Good pen shop in the UK

[Amberviv]

I note that the FPN has a fair number of British members. Please can you recommend me some good pen shops (London and Midlands addresses will be ideal) in preparation for my (shopping) trip home in April. I am particularly interested in Italian and Japanese pens but also love British vintage.

 

With thanks.

[Kimo]

I am not a Brit, but I have traveled there a fair amount. If you are planning to do some pen shopping there, especially in any of the larger cities, then I would recommend that you bring along an extra suitcase stuffed with cash since it has been my experience that the prices of new pens are far above what you would pay for the same pens in the US even before you add the 17.5 percent VAT to the sales price. This is even more true these days with the relative weakness of the dollar compared to the pound.

[andyk]

In London you have.

 

Penfriend in Burlington Arcade (just off Piccadilly), Selfridges in Oxford Street usually has a good selection, Harrods probably has, but I can't bring myself to shop there any more in view of current owner, don't expect any reductions though, unless they have a sale. Most large department stores will have at least a small writing insruments department I think.

 

But as Kimo says we pay a premium for our pens, if you are coming from the USA the pen you would pay a $100 for, w would probably be paying £100, so roughly twice as much.

 

Penfriend does have the advantage of a good selection of vintage pens, but they tend to be very expensive (although usually in great condition).

 

Andy

 

 

Edited February 27, 2008 by andyk

[tym]

Drawing a blank on the name, but in Oxford there is a well-stocked pen shop on the high street.

 

The OP should be able to get the VAT refunded at the airport on the return trip, but it's almost not worth the hassle.

 

EDIT: A little Googling has revealed the name: Pens Plus. I've only popped in once, so can't comment in detail. There's also apparently a store named "Scriptum" off of Cornmarket street, but I don't think I've ever been in there.

Edited February 28, 2008 by tym

[I am not a number]

I hate to say this Viv, but you would be far better off with the Marketplace. This is a terrible country to buy pens, Penfiend* in Burlington Arcade (off Piccadilly) is great for window shopping but is also obscenely expensive.

 

* Freudian typo so I'll leave it...

[GuidoForks]

The only ones I know in the Midlands are Cathedral Pens in Lichfield and The Pen Shop in Birmingham (city centre). I haven't visited either yet. Selfridges in Birmingham probably has an over-priced selection.

 

[twdpens]

There's also Pen Sense in Nottingham. No affiliation.

 

Martin

[Amberviv]

Dear all,

 

Thanks for all the good advice. I know that pens (and almost everything else!) are more expensive in the UK than elsewhere in Europe and the rest of the world but having been a non taxpayer for so long due to my employment overseas, I do want to contribute to the economy by spending some dosh when I return to the UK for my home leave each year... I wonder if The Pen Shop in Birmingham that Guido Forks mentioned was that lovely shop in the Western Arcade where I bought my very first GvFC all these years ago? Does anyone know?

 

In any case, I certainly have not neglected the Market Place. My recent purchase from a fellow FPN member has just been delivered and is waiting for me in my Nottingham home

[GuidoForks]

that lovely shop in the Western Arcade where I bought my very first GvFC all these years ago? Does anyone know?

 

Yes, it is. Link

 

[Amberviv]

GuidoFoks,

 

Thanks. It will be nice to visit that shop again. And before your reminded me that I have been away for too long, in my previous post, I meant to say "all those years ago", not "all these years ago"

[richardandtracy]

You what?!?!

You want to pay excessive taxes & buy over priced articles?!?

 

Can I respectfully suggest that you go & lie down until the desire goes away. Or lock up your loot until you've been back for 6 months & then you can make a more rational decision!

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[Amberviv]

Richard,

 

Come on, the Personal Income Tax in the UK is not that bad! It's 38% on average where I work at the moment with no personal, child or any other tax allowances. Luckily as an expat I tend to get paid net (after taxes) salary. Unfortunately it's in USD so what I saved in taxes only just about covers my losses in foreign exchange so the UK is doubly expensive at the moment but it's home so....

[abp]

I have used Pens Plus in Oxford a lot, and I recommend them without reservation. They have a good range and the owners are very helpful and friendly.

 

Scriptum is more of a specialist paper and book shop. The Mrs and I bought our wedding albums there, specially bound and blocked. The owner does have some dip pens though.

 

There is also another stationery chain store on Turl Street (the street Scriptum is on). Less pens than Pens Plus, probably more stationery.

 

Good shopping,

 

Antony

 

 

[adyf]

I am almost too embarrassed to admit that my first decent fountain pen, a Caran D'Ache Leman Godron Rhodium cost £375 from a pen shop in York (UK). When I looked online I could have bought the same pen for not much more than half that price. I've shopped online since. I'm prepared to buy pens without trying them safe in the knowledge that if I don't like them I can sell them here on the marketplace or the green board without losing much money.