An Opinionated Guide To Literary London Book

London: city of stories, secrets, and the occasional tortured poet. An Opinionated Guide to Literary London is a sharply curated tour through 63 spots that shaped the capital’s literary soul — from the library that fuelled Orwell’s dystopia to the pub where Sylvia Plath signed her first book deal, and the park where William Blake had full-on conversations with the sun.

Written by poet and bookseller John Clegg, this isn’t a dry textbook or a box-ticking trail of plaques. It’s a love letter to the city through the lives of its writers — past and present, mainstream and obscure. Whether you’re chasing Woolf, Wilde or Zadie Smith, you’ll find unexpected corners of brilliance on every page.

Each listing includes smart commentary, gorgeous photography, and a “best for…” section to help you find the right vibe — whether you're in the mood for a historic haunt, a radical bookshop, or a leafy place to read in peace.

Printed on carbon-neutral paper and sized for pockets, this is literary London for real readers — no dusty curriculum required.