Last Updated on March 2, 2026 by Karis Tavernier-Nicholas
I’ve made no secret that of the many, many different pockets of London, Covent Garden is top on the list of my favourites. It’s an area that has largely retained much of its neoclassical historical features of the 19th century, especially in the piazza and market area, which naturally appeals to the history girl in me. But a short walk from Covent Garden’s piazza is a little lane that feels like stepping back to another century: Cecil Court.
Cecil Court, more popularly known as Booksellers’ Row, is a pedestrianised short lane that’s very easy to miss. But for bookworms, cartophiles and Alice in Wonderland enthusiasts, or even those just wanting unusual souvenirs, it’s a must-visit.
Situated between Charing Cross Row and St Martin’s Lane, Victorian shopfronts dominate the short stretch of Cecil Court. Two grade-II listed gas lamps provide a warm glow of your path against the burgeoning backdrop of dusk, just as it would have done for shoppers in the 19th century. The lane is a blend of its 17th to 19th century design; storefronts have retained their decidedly Victorian appearance, and with some of the antiques sold in some of the shops, it seems hardly anything has changed at all.
In many ways, it’s a fellow bookworm’s paradise. A significant number of the businesses on the lane are bookshops; there are about 20 selling antiquarian and second-hand books. There’s the well-known Watkins Books which first opened in 1893 (although has occupied its current premise since 1901) and is London’s oldest esoteric bookshop; further along is Alice Through the Looking Glass, a shop specialising in first edition copies of Lewis Carroll’s classic, as well as Alice-inspired illustrations and other memorabilia.
Cecil Court boasts once being home to the poet T.S. Eliot and played host to Wolfgang Mozart during his visit to the capital between 1764 to 1765, where it was believed he composed his first symphony. It was at one point also dubbed ‘Flicker Alley’ from the number of film production companies that later went on to set up residence there.
With its historic features and very central location, Cecil Court is one of the few streets in London to retain its sense of individuality with its independent shops, and is an unmissable detour if in the area.
*Pictures by Vivian Ma.
