Russian-language books in Britain: where to buy them and what delivery costs

A Russian-language book costs more in Britain than in Russia, but getting hold of one is easier than it looks. London has a bookshop with a Russian section, several online shops deliver UK-wide for £3.50 to £6.99, and some books need not be bought at all — libraries lend them free. Here are four routes: the London shop, online across Britain, children's books and textbooks, and the library.

Where in London can you browse the shelves?

At the Pushkin House Bookshop in Bloomsbury. It describes itself as the UK's only English-Russian bookshop and sits inside Pushkin House, an independent cultural centre founded in 1954. The address is Charlton House, 5a Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2TA, phone 020 7269 9770. Art Fund lists the bookshop's hours as 10am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturday, closed on Sunday.

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The shop describes its Russian-language section as history, cultural studies and political science, classics and contemporary prose and poetry, and illustrated children's books from independent publishers. It also notes that an important part of that section consists of books banned in Russia and released by independent publishing houses outside the country. Proceeds go to the cultural centre, a registered UK charity.

What does delivery cost if there is no shop nearby?

Between £3.50 and £9.99 within the UK, depending on the shop and the speed.

Pushkin House ships by Royal Mail: 2nd Class usually takes 2 to 3 working days, 1st Class 1 to 2 days. Orders are dispatched within 3 to 5 working days, and that time is on top of the shipping time. Delivery is free on orders over £100. Returns are accepted for 30 days; refunds are issued for new and full-price items, with exchanges offered for second-hand or sale items. Postage does not include a tracking number by default — you have to ask before ordering, because tracking cannot be added once the parcel has gone.

Notre Locus, which carries Russian, English, Belarusian and Ukrainian sections, ships Royal Mail Tracked 48 at £6.99 (2 to 3 working days) and DHL Express at £9.99 (1 to 2 days), with free UK delivery on orders over £50. To Europe it is £30 economy over 10 to 15 working days, or free over £240.

Where do children's books, fairy tales and textbooks come from?

From the specialist children's shops, where that is the whole stock. Bookashka sorts its catalogue by age (0–3, 3–6, 6–12, 12 and over, and an adult section) and by subject, with separate categories for fairy tales, textbooks, learning to read, learning to write, maths, educational workbooks and first readers.

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Its delivery is cheaper than London retail: collection in Bexleyheath (DA7) is free and UK courier delivery is £3.50. For the EU the shop flags a warning of its own: since 1 June 2021 goods sent from the UK to the EU may attract customs duty and VAT, and although books usually fall under a zero or reduced rate, the amount is worth checking in advance. The shop is run by Russian-speaking parents long settled in Britain, as its about page explains.

How do you read for free?

Through libraries. The quickest way to find which UK library holds a given book is the Library Hub Discover catalogue: according to UCL, it covers holdings contributed by 160 national, academic and specialist libraries. UCL also notes that the British Library holds one of the world's leading research collections for Russia, Central and Eastern Europe and the former USSR, and that Senate House Library in London is strong on languages and the humanities.

Council libraries work too: joining is free, and their rooms host author events. Chelsea Library in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, SW3 5EZ, phone 020 7361 3010) runs events for adults and activities for children throughout the year.

What to check before ordering

Three things. First, the timing: "dispatched within 3 to 5 working days" and "delivery in 2 to 3 days" add up, and the book may miss the date you need it for. Second, the free-delivery threshold: it differs — £50 at one shop, £100 at another — and adding a book is sometimes cheaper than paying for postage. Third, tracking: if the book is expensive or a gift, ask for a tracked service before you pay.