It's an age since I've been pen shopping in London but I will be there on Tuesday. Much in the way of the the Paris thread, can anyone steer me in the direction of such a place in London. I'm not looking for high-end expensive stuff, more along the lines of Japanese and or European makes.

Thanks!

To be honest, I don't think there are any good pen shops at all.

There are some which will rip you off with expensive and overpriced new models, and even more expensive vintage.

When I looked in one the other day they only had a few very expensive vintage pens (£300-£900) and some even dearer.

Not a good way to purchase new or vintage pens, as the choice is limited and the prices way too high.

And I saw no Japanese pens (Not that I was looking as I would not buy any Japanese products due to their Whaling policy).

European (Pelikans) yes, but at top price.

Shostas

For paper, Falkiners may be worth visiting - see this post

There's a place at thebtop of the Burlington Arcade
Penfriend (London) Limited
Burlington Arcade
Piccadilly
London
W1J 0QA
or
Bush House Arcade
Bush House
Strand
London
WC2B 4PE
Been to the Burlington one, cute, nice selection of vintage and new pens, but no bargains anywhere. Never been to Harrods, but Fortnum and Mason have some nice pens, but unless you hit them at Sales time it isn't worth buying. Last time I went their range was shrinking anyway. Good fun if you want to fall about laughing at the prices for notebooks etc.

Also the chain Pen Shop have a few stores in london.

All this info can be found on interweb to confirm locations before travel.

Hope it helps

Nic

Thanks for the info, I'll have a stooge around the West End and see what I can find!

Oops. Sorry, bit late to this post. But I'll add my comments in case someone else is searching.

I'd agree, it is surprising how little London has to offer in way of such shops. Lots of places selling expensive brands at top whack, and the rest selling the usual stuff you can buy anywhere (Parker...).

Anyway, my thoughts on places to shop in London....

Selfridges...Probably the best selection in London for pens (and quite a bit of paper to go with them). But all at RRP unles you get there on the first day of the 'Sale' when it becomes one of the best places to be. But they do have some of the rarer brands that you can play with, like Visconti.

The Pen Shop...Quite a few around. But nothing particularly exciting. Mostly run of the mill.

London Graphic Centre...Just north of Covent Garden, this place have lots of the pads we FPers crave, like Rhodia and Whitelines.

Penfriend...Yep, sadly way overpriced now. They do have a little of their sale stock left over from last year though which are a little more reasonable. Mint stickered Summits for example at £20-£40.

There's a little Tobacco Gift Shop half way up Victoria Street (Just across and down from Cardinal Place) that has some NOS 80's parkers (but yet again way too expensive) 61 and 65 Custom/Cumulus/Stratus/Insignia £395 180 Laque (various finishes - including a Laplis?) £299 75 Laque (again various finishes) £299 45 Custom £99 105 Gold Forest Bark £495 Falcon (Gold) £225 Falcon (Matte - sorry no black!) £195

There's an art shop almost on the corner of Clenkenwell Road and St John Street that sells Pelikanos.

Otherwise I don't know of anywhere else to "hang out". It would be nice to find somewhere that does Pilot pens for example.

- Mark

The weather was set against a London mooch so I took the coward's way out and headed for Websters in Bluewater.

It was depressingly average; we just don't seem to have the knack of good pen shops as can be found in the US.

Reason notwithstanding I have stocked up on sufficient stationery from t'internet to be able to document the occurrences of the next millenium in excruciating detail and using a wallpaper-paste brush.

Ho hum...

You'd expect at least one really good penshop in London... All those financial and legal types can and will spend money like water. I'm going over there this week. Maybe a new career is in order?

Pen shops are rubbish, but great paper is everywhere. Nil desparandum.

John

I was going to ask the same question, so i'm glad i caught this post. The only places i know of have already been mentioned, Harrods which dispite being the High priced end of the market have very helpfull and knowledgable staff and my local penshop Websters in Bluewater.