Bookshop

Word On The Water - The London Bookbarge

Name: Word On The Water - The London Bookbarge
Address: Regent's Canal Towpath, London, England, GB

7 locals recommend,

Why locals recommend it

London’s only floating bookshop, this has become one of the great landmarks of the city’s canals. It sometimes moves between Kings Cross and Victoria Park but has a permanent home at Granary Square behind Kings Cross. Walking along the canals to find it is all part of the fun. It sometimes hosts gigs and poetry readings. I’ve moored up next to the owner before, a proper stalwart of the canals. He was living on them when they were just empty waterways, long before all the hipster stuff opened five or so years ago.

Luke

January 21, 2017

Tips from locals

SynthAccommodation

February 17, 2022

You may not expect to find your favourite book floating on Regent’s Canal, but this London book barge is exactly where those in the know head to find theirs. Word on the Water, a bookstore on a barge, is truly a book-lovers paradise. Every nook and cranny of this 100-year-old Dutch barge is stacked with neat rows of new and used classics, cult, contemporary fiction and a large range of children’s books.

Kasia

July 16, 2020

Quirky bookstore on a canal barge offering indoor & outdoor shelves for a wide variety of titles.

Gerda

October 19, 2019

This secondhand bookshop on a 1920s Dutch barge narrow boat is an unusual, funky little place that moves around the Regent’s Canal. There is something very satisfying about seeing a space stuffed to the brim with books. The first time I went in, I resurfaced 45 minutes later, not sure where the time went. Occasionally there are poetry slams or musicians playing gigs on the roof. Check the Facebook page for events and the boat’s location that day.