Ely is a town full of charm and beauty, and home to one of the most magnificent cathedrals in England. More importantly, it is also home to the even more charming and beautiful Topping & Company Ely. If you visit Ely’s tourist information webpage, the bookshop is not even listed under “Attractions”! I feel like writing them a letter about it.

The shop covers several floors, offers complimentary tea and coffee, and even has a bookshop dog, peacefully asleep under one of the tables.

Before I tell you about their recommendations, let me just say that they were very small and cost almost nothing. “You get five of them for the price of a cup of coffee. And you can have one here anyway, complimentary!”

Which is very true. And besides, they were lovely small little books.

Their recommendation? The Crocked House.

Bonus: Five of Penguin Little Black Classics.