Village Books, Dulwich

I went to school in Dulwich and it's become one of those places that I am mostly desperate to avoid as it so often involves an afternoon of ducking beneath park benches or using old ladies as shields to avoid ex-teachers, pupils and people of the smiling, waving variety who you just can't quite place so you sort of grimace back. I do, however, have affection for this leafy London pocket and Village Books at the bottom of Calton Avenue is part of that.

I personally feel it is impossible to walk past Village Books' charming, book-filled shopfront with its red canopy. It looks like something out of Lark Rise to Candleford and wouldn't look out of place in a rural Midsomer village either, but don't be fooled - this bookshop is not lost in the past. No dark back rooms with piles of dusty Dickens complete with a 175 year old bookseller snooping at you above their glasses perched on the end of their nose...

You shouldn't have any problem finding recently published titles nor a wide range of back list from well-known and highly regarded writers from William Boyd to Kate Atkinson, from Ian McEwan to Clarissa Dickson Wright, as well as local authors Edmund de Waal and Jo Brand. There is a sweetly decorated and well-stocked children's department as well with plenty of little nicknacks to keep even the biggest children (thinking of a specific pair of 23 year olds here...) entertained. Also don't miss the stairs at the back of the shop that take you upstairs.

1d Calton Avenue

Dulwich

London

SE21 7DE

Tel: 020 8693 2808