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Brick Lane Bookshop is an independent bookshop in Tower Hamlets, London, established in 1978.

We are open 10am – 6pm every day.

You can shop online or in person. If you can’t find the book you’re looking for, please get in touch – we can order most books published in the UK by the following working day.

As a thank you to our loyal local customers, we’re offering free delivery to Tower Hamlets residents for orders over £15.

We hope to see you soon!

April Bestsellers

Browse our stock online

The Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize


Our Short Story Prize was launched in 2019. Our aim is to celebrate short stories, to give new writers the chance to be published, and to offer some financial assistance to write. Each year we publish an anthology of the twelve longlisted stories. We’re on the lookout for new, exciting, and diverse voices.

You can find out more about the 2023 Prize here.

Brick Lane Bookshop New Short Stories 2022 was published on November 14th – purchase a copy here!

‘Exceptional stories, each so startlingly different, yet all stay with you. A true celebration of the short-story form’ – Huma Qureshi

You can also buy a copy of the 2021 edition here.

Independent Publishing Subscription

Discover the world of independent presses with our brand new book subscription!

Here at Brick Lane Bookshop, we’re passionate about connecting readers to books – it’s our whole thing – so we’re proud to unveil our new subscription service celebrating the best in independent publishing!

Over the year we’ll spotlight twelve independent and small presses who are making waves in literary fiction and non-fiction. Each month you’ll receive a new release, hand-picked by our booksellers, with a note explaining why we selected it and what we find unique and inspiring about its publisher.

Click here to find out more!

The BLB Podcast


The BLB Podcast is a new project from Brick Lane Bookshop where we interrogate the short story form. We talk about why we love short stories, the writing process and how to get published.

Guests so far: Isha Karki, Aoife Inman, Jarred McGinnis, Jem Calder, Wendy Erskine, Leon Craig, Niamh Mulvey, Huma Qureshi, Ben Pester, Vanessa Onwuemezi, Keith Ridgway, Irenosen Okojie and Manuel Muñoz.

Latest episode: We Move with Gurnaik Johal

Listen here, or on your preferred podcast app:
Apple, Spotify, Anchor, Pocketcasts

Events

No new events scheduled right now – check back soon!

Gift Cards




Gift cards for our shop can now be bought online – load up any amount you want and have it emailed direct to the recipient.


Can be used to buy books online, and in-store too!

Join our Mailing List

We’ll send you regular emails featuring new stock, special offers, upcoming events and everything else Brick Lane Bookshop!

Find us on Social Media

Poet For Hire


Richard Knight is a poet-for-hire, and can be found on certain weekends set up outside our shop with his typewriter. Pay what you want and have a poem written for you while you browse!

No appearances scheduled at the moment – check back at the end of May!

Our History


Publishing, theatre, visual arts, writing, film, bookselling, events – our shop grew out of a vibrant local network of innovative activities. Ideas often sparked each other – pushing us into new, unexpected directions…

Explore our rich history, from the 70s all the way to the present, here.