Backstory Books & Yarn

I was thrilled to visit Backstory, London’s best new book, on its opening weekend. They have an excellent range of books, from hard hitting journalism to kids and everything in between. Owner Tom and his right hand man Rory are always on hand for a recommendation or to whip up a coffee or glass of wine to enjoy with your book. An absolute must visit!

I ended up dropping by on the opening day with my newborn; despite the crowds and the buzz there was plenty of space to navigate the buggy and even feed her! I love the split between the attractive range of books on one side and the easy-going atmosphere of the drinks area on the other. There is a dearth of good bookshops in south London, making this such a welcome addition. I’m already looking forward to going back and picking another book next weekend.

The folks working at Backstory are so helpful and knowledgeable. Happy to order in books if it isn't on the shelf, and orders arrive within a day or two. I've visited several times already and the vibe is lovely every time. Total strangers discussing what they're reading over a glass of wine. It's rapidly become a local gem. Would love to see a wider wine selection in the evenings though.

Such an awesome bookshop! Was here for a music event and they have a great selection of books.

My only problem with Backstory is resisting buying too many books! For a smallish space it packs a punch with well curated selections, coffee and the opportunity to book to attend events with excellent speakers/writers. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all develops through 2023 - definitely a local business to support.

The opening of an independent bookshop is always a cause for celebration. In Balham, the recent arrival of 'Backstory' is one such event. Appealing to customers in the area, this store manages to combine being a well stocked book shop with a small wine/coffee bar that is also very family friendly. That it manages to pull this off with some elan augers well for its future.

Popped in today on the opening - it was incredible! The selection of books was so impressive and the bar set up looked amazing. Took a bit long to Check out but I assume they’ll work the kinks out as they’re open for longer. I’m so excited to have a bookstore in the neighborhood, can’t wait to go back.

An new independent bookshop in Balham! Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, a good selection of books new titles & a well chosen list of popular titles like 'Crawdads', and a counter area for coffee and wine. It was busy when I visited on Saturday, and I'll definitely be back. They also accept book tokens, if you have any hidden away!

Excellent customer service. I order books from Backstory often and they always process my orders right away. It's also a lovely bookstore to have a wander through; you can really tell the community enjoys it.

Thank goodness for a bookstore nearby. Backstory has a nice atmosphere, a good book selection and friendly staff. Ordering online works smoothly and you can sip a cup of coffee or a glass of wine there. What more does a bookworm need?