London: Word on the Water
Operating Hours:Monday - Sunday: 12:00 - 19:00
The Vibe:The bookshop that floats 📖
Moored at Granary Square behind King's Cross, this 50-year-old Dutch barge converted into a bookshop is one of London's most photographed independent retailers. Live jazz on the roof on summer weekends, a wood-burning stove below deck in winter.
Stepping down below deck, the smell of paper, canal water and wood smoke hits at once. Jazz drifts from the roof on summer evenings as canal boats chug past.
- • Moored permanently at Granary Square since 2015
- • Features a curated secondhand and new-books collection
- • Regularly listed among London's most-photographed independent shops
Persona Fit
- 📸 Photographers: One of London's most Instagrammed shops
- 📚 Literary travellers: Curated poetry and fiction
- 💕 Couples: Canal-side romance, cheap thrill
- 🎵 Music lovers: Summer jazz sets on the roof
Highlights
- Dutch barge converted to bookshop
- Rooftop summer jazz performances
- Wood-burning stove below deck in winter
- Mix of new, secondhand and rare books
- Canal-side outdoor book stall in warm months — Hidden Gem
London Local Expert
Sarah Riches
10+ years of experience
Table of Contents
Similar Options you'd love
Free Entry
