City Lights Bookshop

Love going to this bookshop. They've got a wide array for all audiences, especially LGBTQ. They also have a good inventory of DVDs and even VHS films. Check 'em out!

This bookstore was a favourite of mine throughout the 80’s and 90’s and when I come back to visit I always make a point to stop in. This is a terrific bookstore and if you have the time you can find something unique. Love this place.

Best book store in town with reasonable prices. Staff is very friendly. Went today, and staff guided me very well about books. They are very knowledgeable about books.

Very well organized, friendly staff, been going here for years. DB visiting from Victoria BC

I visited for the first time just yesterday while on other business down the street. My visit was cut short way before I had a chance to really check it out but the sections I did check blew me away. I was able to grab several back issues of Heavy Metal magazine that look like they just rolled off the press. If you appreciate old books, mags, records etc then schedule a visit.

I've been going to City lights since the 80s! It still has such an amazing indie and interesting vibe. I hope it lasts forever. Long live bookstores!

Cute little bookshop, huge collection of vintage books and comics, has “the book smell” all book lovers know about

Interesting place, tons and tons of books magazines etc. Go when you have lots of time. Staff is very approachable but no pressure!

In city light books I discovered my definition of perfect happiness is sipping a coffee while listening to some amazing old school punk rock while looking over a wide selection of books. The western classics section is well stocked with classic finds and a lot of surprises, there is also a very impressive Science fiction and Fantasy section where i took a selfie with a cardboard cutout of Warf. A must visit!

I had a great time when I visited City Lights this weekend. The dude behind the counter was very polite and accomodating. Tons of very interesting books and vintage ones. I'll be back. The store is also very clean!

Simply put this nostalgic location is speratically worth the visit. Not your average book emporium.

One of my favourite stores ever! The selection of books here is awesome. You can find nearly any topic or genre of book hidden away in here. Definitely a place you can get lost in for hours. It's well organized too, which makes things ever better. They even have books on astrology, tarot, crystals, numerology, etc which was shocking, since even a lot of new bookstores don't carry those!

Not bad. Overpriced books, which they notoriously underpay for. The selection isn't bad though. Customer service could be better and not as obnoxious and standoffish.

Extremely disappointing customer service and unreliable scheduled closing times which seem to change frequently. On one occassion I waited to be let in because the door was locked with 20 minutes left to closing time. No one came to open the door to let me in despite the fact that only one staff member was inside. I refused to leave and waited to see what would happen and as I suspected the male staff member turned the light off with five minutes to spare before closing hour and then came out locked the door and left.

On a very recent occassion I managed to come in with 20 minutes to spare before closing time and observed that the owner was present. She was very friendly and courteous. However one of her staff whom I addressed for assistance was extremely unfriendly and borderline rude with his demeanor and unwillingness to provide assistance. Rather than guiding me to the shelves and helping me to find the author and titles I was looking for he more or less replied with a generalized off the cuff and entirely unhelpful indication of where I could look. He spent the entire time that I was looking complaining and whining about something or other unrelated to his job to the other staff in attendance. This was the same fellow who locked up early and refused to let me on the earlier visit. A dirty blonde fellow with a scowling and unpleasant manner who does not seem to want to do his job.

When you work in a bookstore and a customer asks for specific help or guidance - in other words he is not there to browse it seems common sense for the staff to be proactive and help locate what he/she needs in a friendly and efficient manner. The customer should not be made to feel that she is imposing on staff time much less like he is being an inconvenience, particularly when you are the only customer in the store and there are several staff members present.

Shameful behaviour by this male staff member who I would suggest find himself another job if he cannot fullfil the duties expected of someone working in book retail.

At one point it felt like this staff member was accustomed to shrugging off a customer in the presence of the owner which is never a good sign and points to bad employee culture.

2 stars for failing to provide decent customer service and for making me feel like I was in the wrong to ask for help.

This place is a fun place to explore with a vast variety of books of all varieties being just the beginning. That is not including the vast collection of videos and vintage magazines on two seperate floors. To go here is to explore a cornucopia of literature and recordings to catch nearly any interest.

Always a fun time browsing the shelves at City Lights Bookshop. Great selection, good prices, friendly staff!

I couldn't find a book at any bookstore or library in the city, but luckily they had it for a reasonable price and it was in great condition! Definitely a place to check out if you like exploring and finding interesting books.

I love this bookstore. Curated well, so I can get to the areas I want easily. Treasures everywhere - I find something I need to buy every visit. I have the vinyl I bought there yesterday on heavy repeat on my turntable now. A gem of London.

It's a part of a dying breed. It's been in London for 25+yrs. It's seems cluttered & a total disorganized mess, but; the Staff are Knowledgeable & great at finding out if & where items are. It's too claustrophobic for me but I support & recommend that people pop in and support them.

The store has an incredible selection of books of all genres. Even for a used bookstore, most books are kept in impeccable condition, and prices are never unreasonable. The second floor addition also has records, art, and other types of books such as cookbooks. Definitely one of, if not the best, bookstore in the city.

A great home for many Londoners when they are seeking that next hard to find book at a bargain price

Don't let the somewhat cramped interior dissuade you, there is an amazing selection here in all genres. Staff has always been very knowledgeable and will help you find what you are looking for. Good pricing and regular deals and sales make this a fair competitor to Attic Books

Found two copies of what I was looking for but left with two other books I wasn't looking for. I will be going back because there's nothing like finding a hidden treasure. 10/10 very happy.

Make no mistake. This is simply one of the best bookshops in London. We love this place. We love the people there. THEY ARE THE REAL DEAL!

A quirky, comprehensive bookstore with something for movie buffs (dvds) and audiophiles (vinyl) if you still have that technology. Make sure to go "upstairs"!

Truly a London ICON. All manners of the written word. From new comics to vintage collectibles. Can't do it all in one visit. Knowledgeable staff/owners, FANTASTIC PRICES.

Outstanding atmosphere, selection, prices & staff. I immediately felt comfortable upon entering City Lights Bookshop for the first time yesterday, thanks to the exceptional atmosphere and staff.

No haughtiness here, indeed, quite the opposite, I found the staff to be attentive, helpful, and genuinely friendly-how refreshing!
I was able to find not one, but two incredible gems of books within 10 minutes of entering the shop. One, I didn't even know existed, the other was somewhat rare and highly sought after, and was beyond reasonably priced.

This is my new favorite store in London, and the best bookshop I've ever been in from Toronto to Kyoto. Highly recommended!

Large, extensive store with everything! True Crime section a bit too small, but I still found something.

City lights bookshop is a great little spot. They've got a great selection of books, CDs, records and all other forms of media. It's like Amazon but with character. They're also great about photographers coming in and taking photos either with models or just to take some neat shots of the store. I would highly recommend it as a shopping place or for your next photoshoot!

Fantastic store to wander around! Just recently discovered they have a second floor! Staff goes above and beyond for customers

Good place, didn’t have the book I wanted but spent some time browsing and found some interesting reads

Lots of books, great prices. I just wish all the books had prices marked on the cover, it's inconvenient having to ask

Very neat used bookstore! A great selection and well marked. Prices are good and the employees are knowledgeable and friendly. The walkways are very narrow so a bigger person or someone with bulky bags might have some trouble checking out all the shelves.