Good book store in Calgary & central London for...

Hi

I am going to be doing some traveling soon with some time in Calgary and a day in Central London. Anyone know of some good book stores where I can pick up some good chess books? I am from South Africa and even the good book stores here don't have much of a selection. Pretty much everything is mailorder - so you can get it but you can't browse to help you make your choice between the many books available out there.

Thanks

Originally posted by Mutt n Stu
Hi

I am going to be doing some traveling soon with some time in Calgary and a day in Central London. Anyone know of some good book stores where I can pick up some good chess books? I am from South Africa and even the good book stores here don't have much of a selection. Pretty much everything is mailorder - so you can get it but you can't browse to help you make your choice between the many books available out there.

Thanks

There are two specialist chess shops in central London,

Chess and Bridge is between Gt. Portland Street tube and Goodge Street Tube.

British Chess Magazine shop is on Baker Street.

The London Chess Centre is supposed to be excellent:
http://www.chess.co.uk/

I have bought stuff from them via their website. They were pretty efficient and the people I dealt with were all chess players (I think International Master Malcolm Pein owns the place).

Edit: Following on from Jonathan B's post - the London Chess Centre is the same place as Chess and Bridge.

Originally posted by Fat Lady
The London Chess Centre is supposed to be excellent:
http://www.chess.co.uk/

I have bought stuff from them via their website. They were pretty efficient and the people I dealt with were all chess players (I think International Master Malcolm Pein owns the place).

Edit: Following on from Jonathan B's post - the London Chess Centre is the same place as Chess and Bridge.

Not the cheapest place to get stuff, but then again, if you're around town or don't have internet access it's got a pretty good selection of books.

Just don't offer 'em book tokens at the till. It's a very bad idea.

Further to my original post:-

most of the larger bookshops
Waterstones on Picadilly
Foyles on Charing Cross Road
Borders (various)
etc etc
will have chess sections.

Foyles used to be HUGE (bigger even than chess and bridge) but is now relatively modest.

My personal favourite is BCM shop on Baker Street. Last time I went there they were giving out free chocolates :-)

Originally posted by Fat Lady
The London Chess Centre is supposed to be excellent:
http://www.chess.co.uk/

I have bought stuff from them via their website. They were pretty efficient and the people I dealt with were all chess players (I think International Master Malcolm Pein owns the place).

Edit: Following on from Jonathan B's post - the London Chess Centre is the same place as Chess and Bridge.

You're right about Malcolm Pein owning the place. He was in there last time I dropped by (a few days ago).

J

Originally posted by Mutt n Stu
Hi

I am going to be doing some traveling soon with some time in Calgary and a day in Central London. Anyone know of some good book stores where I can pick up some good chess books? I am from South Africa and even the good book stores here don't have much of a selection. Pretty much everything is mailorder - so you can get it but you can't browse to help you make your choice between the many books available out there.

Thanks

You are going to Calgary!? I am moving there a soon as possible...but I don't know of any good book stores.

Originally posted by Fat Lady
The London Chess Centre is supposed to be excellent:
http://www.chess.co.uk/

I have bought stuff from them via their website. They were pretty efficient and the people I dealt with were all chess players (I think International Master Malcolm Pein owns the place).

Edit: Following on from Jonathan B's post - the London Chess Centre is the same place as Chess and Bridge.

I highly recommend Chess & Bridge too - www.chess.co.uk on the Euston road...great selection and great service. Their magazine is really worth subscribing too...(IMHO)

Originally posted by tomtom232
You are going to Calgary!? I am moving there a soon as possible...but I don't know of any good book stores.

Yep. More like passing through. Going to Whitehorse?! first to do some dogsledding and then down to Fernie for some skiing. I think we have something like 3 nights in Calgary altogether but just really in transit and never there longer than a day.