Enjoying London at home.

It's now been nearly three years since the COVID pandemic, and people are still being infected at an alarming rate. As of today there have been an average of 69,638 new cases and 221 deaths every day. Now Boris Johnson has announced he will eliminate the requirement to self isolate, setting COVID-positive patients free to infect many others. Which means wonder | wander | women will stay at home. But we still want to enjoy and support our favourite neighbourhood shops and cafes, and we still can.

London Review Bookshop, Bury Place

The London Review Bookshop is the physical manifestation of the literary magazine, The London Review of Books. It's a wonderful place with an extensive collection, and we love browsing in the front section of staff picks and book tables, as well as the graphic novel and poetry selection downstairs. Now we can browse their site and read their blog for author interviews, reviews and staff recommendations.

Their cake shop is also an oasis of comfort, with high quality tea and food by chef Terry Glover and her wonderful team. You can order bespoke cakes, tarts and other baked goods off the site.

Persephone Books, Lamb's Conduit Street (formerly)
Photo from Secret London

Persephone Books is an acclaimed shop not only selling but publishing works by women writers, especially lesser-known ones of the twentieth century. It's been featured on Secret London, The Paris Review, and The New York Times. Sadly this favourite London bookshop is no longer in London - it moved to Bath last year. Another reason to be grateful for online ordering.

Camellia's Tea House, Great Russell Street

Right across from the British Museum is Camellia's, an old-fashioned tea house in true tourist tradition. They serve an afternoon tea service and several kinds of scones and cakes. The teas they serve are all their own blends and available to take home and make for yourself, or to order from their website.

If you do go, the front seating area has a great view of the sprawling British Museum. They recently reopened after a long time in lockdown and we look forward to visiting them again.

Gay's the Word, Judd Street

Gay's The Word is a piece of London history. The famous LGBT+ bookshop was founded in 1979 by Jonathan Cutbill, Peter Dorey and Ernest Hole and formed a centre for the LGBT+ rights movement. Over the years it was raided, its windows smashed, and the proprietors arrested, but the shop and its community always bounced back.

Peeking in, from Secret London

Now it's a pleasant place to find amazing books for young queer readers, LGBT+ biographies and histories, and beautiful art books as well as all the gay fiction you could want. During the early days of the pandemic, you could order for curbside pickup, but now they have their own online store.

Photo from Gay's The Word on Instagram

We miss the friendly staff and fellow customers, and the nice little walk that brings us to our favourite places. We miss lingering and browsing, hanging out by the window and handling new things. But we don't have to miss our favourite books and tea and cake, and we hope to enjoy them on site again...soon!