Fountain Pens In London?

[Leigh R]

I'm going there for work and am staying a few more days to immerse myself in museums and flea markets and, I hope, pen shops. Where should I go? i

 

TIA,

Leigh

[brunico]

I've no experience of the secondhand places and repairers, but department stores and pen shops selling new stuff are all a bit samey (always Waterman, Cross and Parker, but never Aurora, Ancora...). So...

 

Shepherds Bookbinders - fine paper (mostly decorated, but some plain), and a short walk from the British Museum in Bloomsbury.

 

Green and Stone - in Kensington, but a long way from the Victoria and Albert Museum. But I think it will interest you because as well as a good stock of art materials for a small shop, they have a sideline in things like antique watercolour sets.

 

London Graphic Centre - in Covent Garden: art materials, including Artoz paper.

 

Okay, I've just checked the prices of some of the antique watercolour sets! Still, might be worth a look. Green and Stone is on the King's Road, but a little way down from the main drag of fashionable shops.

 

Near Bloomsbury, the flagshop Paperchase shop on Tottenham Court Road has some very interesting papers on the top floor, and not expensive. In Bloomsbury again, Cornelissen, an art materials shop with ancient shop fittings. Except for Green and Stone and the V&A, you could easily do all these suggestions in a single afternoon. All fairly central and easily walkable.

 

Two last bits of advice. Get an Oyster card when you're there to make transport cheaper, and avoid Oxford Street if you can - a crowded street full of dull shops that repeat themselves every few hundred yards. Some interesting shops on it - Muji, Selfridges, for instance - but mostly chain stores. And you'll probably want to have a look in Liberty - there's a small pen shop on Regent Street just round the corner (Lamy, Pelikan, standard stuff, not much in the way of ink), but Liberty is an experience.

Edited February 26, 2012 by brunico

[The Royal Pen]

Also if you see any craft/flea markets or even grocery market events go and look at them. You will probably find some old Platignum school pens, or at least some old Parkers.

[Chrissy]

Portobello Market might be worth a visit but I'm not sure if it's open every day.

My favourite London Mb boutique is Canary Wharf.

Have a great time.

[dickydotcom]

Harrods is worth a look for new pens, and Penfriend in Burington Arcade, Piccadilly for Vintage and new.

Neither is very far from the museums in South Kensington.

Dick D

[hilsedwards]

I'm going there for work and am staying a few more days to immerse myself in museums and flea markets and, I hope, pen shops. Where should I go? i

 

TIA,

Leigh

Previous FPN members postings have given you fab advice: I can only add bring plenty of money or a heavyweight credit card, it's expensive over here!

For travelling around I can definately second the advice to get an Oyster card ASAP; If you are flying into LHR the Underground ticket office will sell you one. It is good for some trains, DLR, buses and all the Underground network.

[Leigh R]

Thank you everyone for the great advice.

[da vinci]

Selfridges have a pretty good selection too. Enjoy!

[mongrelnomad]

I tend to get hives in the Royal Borough so I tend to steer clear (Camden and K&C don't mix) but I must admit that Harrods has by far the best pen selection of any store in London. Every brand is represented with a pretty comprehensive stock.

 

And please avoid Penfriend in Burlington Arcade. As if being ridiculously overpriced weren't enough, they are also terribly rude.

 

There is J.M. Pennyfeather near me in Hampstead - a small shop with a selection of pens from Montegrappa, Visconti, Lamy, Cross etc. May be worth a visit to say you bought a pen in the home of Keats, Stevenson, Huxley , Waugh, Amis, Le-Carre, Orwell, Byron, Galsworthy, Fleming, Christie, Freud, Lessing, Eliot etc. etc. etc. (It's also just a lovely place to visit, though I may be a bit biased :embarrassed_smile: )

Edited February 26, 2012 by mongrelnomad

[London-Leftie]

There is J.M. Pennyfeather near me in Hampstead

 

Hello MongrelNomad. I was looking for recommendations for north London and came across your post in this forum from 2012. I'd send a PM if I knew how --- any chance you have any further suggestions for London? I completely agree with your view on Portobello and Camden markets.

[zwack]

Can I direct you to the "Has Anyone Heard Of Henry Simpole 2016" thread in Market Watch.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/302477-has-anyone-heard-of-henry-simpole-2016/page-7

 

He has a stall at Portobello Market... While I don't like London next time I am there I will have to make sure I visit.

[Lam1]

I second the suggestion to visit Henry Simpole at Portobello market. I visited his stall 3 weeks ago and had a wonderful time chatting with him. What a great guy!

His pens are absolutely amazing (but way out of my league). He also has a large and wonderful selection of vintage pens at very reasonable prices. I brought home a Parker 51 and wish I had brought a PFM too.

 

As for Portobello market, other than at Simpole's stall, I only found a couple of pens that were in poor condition and overpriced. There was also a stall that had several Montblancs but I didn't ask the prices. That was it.

[sandy101]

There is the Pen Shop in Oxford. OK, it's not in London, but you may want to take a trip up there to visit the Ashmolean, and walk around the colleges and the banks of the river. It is a pretty city and not too far from London ( a sixty minute train ride). So, a day trip to Oxford can be a pleasant trip to get out of the tumult of London.

 

The Pen Shop in Debenhams on Oxford Street was helpful when I went to get an 849. No discounts, but they have a range of stuff.

 

Other alternatives whilst you have a London address - order an Italix pen from Mr Pen and get your Diamine inks from Cult pens or The Writing Desk.

[michaelcockerham]

Another vote for Henry Simpole in Admiral Vernon Arcade, about halfway down on the left of London's Portobello Road (nearest tube is Notting Hill Gate). Lovely chap to chat with and quite a big stock of reasonably-priced second hand fountain pens, amongst other things. I'm very pleased with a Parker Duofold Junior I got there for slightly less than priced - the very copy of one my father had. He was happy to advise on my Waterman Carene problems. I have an idea he's only there on Saturdays. The road is usually crowded with shoppers/tourists on a Saturday.

 

I found Oxford's Pens Plus in Oxford (Magdalen Bridge end of High Street/"The High") to have a considerable stock of new MB, Pelikan, Cross, etc. Very happy with service there though, but you'll pay full price.

 

The Pen Shop in Debenhams in Oxford Street is OK, ditto store in Liverpool Street Station, and I believe there's a flagship store opening about now in St Pancras station.

[dapprman]

There's a Pen Shop in Leddenhall Market that holds a reasonable amount of their range (centre of 'The City' so I suppose there are a fair few around who want to buy big - having said that (and this was ~5 years ago), they did talk me in to investing in a ... Lamy All Star (as I felt the Lamy Safari they were directing me towards was a little too plastic in feel).

[View from the Loft]

A bit further out of London but worth a visit is Andy's Pens in Tonbridge, Kent.

[mongrelnomad]

 

Hello MongrelNomad. I was looking for recommendations for north London and came across your post in this forum from 2012. I'd send a PM if I knew how --- any chance you have any further suggestions for London? I completely agree with your view on Portobello and Camden markets.

 

 

Click on my name and then the "send message" button. I'm not sure if you mean general suggestions, or just pens...

[Dogen]

Looking for second hand fountain pens in the London area. Any suggestions? Will be staying in Earls Court and would travel a hour in any direction for a a good selection. Thanks!