Waterstones at Piccadilly is one of the largest bookstores in Europe, featuring several floors of curated collections across various genres. Visitors can explore an extensive array of literature, from classic novels to the latest bestsellers. The store provides a comfortable environment with reading areas, events, and book signings, enhancing the literary experience. It also includes a café, allowing patrons to relax with a book and a drink in a charming setting.
What visitors single out
Liked
- Central Location Situated in Piccadilly, central London, the store is easily accessible and a must-visit destination for book enthusiasts visiting the city.
- Comfortable Atmosphere With seating areas, a cafe, and even a rooftop bar, the bookstore offers a relaxing environment for browsing, reading, and enjoying refreshments.
- Helpful Staff The staff are knowledgeable, approachable, and eager to assist customers, providing recommendations and guidance to help them find what they're looking for.
- More Than Books Beyond books, the store offers a variety of merchandise, including stationery, gifts, games, toys, and art supplies, providing options for all interests.
- Vast Selection This bookstore boasts multiple floors with an extensive range of books across genres, including rare finds and large collections of romance novels, making it a paradise for book lovers.
Criticised
- Can Be Overcrowded Due to its popularity, the store can get very busy, potentially making it difficult to browse and navigate comfortably, especially during peak hours.
- Cleanliness Issues Some reviewers have noted that the toilets could be cleaner and better maintained, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Expensive Bags The cost of the store's bags has been cited as excessively high, particularly for recycled bags, which may deter customers from purchasing them.
- Inconsistent Stock While the selection is vast, availability of full series or specific volumes can be inconsistent, requiring customers to inquire with staff about potential restocks.
- Understaffed The store can be understaffed at times, leading to potential delays in getting assistance or checking out, especially when it's busy.
The longer read
Waterstones Piccadilly is widely considered a paradise for book lovers and a must-visit destination in central London. Multiple reviewers emphasize its massive size, describing it as the largest bookstore in Europe with several floors catering to all interests. The store is noted for its well-organized layout, making it surprisingly easy to navigate despite its size. Books are categorized by genre, author, and topic, and staff recommendations are readily available. Many reviewers appreciate the calm and relaxing atmosphere, making it a pleasant place to browse and spend time. Multiple reviewers specifically mentioned it being a place they could spend hours in.
The selection is extensive, covering a wide range of genres and interests, including a large collection of romance novels, manga, children’s books, and stationery. Many reviewers reported finding books they had been searching for a long time. Several reviewers highlighted the presence of unique finds not easily available elsewhere, including imports from Asia. The store also sells gifts, cards, games, wrapping paper, and other trinkets.
Waterstones Piccadilly offers amenities that enhance the overall experience. A cafe on the top floor provides a relaxing space to read and enjoy views of London. Seating areas are available throughout the store for browsing books before buying. The store also has clean and accessible bathrooms. Free wifi is available.
Several reviewers praised the staff as helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable, with many reporting that staff could quickly direct them to the sections needed. Some reviewers specifically mentioned staff recommendations and assistance in finding specific titles.
Families with children will find the children’s section particularly appealing, as some reviewers noted it included games, toys, and a play area. The store is described as inclusive and welcoming to everyone.
While some reviewers noted that the store can get busy and that it may be understaffed at times, the overwhelming consensus is that Waterstones Piccadilly provides an exceptional book-buying experience. Several reviewers mentioned that they plan to return regularly, and recommend it to anyone who loves to read.
A synthesis of third-party reviews supplied by Mindtrip travel index. Not written by Breaks.
Getting there
- Phone
- +44 20 7851 2400
- Website
- waterstones.com/bookshops/piccadilly
| Mon | 9:00 - 21:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 9:00 - 21:00 |
| Wed | 9:00 - 21:00 |
| Thu | 9:00 - 21:00 |
| Fri | 9:00 - 21:00 |
| Sat | 9:00 - 21:00 |
| Sun | 12:00 - 18:00 |
Against the neighbourhood
Rated 4.7 against a median of 4.5 across the 2,371 venues we hold for London, where the most-reviewed is Trafalgar Square.
Still deciding?
- Which genres or curated collections are highlighted across the multiple floors of Waterstones Piccadilly?
- Does Waterstones Piccadilly host regular events such as book signings, readings, or author talks for visitors?
- What café facilities are available at Waterstones Piccadilly and what are the typical options for reading while sipping a drink?
- What are the best public transport options and nearby landmarks for getting to Waterstones Piccadilly in central London?
- Why is Waterstones Piccadilly considered one of the must‑see attractions for book lovers visiting London?
Where this comes from
Venue records are drawn from the Mindtrip travel index, which aggregates place data and review signals from Google Places, Tripadvisor and booking providers. Ratings are reproduced per source rather than merged into a single number. Distances to nearby venues are computed here as great-circle distances between the published coordinates, not walking or driving routes. Comparison figures are medians computed across the venues we hold for the same neighbourhood or city.
Source: Mindtrip travel index, captured 2026-08-21.
What this page cannot tell you
- Descriptions and review summaries are supplied by the source index and are reproduced as published; they are not independently verified by Breaks.
- Ratings and review counts are point-in-time snapshots and drift constantly. Check the venue's own site or the rating provider for the current figure.
- Opening hours change seasonally and at short notice. Confirm with the venue before travelling.
- Category labels come from the source index and are occasionally wrong — a venue may be filed under a type that does not match how it trades.
- Straight-line distances understate real walking distance, especially where a river or railway sits between two points.