Word on the Water is a delightful bookshop on a barge that it resides on Regent’s Canal in the King’s Cross area at Granary Square in London. It has appeared in numerous publication’s lists of best bookshops in the UK. The bookshop’s home is a Dutch canal boat called Dianti dating back to the 1920s. As well as selling books it regularly acts as a venue for live music and poetry events.
The boat used to move from place to place every 2 weeks, but that proved to be disruptive. The co-founders applied in 2014 for a permanent mooring place, which was denied. A petition was set up and the permanent mooring was granted in 2015.
One of the co-founders, John Privett, died in 2023, but the surviving founders, Paddy and Stephane are continuing to run the shop. Megan, Jon’s daughter is now also involved in curating.
We visited on a sunny afternoon and were enchanted with this lovely bookshop.
My friend Anup looks quite at home.
He did eventually leave…with a couple of books.
The bookshop is open every day, except Christmas Day, from midday until 7pm. If I lived nearby I would visit often.
Certainly looks interesting & am sure David would join you Deb in very frequent visits.
By: Camillus Davall on June 9, 2024
at 11:11 pm
It is a treasure to be sure.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 10, 2024
at 3:37 am
What a great find Deb.
By: Kerry & Jim on June 9, 2024
at 11:33 pm
Isn’t it delightful!
By: Debra Kolkka on June 10, 2024
at 3:36 am
Oh, how perfect. I like bookshops of all kinds. When I’m feeling lost in the world a bookshop is my safe haven. And I especially like ones that seem to swallow you, envelop you and promise to let you sail away on a safe sea of dreams, and ideas and reveal vistas with exciting horizons and possibilities: bookshops that entice you just by their smell. I would love to have a bookshop like this one that I could visit regularly. And did I say – I like books – oh, and notebooks – and nice pens …..
By: Jan on June 10, 2024
at 1:49 am
This is definitely right up your alley! It would be easy to spend hours there.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 10, 2024
at 3:36 am
What a lovely way to while away some time. I go often too Deb.
By: Christine on June 10, 2024
at 4:17 am
It is an excellent bookshop!
By: Debra Kolkka on June 10, 2024
at 7:08 pm
We lived in a house that backed on the Regent’s Canal near Primrose Hill and the zoo for eight years and loved every moment of it – we could hear the wolves howl in the zoo in the morning. A lovely respite from one of the world’s largest cities!!
By: Andrina Lever on June 10, 2024
at 8:14 am
London is a series of small villages around a busy centre. I love it!
By: Debra Kolkka on June 10, 2024
at 7:08 pm
What a wonderful find –
By: Elizabeth Valerie Litzow on June 10, 2024
at 8:52 am
Thank to Anup. He knows London well.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 10, 2024
at 7:09 pm
Wow what a clever idea making use of a boat so creatively 😀
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on June 10, 2024
at 10:50 pm
It is a lovely place for some book hunting.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 11, 2024
at 11:37 am
What a fascinating post! Wonderful spot to pass time in….I was thinking how solidly built that boat must be; with every join secured with crazy glue; dampness and books came to mind. But alas, NO! What a literary treat! London’s kinda special.
By: Catherine Rowley on June 13, 2024
at 8:44 pm
I would love to live nearby and be able to visit often. London is full of wonderful things to do.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 13, 2024
at 9:16 pm