Secret Lives & Other Stories

Stanfords was established in 1853 and opened their iconic Covent Garden flagship store in 1901. They have become the top retailer of maps, travel books and accessories in the UK and arguably offer the largest selection of maps and travel books worldwide. Famous names such as Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Ranulph Fiennes and Michael Palin have purchased from Stanfords. They now have a shop in Bristol and both stores together with other venues operate a calendar of events including talks, book signings and exhibitions. As a specialist map retailer, the map selection is comprehensive and includes road maps, street maps and walking maps from worldwide destinations, as well as a selection of world atlases and wall maps. Books include travel guides and travel literature. Stanfords also stock globes, from miniatures made of blue marble to magnificent floor-standing globes. The website features a selection of interesting articles on travel topics.