London (& COVID), baby!

Yeah, traveling while sick sucks

Author

Sara Hamdan
August 05, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Remember that little thing called the COVID-19 pandemic that kept us all locked in our homes, away from other humans? Now it’s just a run-of-the-mill virus. Our family of four felt under the weather and when our close friends declared they had tested positive, we figured we must have caught it, too.

In a weird way, I was… grateful? Okay, hear me out. I know I have Silver Lining Syndrome and tend to see the “positive” in most situations (see what I did there…), but we have been running around like crazy with two kids trying to see everyone and do everything. This bug felt like a bad cold, but allowed us to cancel plans, hang out at home with screens, and get much needed rest. Mama needed a minute.

So this week, I thought to share with you my fave London bookstores. Some I had a chance to visit, others I’m hoping to feel well enough to pop into during my final few days here. Enjoy!

Read: London’s Best Bookstores

  1. Daunt Books Marylebone

    Copyright: Daunt Books

Go for the vibe, stay for the variety. It’s a classic, three story bookshop with shelves full of titles in a trendy neighborhood. Books are categorized by country, so you feel as though you’re traveling the world by browsing.

Copyright: Foyles

There are over 200,000 titles spread across 5 floors in this incredible bookstore. It’s like a mall for books. I love grabbing a few books, sitting at the indoor cafe, and taking my time deciding which ones to buy.

Copyright: Waterstones

I stayed across the street from this epic bookstore when I attended the awards ceremony for the Netflix story contest in 2021, fantasizing about publishing a novel and seeing it on display one day… this place will always have a special place in my heart!

Okay, there will be hordes of Korean tourists angling for a photo of this quaint bookstore and long queues to get inside, but it’s mostly hype around the Hugh Grant/ Julia Roberts movie made famous in the 90s. Still, it’s got a surprisingly great selection of titles and the location, right off Portobello Market, makes it THE place to be for book lovers on a sunny Sunday in London.

Copyright: Word on the Water

Books on a barge - what’s not to love? This spot is a bohemian dream, not just for its book selection, but for poetry readings and musical shows. It’s the type of place you expect to stop by for five minutes and end up staying until sunset.

A few more on my list that I hope to visit: Libreria looks like a romcom setting, Foster Books for rare and out-of-print editions, and John Sandoe Books to take a step back into a Dickensian world.

Write: The Hotel Review

I did a fun UK travel assignment that our family really enjoyed - I reviewed the new Mandarin Oriental in Mayfair for AFAR magazine!

It’s the first hotel in Mayfair in a decade (Bridgerton fans rejoice!) and the luxury brand’s second property in London after Hyde Park. The hotel had the most stunning details - check out this gorgeous hand-painted de Gournay silk wallpaper in every suite:

Read the full review here!

Inspire: City of Romance?

I know Paris is known as the city of love, but I’ve found London - with it’s lush green parks and moody skies - to have its own touch of romance. How can you pass by inscriptions on park benches like these and not feel moved:

When I’m sick, I enjoy random crap on the internet. Here are a few entertaining links, far away from the politics pages (Lebanon friends, I hope you’re all okay this week)…

Countdown to My Novel’s Publication Day:

Timer from emailcountdowntimer.com

Thanks for reading! See you next week!

With kindness,

Sara