Alice Through the Looking Glass

Alice Through the Looking Glass is a specialist boutique on Cecil Court, the pedestrian lane off Charing Cross Road that has long been home to Covent Garden's antiquarian book trade. Established in 2012, it describes itself as the only Alice Through the Looking Glass heritage brand, taking the imagery of Lewis Carroll's world and building an entire shop around a single literary theme.

The shop deals in first edition books and rare illustrated editions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, alongside gifts, fashion and objects drawn from Alice iconography. Heritage pieces serve as reference points for new contemporary collections, which are made with British artisans rather than mass produced, so collectable printed matter and newly made items share the same shelves.

Alice in Wonderland shop on Cecil Court

As an Alice in Wonderland shop in London with a tightly defined subject, the stock rewards visitors with a particular interest in Carroll, illustration and collectable editions. Illustrated editions by artists such as Arthur Rackham sit alongside more recent printings, and the small footprint suits slow browsing rather than a quick stop. A visitor can leave with something to read, something to keep or something to give, all on the same theme.

What to expect on a visit

The premises sit within Cecil Court's Victorian shopfront terrace, a short walk from Leicester Square and Charing Cross. The shop opens Monday to Saturday, 11am to 6pm. Cecil Court itself is lined with dealers in rare books and first editions, prints and ephemera, so a visit here fits naturally alongside neighbours such as Marchpane, which specialises in rare children's books and carries its own Alice collection. For more of the lane and the wider area, browse our full list of bookshops in Covent Garden.