I heard of this bookshop years ago, particularly its amazing children’s section but it was only last week that I actually visited. It is large with a wide frontage declaring that it is now owned by Blackwells but seemingly being allowed to keep its own character, built up over the last 150 years.
We went through the doors soon after it opened for the day and I breathed in that distinctive bookshop smell full of paper and ink and in this case wood as well, as there were many old tables temptingly displaying their wares.
I made purchases (of course!) but I was also intrigued by beautiful stationery products by The Cambridge Imprint, a local design company who have obviously been influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement and the Bloomsbury Set. All a joy, really. The only thing that was missing was a coffee shop where I could sit and pore over the delights in my newly acquired bag, which says on it: A home without books is like a house without windows.