Cecil Court: The hidden London street lined with magical old bookshops

Nestled in the heart of London, Cecil Court is the ultimate destination for any self-respecting bibliophile.

This delightful stretch, fondly known as Booksellers’ Row, is lined with quirky bookshops and charming cafés.

The hidden street, which can be found in London’s West End, is often referred to as the ‘ultimate place’ for arts, antiques, and books in the capital.

Located just a short stroll from Charing Cross Road, Cecil Court is home to many beautiful Victorian buildings. Several of the bookshops on the street are more than 100-years-old.

The hidden alleyway is undeniably pretty and is a treasure trove full of second-hand books, and special antiques.

Review The World wrote on TripAdvisor: “A wonderful street nestled away to venture along and explore. The shop fronts are teaming with novels of different ages. For any avid novel reader or collector, you may stumble across a hidden great!”

No fewer than 12 bookshops line the magical alleyway, which many speculate inspired Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series. Sadly, J.K. Rowling has disputed this.

No fewer than 20 second-hand and antique bookshops are packed into the little alleyway, so make sure you bring a strong tote bag with you!

It is rumoured that Wolfgang Mozart lived in one of the properties on Cecil Row, during his 8-year European tour in the 1700s.

One TripAdvisor reviewer described Cecil Court as “one of the nicest streets in London.”

Many describe it as the street where time has stopped. Watch our video above to take a tour of this magical alleyway hidden in the heart of London.

Leicester Square is the closest tube station to Cecil Court, it is also just a short walk from Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, and Charing Cross.

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