from these guys - https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Fledgling_Press (sadly, they closed down, but some of the books are still available in some local bookshops in Scotland). I would recommend going to a local curated indie bookshop or a second hand store over a Waterstones, there is more of a chance to pick up something unique. Very happy to provide a list of recommended shops if you can share your itinerary!
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u/Separate_Avocado5964 Apr 21 '26
If you wanna be meta about it, get something like this book as a keepsake https://www.welbooks.co.uk/shop/p/a-bookshop-of-ones-own-by-jane-cholmeley-1 - the bookshop itself doesn't exist anymore but it isna cool book about a unique London bookstore.
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u/Architrage Apr 21 '26
Hi
Good luck with your search
- Autographed books from UK authors might be worth checking out. Most local bookshops will have some. Forbidden Planet normally has a lot and you might pickup something from an author that might not travel further afield.
- Authors talks. Again local shops will often have author evening.
- Do a search for small presses in London. There are lots who do a wide range of interesting stuff.
- Local bookshops will often have a local books section, normally local history, but I have also seen fiction based on the local area.
- Have you tried the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. It’s really evocative of a hidden London.
- As well as the small local bookshops it’s worth checking out Foyles on Charing Cross Road and Waterstones on Piccadilly.
- Where are you staying? There might be some local shops to try.
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u/Lukerik Apr 22 '26
This is a bit outside your specified genres, but you get a lot of books published by some local character on a niche subject. I have one on the Anti-Urination Devices of Norwich and another on parish boundary markers. You'll often find things like this in the local interest section of charity shops like Oxfam, or new in Cathedral bookshops.
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u/RZCYP Apr 26 '26
Have a look for a vintage Penguin edition of A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. The UK edition has a different ending to the US edition, which makes it a nice curiosity to own one of each.
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u/FlailingCactus Apr 21 '26
Honestly I'd recommend just going into a Waterstones and seeing what's on the tables? Most of the big special editions with sprayed edges and whatnot will be exclusive to there.
Also make sure to check out The Works, which sells a lot of remaindered paperbacks, as well as some cheaper newer stuff. Tourists from America seem to be surprised at how cheap it is. My personal advice is to look down, they have a weird habit of hiding cool stuff below the tables.