Randomness Guide to London Menu

Independent bookshop in Upminster. According to their website, they were established in 1937 (and originally known as Swan Libraries Booksellers).

They give a significant amount of space to children's books; other sections include art, music, history, biography, military history, and cooking. All books are new; they don't appear to do any secondhand.

They're quite keen on local history, with books covering different areas of London as well as very specific local subjects such as Hornchurch Aerodrome. On Kake's June 2009 visit, there was a prominent display of local history books near the door, covering Hornchurch and Romford as well as Upminster itself, and on another visit in September 2017 there was a window display of books about Essex.

They have a decent selection of blank cards, with interesting and unusual images such as paintings of vintage buses.

Accessibility: Step-free to get in, and a relatively decent amount of uncluttered floor space.

See also:

• London Books entry
• Romford Recorder article