Stanfords

Stanfords is a specialist British bookshop and mapping retailer focused on maps, travel literature, globes, maritime charts, navigation products, and related geographical publications. Established in London in 1853 by Edward Stanford, the business developed during a period when exploration, imperial administration, surveying, and international travel created strong demand for accurate cartographic material. It became associated with an unusually broad collection of maps and charts and has long served both individual travellers and professional users. The business originally combined retailing with cartographic and printing capabilities. At the time of its opening, it was described as London's only mapmaker, and it employed John Bolton as an in-house cartographer. The operation expanded from its original premises to 7 and 8 Charing Cross and later acquired premises at Trinity Place for printing. The Long Acre site in Covent Garden became the centre of the company's printing activity before the wider operation moved there in January 1901. This combination of shop, publisher, printer, and specialist map supplier helped establish Stanfords as more than a conventional bookseller. Stanfords' historical customer base included explorers, mountaineers, aviators, writers, public institutions, and professional organisations. Names associated with the shop include David Livingstone, Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton, Florence Nightingale, Ranulph Fiennes, Bill Bryson, and Michael Palin. The company also supplied charts for Amy Johnson's solo flight to Australia and has provided cartographic material for the British Army. Its maps have additionally been used in the production of James Bond films. The brand's literary profile was reinforced when Arthur Conan Doyle referred to the shop, under the slightly altered name “Stamfords,” in The Hound of the Baskervilles. The company expanded beyond London retail. A second shop opened in Bristol in 1997, while a Manchester-based business division provided mapping services for commercial and planning applications, including large-scale maps. A Spring Gardens bookshop operated from 2003 to 2013. To mark its 150th anniversary in 2003, Stanfords installed a large National Geographic world map in vinyl across the ground floor of its London store, with additional maps displayed on other floors. In the twenty-first century, Stanfords continued to combine physical retail, specialist publishing and business mapping with an online presence. In 2015 it assumed sponsorship of the Dolman Travel Book Award, which became the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards. In 2018 the company moved its principal London shop to 7 Mercer Walk in Covent Garden; the Long Acre premises closed in January 2019. The business closed temporarily in March 2020 during the coronavirus-related restrictions and later reopened in 2021 after a crowdfunding appeal helped provide funds for its recovery. On 31 January 2022, Stanfords acquired the Bookharbour business from OneOcean, broadening its offer in charts and navigation products. Its positioning remains that of a specialist destination for geographical knowledge, travel planning, exploration, and professional cartographic needs.

Stanfords was established in London in 1853 by Edward Stanford as a specialist mapmaking and bookselling business. Its emergence coincided with an era of extensive exploration, surveying, overseas administration, and commercial travel, all of which increased demand for reliable maps and geographical information. The shop was associated with John Bolton, who worked as an in-house cartographer, and it developed a reputation for combining retail expertise with the production and supply of cartographic material. The early business expanded from its original premises to 7 and 8 Charing Cross. It also acquired premises at Trinity Place for printing, while the Long Acre premises in Covent Garden became the location of the company's printing business. The whole operation moved to Long Acre in January 1901. This historical combination of bookselling, mapmaking, printing, and specialist supply distinguished Stanfords from ordinary bookshops and made it a significant destination for geographical and travel-related material. Stanfords' customers and users included explorers, mountaineers, writers, medical figures, aviators, government bodies, and military organisations. The business is associated with David Livingstone, Robert Scott, Ernest Shackleton, Florence Nightingale, Ranulph Fiennes, Bill Bryson, and Michael Palin. It supplied charts for Amy Johnson's solo flight to Australia and provided cartography for the British Army. The shop's cultural presence also extended into fiction: in Arthur Conan Doyle's 1902 novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sherlock Holmes orders a large-scale Ordnance Survey map from a business referred to as “Stamfords.” The premises suffered an incendiary bomb attack on the night of 15 April 1941. The shop survived because tightly stacked Ordnance Survey maps on the upper floors helped prevent the fire from spreading. In the postwar and modern periods, Stanfords maintained its London base while expanding geographically and commercially. A Bristol shop opened in 1997. The company also developed a Manchester division supplying mapping for business customers, including large-scale maps used in planning applications. A Spring Gardens bookshop operated from 2003 until 2013. The business marked its 150th anniversary in 2003 with a large National Geographic world map printed on vinyl and installed across the ground floor of the shop. Maps of the Himalaya and London were displayed on other floors, reinforcing the company's identity as a destination built around geographical objects as well as books. In 2015 Stanfords became sponsor of the Dolman Travel Book Award, which was renamed the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards. Stanfords opened a new shop at 7 Mercer Walk in Covent Garden in 2018. The former Long Acre site closed in January 2019. Like many physical retailers, the company was affected by the coronavirus pandemic: the shop closed in March 2020 following restrictions and a loss of business. A crowdfunding appeal helped finance its reopening in 2021. On 31 January 2022, Stanfords acquired Bookharbour from OneOcean, extending its range of maritime charts and navigation products. The surviving business combines specialist retail, travel publishing, cartographic expertise, and business mapping services.

• 2022

  Bookharbour acquisition

  [1]Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Stanfords acquires Bookharbour from OneOcean on 31 January, expanding its charts and navigation offering.

• 2021

  Reopening after pandemic closure

  [1]Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Following a temporary closure during the pandemic, the business reopens with support from a crowdfunding appeal.

• 2019

  Long Acre location closes

  [1]Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org

  The former Long Acre site closes in January after the London operation moves to Mercer Walk.

• 2018

  New Covent Garden shop opens

  [1]Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org

  A new Stanfords location opens at 7 Mercer Walk in Covent Garden.

• 2015

  Travel writing award sponsorship begins

  [1]Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Stanfords takes over sponsorship of the Dolman Travel Book Award, renamed the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards.

• 2003

  150th-anniversary map installation

  [1]Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org

  The company marks its 150th anniversary with a large National Geographic world map installed on the shop floor.

• 1997

  Bristol expansion

  [1]Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Stanfords opens a second retail location in Bristol.

• 1941

  The shop survives wartime bombing

  [1]Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org

  An incendiary bomb strikes the business on 15 April, but tightly stacked Ordnance Survey maps help prevent the fire from spreading through the shop.

• 1901

  The operation moves to Long Acre

  [1]Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org

  The company's wider operation moves to its Long Acre premises in Covent Garden, which had housed its printing activity.

• 1853

  Stanfords is established in London

  [1]Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Edward Stanford establishes the specialist mapmaking and travel bookselling business in London.

A heritage specialist retailer and mapping provider serving travellers, explorers, map enthusiasts, maritime users, professional planners, and readers of travel literature.

• Cartography

  Maps

  Maps are the core of Stanfords' historic identity. Its range covers geographical, travel, topographical, regional, city, and other specialist cartographic publications. The business is particularly associated with large and detailed maps used by travellers, explorers, enthusiasts, and professional customers.

• Books

  Travel books and guides

  Stanfords sells travel writing, destination books, guidebooks, geographical reference works, and related literature. This range supports both practical trip planning and the broader literary culture of travel, reflected in the company's association with the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards.

• Geographical products

  Globes

  Globes form part of Stanfords' physical geography and educational assortment. They extend the brand's map expertise into three-dimensional geographical products for domestic, educational, professional, and decorative use.

• Navigation · 2022

  Maritime charts and navigation products

  The maritime range includes charts and navigation-related products associated with marine travel and professional or recreational navigation. The 2022 acquisition of Bookharbour from OneOcean was intended to broaden this part of Stanfords' assortment.

• Professional mapping

  Business mapping services

  Through its Manchester-based business division, Stanfords provides mapping for commercial purposes, including large-scale maps used in planning applications. This service extends the company beyond consumer retail into professional cartographic support.

• 2015Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards

  United Kingdom

  Stanfords assumed sponsorship of the annual Dolman Travel Book Award and gave it the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards name, linking the retailer with the promotion and recognition of travel literature.

  Outcome. The award became an ongoing branded association between Stanfords and travel writing.

  Source
• 2003150th-anniversary National Geographic world map

  United Kingdom

  For its 150th anniversary, Stanfords installed a £40,000 National Geographic world map printed on vinyl across the ground floor of its London shop, with further large maps displayed on other floors.

  Outcome. The installation served as a public demonstration of the shop's cartographic heritage and specialist positioning.

  Source

• 2022

  Acquisition of BookharbourM&A

  Background

  Stanfords sought to strengthen its selection of maritime charts and navigation products.

  Action taken

  The company acquired the Bookharbour business from OneOcean on 31 January 2022.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition expanded Stanfords' charts and navigation range.

  Source

• 2020

  Temporary pandemic closureStrategy

  Background

  Coronavirus-related restrictions and reduced customer activity caused a substantial loss of business for the physical shop.

  Action taken

  Stanfords closed the shop in March 2020 and later sought public financial support through a crowdfunding appeal.

  Aftermath

  The appeal helped fund a reopening in 2021.

  Source

• 2018

  Relocation to Mercer WalkStrategy

  Background

  Stanfords maintained a long-established presence in Covent Garden while its historic Long Acre premises had become associated with the brand's earlier retail and printing operations.

  Action taken

  The company opened a new shop at 7 Mercer Walk in Covent Garden.

  Aftermath

  The Long Acre location closed in January 2019, leaving Mercer Walk as the newer London retail base.

  Source

1. 1Stanfordsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Stanfords official websitestanfords.co.uk