Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England London Word on the Water
AO Edited

Word on the Water

This 1920s Dutch barge is now a floating bookstore.

London, England

Added By
Naomi Chan-Armstrong
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
London’s floating bookstore.   Ungry Young Man/cc by 2.0
Word on the Water, pictured in 2015.   David Skinner/cc by 2.0
London’s bookbarge.   Matt Brown/cc by 2.0
The book barge.   David Skinner/cc by 2.0
One of the frequent musicians.   Naomiadventures / Atlas Obscura User
Star the dog.   Naomiadventures / Atlas Obscura User
The bookbarge open in the winter.   Naomiadventures / Atlas Obscura User
Word on the Water.   Naomiadventures / Atlas Obscura User
It’s a comfortable place to relax.   Naomiadventures / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Cosy interior   greggc80 / Atlas Obscura User
  greggc80 / Atlas Obscura User
Word on the Water.   Naomiadventures / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
Word on the Water (April 2025)   dustinfuhs / Atlas Obscura User
Live music at Word on the Water   Word on the Water / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

A most unusual barge floats on Regents Canal, which flows amid the office-littered landscape of King's Cross. Step aboard the vessel, and you’ll find a trove of literary treasures waiting to be discovered.

Word on the Water, a 1920s Dutch barge, houses an assortment of cult, classic and contemporary fiction and nonfiction books, as well as a large array of children’s books. Its items fill the space both inside and outside the barge, so even those a bit wary of stepping off solid ground can still peruse parts of its collection.

The shop, which is the brainchild of Paddy Screech, Jonathan Privett and Stephane Chaudat, has been open for nearly a decade. But it wasn’t always so easy to find. Previously, canal regulations meant the barge had to change location every couple of weeks, popping up wherever its owners could get a spot. After breaking the rules and squatting in one location for six months, the canal trust finally relented and gave the bookshop boat a permanent berth—thanks largely to public outcry and a successful campaign led by the shop’s many supporters.

In its spot along Regents Canal, the barge has become much more than a bookstore. In the winter, its woodburning stove is lit, offering bookworms of all ages a cozy refuge from the dreary cold. In the summer, the barge hosts a variety of performances, bringing anything from folk groups to jazz bands to poetry slams to its rooftop garden.

Word on the Water is a beloved feature of Granary Square, an area developed out of the old King's Cross train sheds. The particular stretch of Regent's Canal the barge sits on is home to a small portion of London's large boating community, some irascible geese and swans, as well as a fine scattering of moorhens.

Related Tags

Bookstores Books Stores Boats Shops

Know Before You Go

The nearest station is King's Cross St Pancras, then follow signs to the Regent's canal. The book barge is open daily from noon to 7:00 p.m., regardless of weather. See the store's Facebook page for its schedule of upcoming events.

Community Contributors

Added By

Naomiadventures

Edited By

SEANETTA, zydeko, Word on the Water, lsz11495...

  • SEANETTA
  • zydeko
  • Word on the Water
  • lsz11495
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • rbenn250
  • cait7911
  • greggc80
  • dustinfuhs

Published

September 19, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/world/europe/london-canal-bookstore.html
  • http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/word-on-the-water-how-london-s-most-famous-floating-bookshop-made-it-to-king-s-cross-1-5450303
Word on the Water
Regent's Canal Towpath
Kings Cross
London, England
United Kingdom
51.535415, -0.123476
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Queer Britain

London, England

miles away

The King's Cross Ice Well

London, England

miles away

Gasholders

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Nearby Places

Queer Britain

London, England

miles away

The King's Cross Ice Well

London, England

miles away

Gasholders

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Related Stories and Lists

The Ultimate Guide to Wondrous Independent Bookstores

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • New York, New York

    Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks

    Spiral-bound community recipes and antiquarian gems mingle at this small East Village shop.

  • Bucharest, Romania

    Cărturești Carusel Bookstore

    This once-derelict building is now one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.

  • Atlantis Books.

    Thira, Greece

    Atlantis Books

    A quirky bookstore hidden beneath a sea of whitewashed Greek villas.

  • Dallas, Texas

    Half Price Books Flagship Store

    A Texas-sized secondhand bookstore features 54,000 square feet of books, music, and media.

  • To the left

    San Francisco, California

    34 Trinity Arts & News

    The last used bookstore in Downtown San Francisco is one of the smallest bookstores just about anywhere.

  • Inside the shop

    Morganton, North Carolina

    Green Eggs and Jam

    An eclectic store sells obscure vinyl recordings of Charles Manson and Jim Jones, along with many other oddities.

  • Chamblin Bookmine

    Jacksonville, Florida

    Chamblin Bookmine

    A sprawling maze of used books piled from floor to ceiling.

  • Photo by theorigamibandit@gmail.com

    Kansas City, Missouri

    Prospero's Books

    This unconventional used book store was once in the news for the surprising act of burning books.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.