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In 1903, teenage brothers William and Gilbert Foyle failed their civil service exams and took out an ad in a periodical to re-sell their textbooks. Receiving many enquiries, they quickly saw an opportunity, procured more textbooks, sold them on at a profit and what was to become the 'world's greatest bookshop' was born. Their turnover in the first year was £10 but nothing could waiver their conviction that their venture would make them their fortunes.

In 1904 they moved to Cecil Court - to what was then the home of the infant British film industry and now houses the largest number of the area's remaining second-hand bookshops - and took on their first assistant who promptly absconded with the day's takings. Their second assistant joined in 1905 and stayed with the company till his retirement in the 1950s. By 1906 the business had grown so substantial that the brothers moved to their first premises at 135 Charing Cross Road and immediately proclaimed themselves the largest educational booksellers in London. Business steadily increased and a move down the road to larger premises at 121 Charing Cross Road, on the corner of Manette Street, soon followed. Business continued during the First World War with William taking sole responsibility whilst Gilbert served as a driver in Flanders, and it was also during the war that the Foyles Van first became a regular sight on the streets of London, delivering purchases and picking up new stock all whilst advertising the growing stockholding of over 1 million books.