Foyles, London

Foyles is not for those who are used to faceless efficiency of superstores. There are excellent opportunities for leisurely browsing through its huge stock. It has also become much more organised in recent years, and the company has even gone so far as to modernise the logo and do away with its famously complicated system for buying books. The layout is still pretty haphazard, though: you may have to spend a while wandering round its many floors before finding what you're looking for. But, as long as you've got the time, that's part of the pleasure of Foyles. Famous for their literary lunches and now organizing evening events (for a minimal charge) with the likes of Will Self, it's well worth dropping by.