Do you live in the East End and want to join a book club? This post is for you. Below we’ve featured 10 top book clubs in East London.
1. Hackney Book Club
The Hackney Book Club was started by Facebook user, Mary Morgan. The group meets monthly, usually at Pub on the Park in Hackney or online. The location and time are posted after the book is selected for their next gathering. There are no membership fees, and everyone is welcome to join.
Books are selected each month from suggestions made by members of the group. The group then votes on which selection they want to read for the following month’s meeting, giving each member plenty of time to obtain and read the book prior to the next meeting.
Contact Hackney Book Club to find out more.
2. London Fields Book Club
If you’re looking for a good book club in Hackney, you can join the London Fields Book Club. The group meets once per month. The locations and times vary. You can check out their upcoming events to find out where and when they plan to hold their next gathering.
This group loves to read classic fiction but also tosses in a bit of contemporary fiction. They choose a different title for each monthly meeting. Some of the authors they have explored include Shirley Jackson, Patricia Highmore, Jim Crace and Harper Lee.
Reach out to the London Fields Book Club to learn more.
3. Royal Wharf Book Club
The West Silvertown Foundation in the Royal Docks area of East London hosts the Royal Wharf Book Club. Meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Any changes to this routine are announced on their Facebook page.
The book club focuses on both contemporary and classic fiction. Members of the group select and vote on the next month’s reading material at the close of each monthly meeting. On occasion the group will meet outside of the online meeting to read in the park or at another venue.
Start a conversation to find out more.
4. Brown Girls Book Club
The Brown Girls Book Club was organised by South Asian Sisters Speak. Though the group is open to all, it is geared toward Asian women. Organisers choose a female Asian author to read each month. Book genres include a variety of fiction and non-fiction books.
Meetings are in person on the second or third Thursday of every month from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Bethnal Green area. Details on the current book, where to buy it and the date of upcoming meetings can be found on Eventbrite for free sign-up.
Connect to find out more.
5. Shoreditch Book Club
Anyone is welcome to attend meetings of the Shoreditch Book Club, but it is dedicated to exploring feminist works from women authors, female publishers and books that contain strong female characters. It is organised by the Shoreditch Sisters Women’s Institute Group, but you don’t need to be a member to join in.
They meet at Spitalfields Market in the Shoreditch area of East London. Dates and times are posted on their website once the book for the upcoming month has been selected.
Connect to become a member of this group.
6. Hardbackers Book Chat
The Hardbackers Book Chat meets at the Redbridge Central Library monthly on the first Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Occasionally, they hold their meetings via Zoom at the same time. Events are posted on the library website by the organiser, Rhonda Brooks, letting members know how the meetings will be conducted.
The group is open to everyone interested in non-fiction, memoirs, biographical and autobiographical books of historical value. They are currently covering books on The Big Jubilee Read list created by the BBC in honor of the Queen’s Jubilee.
Speak to the Redbridge Central Library if you would like to know more about this group.
7. Book Club East E20
Looking for an active book club in East Village? The Book Club East E20 holds book discussions in The Hall of The Yard Theatre on the third Tuesday of each month from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The book selection is fairly eclectic reading that includes everything from contemporary celebrity memoirs to classic science fiction plus everything in between. Readers are invited to come along and participate in the book discussion or just show up and learn about the book being discussed for the first time.
Discover more about Book Club East E20.
8. East London Book Club
If you fancy a bit of book discussion and socializing, you can join the East London Book Club in Wanstead. The group meets every Monday night at 6:30 p.m. to hang out and talk books. One of those meetings each month is dedicated to discussing the monthly book selection. The dates and times vary and are posted on their Meetup page.
The books they read vary greatly in genre but are all nominated and voted on by members of the group two months prior to discussion. You aren’t required to read the book before attending a book club meeting, but it is recommended if you want to participate in the conversation.
Learn more about the East London Book Club.
9. Book Club by Bru Coffee
If you are wanting to get involved with a book club in the Walthamstow area, you can check out the Book Club event hosted monthly by Bru Coffee. Members of this book club are interested in reading all types of fiction. Selections are announced by the organiser on Eventbrite each month.
The book club meets on the final Sunday of every month during lunch, from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You can read the book or just show up for a bit of coffee or gelato to socialise and see what the chat is all about.
Start a conversation with Bru Coffee to find out more.
10. Reading Friends Zoom Book Club
Those located in the Havering are of East London can join the Reading Friends Zoom Book Club held by various libraries in the borough. The book club is held the first Monday of each month from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Rather than discussing a singular monthly selection, this book club is set up for members to talk about what they are reading or are interested in reading. The library shares the current best sellers and upcoming releases that are coming to keep participants abreast of what’s new and exciting.
Book a seat at the round table for free.