Big Ben Bookshop, Prague 1
This English language book store offers a great range of titles for children, starting with the very young and going all the way up to the young adult category. So, whether you’re buying a book for your own kids or as a gift for someone else, you’re bound to find something here.
For little ones, there are small wooden chairs to sit on and the relaxed and helpful attitude of the staff (Miro, Matt, Dennis and Nina) is a big bonus if you happen to visit the store with less than calm off-spring (like my 3-year-old).
When Albie was still in his stroller, this was the only place in Prague, where I was able to find ‘buggy-buddy’ type of books for him (the small, simple, hard cover and very colourful ones, which can be attached to the side of the stroller).
For adults, there are dictionaries, teachers’ resources and course books as well as fiction, non-fiction and bestseller titles. Books can be found and ordered online, and provided that you buy 3 titles or more, delivered postage free to anywhere within the Czech Republic. Right below the cash desk is a shelf with the latest (sometimes a few days old) English language newspapers and magazines from the UK and USA (including the International Herald Tribune, The Guardian, The New Yorker, The Economist, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and more). What I personally like is the availability of English translations of books by famous Czech authors such as Milan Kundera or Karel Capek.
The bookshop’s web pages are regularly updated, and for each book there is always a small photograph front cover as well as a brief synopsis of the content. The ‘staff recommendation section’ is a great help if you’re looking for something a little less ‘ordinary’.
Since Big Ben is an independent bookshop, it does not work for any one publisher (hence more likely to give more ‘honest’ information on which books will best suit your needs). Also, if a book is in print, Big Ben guarantees (on their website), that they can get it for you at the best price in the Czech Republic.
OPEN: Mon -Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
ADDRESS: Malá Štuparská 5, 110 00 Praha 1; Tel: +420 224 826 565; e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
DIRECTIONS: Nearest Metro is station Namesti Republiky (Yellow Line B; exit at Obecny Dum and walk for about 5 minutes towards Old Town Square. Nearest parking is available at Kotva Department Store (50 CZK p/h).
FURTHER INFORMATION: http://www.bigbenbookshop.com
