Carnaby Street. As that great song by TheJam put it, “It ain't what it used to be”. Think of a major global fashion retailer and odds are they've got a proudly brick and mortar presence, possibly even a flagship store, situated along this stylish Soho street that found initial fame during the heyday of London's swinging sixties.
Perhaps in an attempt to tap into Carnaby's spirit of free love and peace, a new and decidedly non-retail space has opened where you can “pick up a book, relax in an armchair and explore the vast expanses of fashion, travel, music, photography, design and history, to name but a few topics. You are able to leave a book that you have read, and in return take one away from the space for free”.
Yes, it's the Carnaby Book Exchange, where an oasis of give and take philosophy beckons shoppers in search of somewhere comfortable to get off their feet for a few minutes. The cool thing is it's free, it's non- commercial and you might even find something good to read while you're there. The project has been curated by the MA Fashion Curation students at London College of Fashion. Located in Kingly Court just off Carnaby Street, you can even share your thoughts and recommendations on the book you are leaving behind, with the swapping concept not only involving the sharing of books, but also the sharing of memories. The idea behind the book exchange is to highlight the fact that there are in excess of 130 million books in the world, with the average person reading one book per week. And, as Carnaby Street is world renowned for being an incubator for fashion, music and so called “style-tribes”, the students behind the project hope it will also “serve as an incubator for a passion shared, at what will possibly be London’s most diverse book club”. The Carnaby Book Exchange is located with Kingly Court just off Carnaby Street. It's a ground floor “shop” with a few comfy seats, big windows and lots and lots of books! And it truly is a refreshing place to visit, whether as an alternative to or simply a short break from all the consumer activity of one of London's more fashionable shopping quarters. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
Photo: Chris Osburn
Follow us on Twitter for more great London finds!
Pingback from tikichris.com Carnaby Book Exchange (OneTravel) | tikichris
Editor's Top Picks Delivered Weekly
Five Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Los AngelesComments: 0Rating: 0 / 0
Los Angeles is definitely known for its foodie scene. While not every restaurant in the city is “family friendly,” there are definitely some that welcome young diners. Here are my top five recommendations for kid-friendly restaurants in the City of Angels....read more
When Hotels Lack Affordable Amenities: Three Things To Research Before You Check-InComments: 0Rating: 0 / 0
I was on my way to Chicago and began to wonder about the parking at my hotel. A quick search had my mouth dropping in wonder. I quickly found out that the hotel’s parking cost nearly $50 for self-parking and almost $60 for valet. When you factor in staying three nights, the parking amenities would end up costing nearly the price of my stay. Especially in big cities, hotel amenities that are free or affordable can be hard to come by for the traveler. You need to look for ways to cut back the sting of those big-ticket items. From parking to Internet, here are a few areas that you can research before you check-in to avoid just accepting the hotel’s budget breaking amenities....read more
A Toasted Ravioli Tour of St. LouisComments: 0Rating: 0 / 0
I was just like other travelers before me as I stood under the Arch in St. Louis. I am in the Gateway to the West not for any particular reason, other than toasted ravioli tasting. The stomach filling and diet-breaking dish was reportedly born out of the Italian neighborhood southwest of the city. Ravioli can just be ravioli, but in St. Louis it is fried up like a fluffed up pillow and served as an appetizer, even if that palette starter is heartier than the main course. In order to understand this quintessential St. Louis food, you must do as I did, go taste it at some of the supposed best restaurants for toasted ravioli. Here are three tastings of toasted ravioli in St. Louis that are sure to leave stomachs bursting and taste buds satisfied....read more
Visit Kid-Friendly Oslo, NorwayComments: 0Rating: 0 / 0
Norway’s capital city of Oslo is one of the most kid-friendly destinations in Europe. Here are some ideas for great ways to spend time as a family (and learn about Norwegian culture and history) in this vibrant and cosmopolitan city....read more
Dealing with Homesickness While Traveling: Four Tips for Making Yourself at Home on the RoadComments: 0Rating: 0 / 0
The travel deprived often never see the open road as somewhere that might cause aches for home. However, seasoned travelers know that the grass is always greener on the other side. In lands where you don’t speak the language or merely those weekly business trips to points on a map that are certainly not home, homesickness can creep into the traveler’s itinerary. It is only natural, but it shouldn’t put a rain cloud over your trip. If you are battling the homesickness blues on your travels, try implementing a few of these tips and tricks to make the road feel a little bit like home....read more
Enter Promo at time of check out. Promo code provides $15 or the amount of the promo code, discount for stated routes against our service fees. Use of Promo code is in addition to any applicable instant savings offers. Actual amount of discount varies based on the service fees charged. Service fee discount will be up to the amount of the service fees charged less any applicable instant savings for that transaction or the value of the promo code, whichever is less. Promo code expires on date stated and can be withdrawn without notice.