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They say don’t judge a book by its cover but, if we’re being honest, we can’t resist beautiful things. Around the world, there are bookshops with jaw-dropping ceilings, ornate woodwork, cosy corners and pretty spiral staircases that mesmerise and capture your imagination before you even start browsing the shelves. Now, Time Out has compiled a list of the 12 most breathtaking of them all.
We’ve included a twentieth century cinema turned bookstore in Argentina, a starry mansion in New York and a centuries old church in Denmark, plus a cosy little store here in London. At number four on the list is the Big Smoke’s very own Word on the Water.
Word on the Water is a 1920s Dutch barge-turned-bookshop, with books stacked in almost every possible nook and cranny, inside and out. Once-upon-a-time, it travelled up and down Regent’s Canal but now it’s permanently floating behind Coal Drops Yard in Kings Cross.
Unlike a number of other bookshops on the list, this isn’t a grand, sprawling space. It’s a little boat decked out with planets, vintage furniture and random little treasures. It can often get crowded but if you arrive at a less busy time of day, you might be lucky enough to find a free cushioned seat next to the wood-burning stove to sit with a new read and enjoy the gentle rocks of the canal.
As for the kinds of books you’ll find, the little boat is home to hundreds of new and secondhand books ranging from children’s titles and Celtic history to poems, autobiographies and lessons on social justice. In the summer months, Word on the Water’s deck turns into a stage for live music, open mic sessions and poetry slams, and throughout the year it hosts talks on art, technology, feminism and politics. Look out for the adorable resident dog, too.
Feast your eyes on the full list of the world’s most beautiful bookshops.
And check out more of London’s many brilliant bookshops here.
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