Half a pair and a couple of pandas

Independent bookshops are the most special of bookshops for many reasons, but one of those reasons is their uniqueness.

Other than an assortment of books, shelves and a bookseller or two, there's no telling how they might be interpreted or what other random treats you might find. That surprise is a wonderful part of the appeal of the bookshop visit, but sometimes it can also be good to know what you're walking into.

Queens Park Books is one half of a pair of London bookshops, and as I'm already a fan of West End Lane Books I was reasonably optimistic about this destination as I dragged the other half along during a bookshop crawl. That said, I hadn't expected my first impression of the bookshop to be the sight of a giant cuddly panda climbing the tree outside the shop.* It was also a well concealed panda, leaving me wondering how many people actually notice it as they pass?

Moving inside, Queens Park Books is exactly as smart, stylish and well-stocked as I'd anticipated. It's smaller than its sister, but that in no way diminishes the browsing experience, and with two chatty booksellers on hand to answer all my questions (first up, why's there a panda outside? Oh, and I see you have another panda above the counter?) I soon found myself at home.

The smaller space (which is still generous in independent bookshop terms) means tables and book displays are slightly closer together, but the quality and range of books was as good as I'd anticipated and kept us both busy (when we weren't staring at pandas). This photograph also doesn't do justice to the way the bookshop is laid out, because even with all the choice and variety there's still a good-sized space at the back for a colourful (and equally well-stocked) children's section.

There was a lot to appeal to my reading tastes, but my purchase was Jenny Colgan's Resistance is Futile. A love story set in sci fi land, I'd struggled to find this one on other bookshop shelves so knew I had to make the most of it here. This slightly off the wall choice is partially indicative of the rest of the stock. No, it's not all sci fi romance, but it is a good mix of lighthearted fun and intelligent heavy hitters, with a liberal sprinkling of unexpected titles some smaller bookshops may not have the shelf space to hold.

As for the panda story. It's a randomly brilliant one, but if you want to hear it you'll have to go along to the bookshop and ask for yourself.


Queens Park Books
87 Salusbury Road, Brent, London, NW6 6NH
Tel: 020 7625 1008
@QPBooks

* The sister bookshop has a local Penguin who's made himself at home, so who am I to question the recreational choices of other cuddly toys too?