Tenderbooks

Tenderbooks is an independent bookshop on Cecil Court, off Charing Cross Road, which ships worldwide and runs its own publishing imprint. It sits among the specialist dealers of the lane while focusing firmly on contemporary art, design and writing rather than antiquarian stock, giving it a different character from its neighbours.

The range takes in artist books, rare and out of print editions, design and graphic design, photography, fashion, contemporary art, architecture and sound, as well as journals, magazines and writing and ideas. Prints and editions sit alongside the shop's own Tenderbooks imprint publications, with prices spanning affordable paperbacks up to collectable art titles, so there is something for both casual and serious buyers.

Art bookshop in London

As an art bookshop in London with its own imprint, the selection is clearly curated towards high quality art and design publishing, from photobooks by contemporary photographers to zines and small press titles. Merchandise such as a branded tee shirt rounds out the offer beyond the books themselves, and worldwide shipping means the stock is not limited to visitors in person.

What to expect on a visit

The green shopfront occupies one of Cecil Court's period frontages, a short walk from Leicester Square and Charing Cross stations. The shop opens Tuesday to Saturday from midday to 6pm and by appointment, and it keeps an active Instagram presence at @tenderbooks. It suits anyone chasing contemporary art and design publishing and independent titles that rarely reach the high street. November Books across the lane covers photography and subculture, and our full list of bookshops in Covent Garden covers the rest of the area.