Esoteric and New Age Bookshops In London
Watkins and Mysteries, Specialists In Mystical, Wiccan, Self-Help
Aug 24, 2009
Visitors to London interested in New Age, Mysticism, Paganism or Wicca will enjoy a visit to these stores in the West End of London near Theatreland.
Watkins Bookshop, Cecil Court, London
Watkins bookshop is located in Cecil Court, just behind the Leicester Square Tube station. Watkins is the oldest esoteric bookshop in London, and was established at its present site at 21 Cecil Court in 1901. It recently expanded to the adjacent premises at 19, and the shop bills itself as a specialist in Mysticism, eastern religions, alternative medicine, astrology, magick, Jungian psychology, Wicca, yoga and contemporary spirituality. The staff are really knowledgeable about the various topics and about the books that the shop carries.
Second-hand books are now sold from the same shelves as new books, which makes finding the titles on a subject much easier. The second-hand books on any topic are clearly marked on a separate shelf but in the same section. Previously, they had been all kept in the downstairs section of the store.
On the ground floor there are the most popular books, and a wide range of self-help, meditation and aspirational CDs, as well as a very large selection of tarot card packs.
Mysteries Book Store on Monmouth Street, London
Mysteries is a relatively new bookshop compared to Watkins, established in 1982 and billing itself as a leading metaphysical resource centre. The shop has a wide range of crystals, incenses, Wiccan and Pagan supplies. Mysteries also has a large book section dedicated to New Age, Wiccan and Self Help and a comprehensive selection of tarot card decks, New Age and Self-Help audio books and music.
As well as the wide range of esoteric books and supplies, Mysteries runs a number of courses on topics such as healing, Tarot reading and psychic development. There are an extensive range of psychic readings available too, though bookings need to be made by phone.
How to Visit Watkins and Mysteries Bookshops by Public Transport
Mysteries on Monmouth Street is in easy walking distance from Tottenham Court Road Tube station (Northern and Central Lines). Watkins is about 500 yards/metres to the south, a pleasant walk through the chic Seven Dials area past the fascinating sundial at the centre of Seven Dials and down St Martin's Lane. Alternatively, Watkins is a short walk from Leicester Square Tube Station (Northern and Piccadilly Lines). Buses 24, 29 and 176 travel up and down Charing Cross Road between Tottenham Court Road Tube station and Leicester Square Tube Station.
Book lovers with more Catholic tastes may wish to visit Foyles, London's largest bookshop on Charing Cross Road, which is near Mysteries. Visitors interested in Enochian Magick may wish to see the original wax sigils, obsidian scrying mirror (shewstone) and Enochian tablets used by John Dee, Astronomer-Royal to Queen Elizabeth the First, and Edward Kelly. These are to be seen in the Enlightenment Room on the ground floor of the British Museum in Bloomsbury, which is within walking distance of Mysteries, or a short bus ride on the number 7 from Tottenham Court Road Tube.
 |
 |
