There was a good one near Liverpool St Station. Can't remember the name (went there a good 5 years ago) but it was in Artilliary Row or Gunpowder Lane I think.
Also Kelvin Hughes in the Minories near Aldgate if its still there.
That's the one! I go regularly it has a good selection of books guides charts etc. Exit the tube towards the Embankment, turn right, walk under the bridge and you will see it on your right.
Force 4 Liverpool St. and Victoria Sta., Captain Watts in Piccadilly and also Kelvin Hughes in the Minories have all closed.
I think Ocean Leisure is the only Central London one left.
Would be pleased to hear otherwise.
Stanfords in Long Acre have a small selection of books / guides.
Yup, LYC has closed, along with O.M. Watts, Kelvin Hughes (just the shop - they're now online) and Force 4.
Only London Chandleries are now Ocean Leisure - some books, not cheap at all, but good range of oilskins. It's a combined chandlery and dive shop.
Otherwise there's Arthur Beale, at the Eastern end of Shaftesbury Av - Covent Garden tube, up Neal St, and turn right at the top. No books, good selection of rope, some fittings - mostly traditional.
Chas Newens on the Putney Embankment is mainly for motorboats.
Stanfords on Long Acre is probably your best bet - go downstairs for pilots etc. Not a bad selection, considering.
Rumour has it that Beales is/was* there not because it serves/served* London's yotties, but because it served the riggers working in theatreland with all the lines, blocks, cleats, etc they needed to make scenery go up and down, to let actors 'fly', etc.
As to Ocean Leisure, it has a bit, but it always strikes me as mostly a dive shop, with a bit of sailing stuff shoved into some empty space at the back.
Arthur Beales is dead easy to find.... simply find where New Oxford Street joins Shaftesbury avenue (Holborn end), and you'll see at the very top of Shaftesbury avenue where it splits (Bury Avenue?), an old shop tucked in on the left hand side... its a lovely little place!
Easiest way to find it is to get off at Holborn tube, and walk up New Oxford Street (stright out of Holborn tube and across the road).... go past drury lane up to St Giles Circus, and turn left down Shaftesbury avenue, and as you hit the first ticket bucket shop you'll see Arthur Beales on your left
my theory is that, having not changed the appearance of the shop for twenty years and also having adopted a policy of being shut most of the time, all govt officials fail to gain entrance and/or assume they ceased trading yonks ago....