You have probably walked past this West End street without even realising
Just minutes from bustling Leicester Square is a street that many Londoners haven’t even realised is there, offering a different kind of London shopping trip to the likes of Oxford Street. Home to specialist bookshops, antiques galore and even a store dedicated to Alice in Wonderland, this little street is a true London treasure.
Tucked between Charing Cross Road and St Martin’s Lane, Cecil Court is a destination for browsing unusual finds rather than familiar high-street chains. It is also rumoured to have inspired Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books, although that connection is not confirmed.
For book lovers, there’s plenty to explore – Marchpane specialises in rare and unusual children’s books and boasts a genuine 1970s prop Dalek, while Watkins is described as London’s oldest esoteric bookshop. If that isn’t enough for literary fans, there is also a whole shop devoted to Alice in Wonderland.
For a different kind of discovery, Bryars & Bryars sells antique maps, books and prints. The concentration of specialist businesses gives the street a community feel. Dr Matthew Eve, who manages Marchpane, previously told MyLondon : “We’re all very good friends. If I’m not having such a good day, I’ll just go have a natter with one of them. We help each other. If I can’t help I’ll send someone to another shop.”
A musical history
Cecil Court’s history is just as varied as its shops. Eight-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lodged here with his family between April and August 1764, making it their first London address after an initial night at an inn in Piccadilly.
They rented rooms from barber John Couzin, and Mozart and his sister set out from these lodgings to perform for King George III and Queen Charlotte. There is also a scholarly argument that Mozart composed his first symphony here, though the location remains uncertain.
The street later became a hub for the early British film trade, earning the nickname ‘Flicker Alley’. Its bookselling connections run deep too: William and Gilbert Foyle opened their first West End shop at number 16 in 1904.
There have been suggestions that the street inspired JK Rowling’s depiction of Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books. Unfortunately for avid fans, while the whimsical surroundings might give the area a magical feel, Rowling has said Cecil Court does not have an actual connection to the books.
Still hanging on
Shopkeepers credit the Cecil family’s Gascoyne Holdings with helping independent businesses remain viable on the street over the years, through a combination of supportive management and reasonable commercial rents. Tim Bryars, of Bryars & Bryars, previously told MyLondon: “They are not trying to squeeze every last penny out of us every time.”
Gascoyne Holdings told MyLondon it aims to retain the street’s character and mix of tenants rather than seek the highest possible market rent.
Whether you are hunting for a rare book or simply browsing somewhere different, Cecil Court offers plenty to discover just a short walk from Leicester Square.
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