A view of the El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires, named the world’s most beautiful bookstore by National Geographic in 2019. Photo: AFP
World Book Day, celebrated recently, reminded us to appreciate reading in all its forms, and the places where book lovers once indulged their passion. As literary-based travel rises in popularity, it's the perfect moment to celebrate the world's legendary bookstores and libraries - places that nurture imagination and spark curiosity.
Much more than mere sales outlets, some bookstores have become veritable cultural institutions, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world each year. Such is the case of Daunt Books in Marylebone. Nestled in an Edwardian building in the heart of London, this bookstore has made a name for itself thanks to its specialisation in travel literature. But it's above all the store's architecture that has forged its legend, with oak galleries, elegant balustrades, floral stained-glass windows and an immense glass roof that bathes the space in natural light.
