Cecil Court is a small street in London where every old book fan will feel at home. You can find it between St. Martin’s Lane and Charing Cross Rd, close to Wyndham’s Theatre. It’s easy to walk past it if you’re unaware of it, but if you’re into vintage books, maps, and similar items, it should be a must-see location on your London itinerary.
There are several stories built around this quirky street. It’s claimed that Cecil Court inspired J.K. Rowling to create Diagon Alley, a famous street from Harry Potter books where the magicians buy their equipment. The classical music fans will like the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart living there during his European tour. The Mozart family stayed at barber John Couzin’s for nearly four months, and his show used to sell tickets for Mozart’s first London concert.
If you need more reasons to visit Cecil Court, just know that you can find all kinds of treasures in its many bookshops. They sell more than books; there’s a big selection of old maps, posters, etc.
