If you live in the capital, love books and are looking for a pastime, why not join a book club? We’ve featured 10 of the best book clubs in London below.
1. Wimbledon Book Club
Wimbledon Book Club is a book club operating in Wimbledon, London. Group organizer Gerard helps ensure that this book club remains an open, welcoming space for people who enjoy reading. Wimbledon Book Club was founded in 2008 and is committed to remaining an independent reading organization that welcomes book lovers who enjoy books in various genres, such as romantic fiction, crime fiction, science fiction and others.
Titles that Wimbledon Book Club has gone over include “Zeno’s Conscience” by Italo Svevo and “Rebecca” by Daphne Du Maurier. The book club meetings happen near Wimbledon, in London, and occur monthly on Monday. Most Wimbledon Book Club’s book club members are in their 20s and 30s.
Reach out to Wimbledon Book Club!
2. Fantasy Book Club
Based in central London, England, Fantasy Book Club is a book club that welcomes people of all ages and genders who are interested in reading fantasy novels together with other like-minded individuals. Books that Fantasy Book Club is interested in and read include those classified as horror, erotic fantasy, post-apocalyptic fantasy, and more.
For examples of some of the past books that Fantasy Book Club has read, look at “The Bone Shard Daughter” by Andrea Stewart and “The Queens of Innis Lear” by Tessa Gratton. Book club meetings happen monthly on Tuesday evenings at different venues in London, England.
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3. Silent Book Club
Silent Book Club is an international book club with a chapter in London, England. The concept of Silent Book Club is, as the name suggests: a book club for silent reading. With few exceptions, such as when Silent Book Club has special theme reading nights for genres like non-fiction books, the book club welcomes participants to bring the books that they are currently reading on their own to enjoy silently alongside other book club members
Meeting Thursday afternoons for their online book club meetings, Silent Book Club’s London chapter is run by a team of organizers, including Si Ning, Murali, Jon and Andrew. Aside from the usual silent reading sessions, Silent Book Club also offers the opportunity for members to join different activities with other Silent Book Club members, including walks in the area, quizzes and in-person events.
Speak to Silent Book Club!
4. Putney Book Club
Situated in Putney, London, Putney Book Club is a book club hosted by group organizer Scarlett. She leads a tight-knit group of over 50 book club members who are passionate about reading books and enjoying a glass of wine. The book club welcomes women interesting in reading and seeks to be a women-only supportive book reading environment.
“The Trio” by Johanna Hedman and “The Lost Apothecary” by Sarah Penner are examples of the kinds of novels Putney Book Club often reads. Venues may vary between pubs, restaurants and bars but will all lie around Putney, London. Book choices are voted upon by book club members and the location will be posted on their Meetup.com page.
Contact Putney Book Club for more details.
5. Tooting Book Club
Tooting Book Club is a book club serving book readers in Tooting, England. Today, the book club, under the leadership of organizers George E Cook and Elaine Fricker, has grown to over 1,000 book club members. Book club members read the agreed-upon book every month in time for the next book club meeting, where members engage in a great discussion and a drink at their regular haunt.
Past books read and discussed by Tooting Book Club include “Machines Like Me” by Ian McEwan and “Leave the World Behind” by Rumaan Alam. Book club meetings are usually held on Tuesday evenings at The Trafalgar Arms on Tooting High Street in Attendance at the in-person meetings costs each participant £2 per meeting.
Discover more about Tooting Book Club here!
6. Empowerment Book Club
With over 660 active participants, Empowerment Book Club is a book club full of ambitious, passionate individuals who are looking for new ways to improve themselves. It all starts with reading a self-improvement book with the rest of the group and meeting up once a month to discuss the contents and any personal takeaways book club members may have discovered.
Empowerment Book Club’s book club meetings are free of charge and all held online on the meeting platform Zoom. Meetings on Monday afternoons and cover self-improvement books like “Think & Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill and “The Power of the Subconscious Mind” by Dr. Joseph Murphy.
Learn more about Empowerment Book Club!
7. Wild Women Book Club
Wild Women Book Club is a book club based in London, England. Group leader Marina helps manage this group of over 270 group participants. The book club welcomes women of all backgrounds and ages who are passionate about reading material and discussing topics relevant to women in today’s society.
Participants will benefit from the strong camaraderie and fellowship that Wild Women Book Club provides its members. The book club is working its way, chapter by chapter, through “Women Who Run With the Wolves” by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Meetings are usually held on Sunday mornings at St. James’ Cafe on Horse Guards Road.
For more information about Wild Women Book Club, reach out to Wild Women Book Club!
8. London Wine and Dine Book Club
For those who love to drink as much as they love to read, London Wine and Dine Book Club is the place for you. Group leader Robert helps run this book club, which has over 1,000 members today. The book club welcomes all readers and book lovers, no matter what genre you might be into, to their book club meetings. For those who are coming for the first time, remember to bring £3 for participation.
Some of the books that participants at London Wine and Dine Book Club have enjoyed together include “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens and “The Red Prince” by Timothy Snyder. London Wine and Dine Book Club meets once a month at various restaurants in central London.
Take a look at London Wine and Dine Book Club!
9. Afro-Caribbean Book Club
Members of the Afro-Caribbean community who love to read books by authors of Afro-Caribbean, African or Afro-American heritage may want to join the Afro-Caribbean Book Club. The club exists to support black writers, and create an environment for people to make friends and learn about different cultures.
Examples of previous books read and discussed by members of this group include “An Orchestra of Minorities” by Chigozie Obioma and “Black and British: A Forgotten History” by David Olusoga. Meetings take place twice a month at different locations.
Find out more about Afro-Caribbean Book Club!
10. The Asian Book Club
In operation since 2008, The Asian Book Club is London-based book club open to anyone who has an interest in Asian books and culture. The book club runs monthly meetings to discuss books at locations in central London, which are hosted by its members, and on occasion invites the authors of books being discussed to meetings. Trips to events and festivals related to literature are also organised by the book club, as are annual socials including a Christmas party!
Numerous books have been discussed at The Asian Book Club over the years, of which a couple of examples include “Earthlings” by Sayaka Murata and “The In-between World of Vikram Lall” by M.G. Vassanji.
Contact The Asian Book Club to find out how you can get involved!