Its an unexpected oasis of calm and peace amid the hectic pace of long distance rail travel. Sandwiched between king s cross and st pancras railway stations is the regents canal. Enjoy these free and unusual things to do in kings cross. Jan 01, 20 kings cross is both a constantly changing physical space and a state of mind with an interesting history.
Why the word on the water bookbarge is now a permanent fixture. Originally elizabeth bay, potts point, rushcutters bay and parts of darlinghurst and i was on a bus visiting kings cross for the first time when a woman pulled a knife on me. I like to start the day with brunch and so does london in general. It is also believed to be the location of the legendary battle between queen boudicca and roman invaders. And for over 140 years the canal brought coal, goods and building materials to london.
A pictorial history of kings cross station kings cross station is named in honour of george iv. Jonathan privett tells clare hand about his fight to remain on the canal in kings cross. Londons canalboat bookstore finds a berth, and success the. Comparable in size to trafalgar square, it is part of the larger king s cross central development. King s cross has been a place of trade since roman times. It used to wander up and down the canal but now its permanent home is by granary square. Kings cross then and now in pictures art and design. The regents canal was built to link the grand junction canals paddington arm, which opened in 1801, with the thames at limehouse. Since we are committed to marginalised and innovative social and cultural practices, we are more likely to have books on women artists or dissident life than coffeetable books on iconic figures. Arizona canal 1883 the arizona canal was begun in may 1883 by the arizona canal company, which was formed in december 1882. So get some fresh air and discover london on foot just dont go for a pint in the. Hurlingham books is one of my favourite bookshops in london and i love squeezing through the tight bookcases here.
The butty coronis in its setting within the london canal museum at kings cross londons one and only canal and waterways museum can be found at battlebridge basin, just to the east of kings cross station at 12 new wharf road, a short walk from either kings crossst pancras or the towpath at either york way or caledonian road. But have you thought about that waterway you pass as your train leaves the station. Luis borges the library of babel, a short story about a library which holds all books. Dec 27, 2019 the whole idea of a floating bookstore is just so quaint and charming. Regents canal towpath kings cross, london opening hours 12pm 7pm. This can be seen today in the old buildings, the layout of the streets, and in the stories of the communities based here.
Bobbing upanddown in london, england at regents canal, is the utterly unique word on the water bookshop. Foyles, on bookfamous charing cross road in central london. Things to do near king s cross station on tripadvisor. Covering the destruction of the two world wars, as well as a range of national and colonial entanglements, the world aflame is a heartbreaking visual rendition of the wartorn decades that defined the 20th century, brought to life by. The opening in 1916 of the kings cross theatre, a picture palace showing movies and newsreels, marked the start of the area as an entertainment precinct. It is served by london kings cross railway station, the terminus of one of the major rail routes between london and the north the area has been regenerated since the mid1990s with the terminus of the eurostar rail service at st pancras international opening in 2007 and the rebuilding of king. Why the word on the water bookbarge is now a permanent. They carry a wide variety of books, including classics, modern fiction, history, poetry, childrens books, among others. The history of london kings cross station the story of london king s cross station is one of decline and renewal. Roman remains suggest it may have been the site of a crossing of the fleet river. Word on the water, a floating bookshop in london kings cross.
It is served by london king s cross railway station, the terminus of one of the major rail routes between london and the north the area has been regenerated since the mid1990s with the terminus of the eurostar rail service at st pancras international opening in 2007 and the rebuilding of king. Kings cross is witnessing a dramatic transformation, with a new city rising above, alongside and within some of the countrys most compelling railway heritage. Sex, pubs and rocknroll kings cross has it all, and so much more from a fishandchip shop once bugged by mi5 to londons most enduring radical bookshop. We also have a very wide selection of secondhand books, usually at least 900 titles. The canals survived because of that, and so will books and bookstores. Open for the map of our walk and details of the places we visited jens. I can just remember what it was, dim memories of jigging at. The kings cross st pancras area is a good place for rest as there are plenty of eat places in the stations and granary square is a great place to people watch. Admit it you travel through kings cross and st pancras stations every day. Word on the water will be based at granary square, near kings cross station, after the. This book includes a chapter on the canal, mainly a history of kings cross. Sep 02, 2019 the canal corridor is a series of interlocking spaces along the regents canal extending through the historic core of the king s cross development, connecting maiden lane bridge at york way to the east and the railway bridge accessing st pancras station to the west. The architect was stephen geary, who exhibited a model of the kings cross at the royal academy in 1830.
Jean and i took a whistlestop tour of londons independent bookshops. The regents canal dock, at the junction with the thames, closed to shipping in 1969 and this was the final nail in the coffin for this once bustling waterway. Venture beyond king s cross railway station explore this hip and creative neighborhood with a local by your side. In 1883, after some years of negotiation, the canal was sold to a company called the regents canal and city docks railway company. Sex, pubs and rocknroll king s cross has it all, and so much more.
The authors of the bestselling the colour of time, return with this stunning, harrowing portrayal of the conflicts that ravaged the world between 1914 and 1945. Here, weve rounded up the best london bookshops, and its a real pageturner. Dec 12, 2019 king s cross is packed with accommodations, including the occasional canal houseboat on airbnb around. This may seem like a very odd thing to encourage but its really only one grave where this is a. This article is about kings langley in hertfordshire, england.
Word on the water shopping in kings cross, london time out. Regents canal at kings cross discover this hidden gem. Walk up the caledonian road, check out popular night spots, explore the beautiful canal and more. In london, its easy to find a bookstore that floats your boat. Of all the remarkable transformations in supergentrified london, that of kings cross is the most astonishing. Londons floating bookshop word on the water saved from. I know there are lots of beautiful bookshops in london and on this list but i think hurlingham books has to take top spot for me. It is most suited to those with an interest in the canal and want more than a. The area now known as king s cross lay approximately 2 km northwest of the roman settlement of londinium. Kings langley is a historic village and civil parish in hertfordshire, england, 21 miles 34 km northwest of central london to the south of the chiltern hills and now part of the london commuter belt. The word on the water is second hand bookshop, a little gem in the kings cross area with an amazing atmosphere, a great collection and even a stage to perform. Regents canal in kings cross is an unusual site for a bookstore.
Word on the water the london bookbarge home facebook. Word on the water, a floating bookshop in london kings. The history of london kings cross station network rail. Fitting, perhaps, that our pictorial history of the grand london terminus born. And from 1820 until the 1960s, regents canal played an important part in this trade. See london from a different perspective by gliding along the water in a kayak. This history is in the fabric of king s cross and is a big part of what makes it a special place. B ritons have been urged to avoid nonessential travel to help beat coronavirus but exercise is permitted. You will then be returned to kings cross where you left. Its run by a pair of top notch lit grads who you can learn a l. At the london canal museum you can see inside a narrowboat cabin, learn about the history of londons canals, about the cargoes carried, the people who lived and worked on the waterways, and the horses that pulled their boats. Regents canal is a canal across an area just north of central london, england.
A nogo zone of derelict train sheds and coal stores has become a land of high end shops, canalside hangouts and dancing fountains. The history of regents canal in its heyday, the canal was strictly for business only. A 1920s dutch barge has been lovingly transformed into a floating bookshop. Canalbookshop is based at audlem mill, by the shropshire union canal in cheshire. Curious kings cross with andrew whitehead housmans. Inside the main line station, theres the magic of platform 9.
The first watermark bookshop in europe has opened in the new london kings cross concourse with 7,000 books available for sale across the 1,100 sq ft shop. The area now known as kings cross lay approximately 2 km northwest of the roman settlement of londinium. It provides a link from the paddington arm of the grand union canal, 550 yards 500 m northwest of paddington basin in the west, to the limehouse basin and the river thames in east london. In the event of rain or cold weather the boat has transparent covers and a heater. It is bounded by the suburbs of potts point, elizabeth bay, rushcutters bay and darlinghurst. Expect circus performances, live music, river tours, fun activities for all the family, delicious food, and of course fleets of colourful narrowboats. This shop is in sydneys legendary kings cross area, which has provided alternatives to this countrys normalcy and suburbia for the last 80 years.
It used to travel along regents canal, but its now taken up. The force behind regents canal, and indeed much of regency london was john nash. From paddington basin to kings cross via the canal part 1. Regents canal kings cross to actons lock london canals. Not my favourite part of the canal and as per usual at the weekend, the place was almost like a ghost town.
The 100year old barge is moored just next to granary square in kings cross and also hosts a number of. The interior of word on the water is probably exactly what you are imagining. As lindsey germain, coauthor of a peoples history of london, said at a meeting in housemans bookshop last july, kings cross will become the latest temple to finance, consumption and private property alongside stratford and canary wharf. We use cookies to give you the best, most relevant experience on our website. Its location at the meeting point of road, river and rail has shaped its history. Bookshop in london hatchards st pancras waterstones. A pictorial history of kings cross station king s cross station is named in honour of george iv. Granary square is a large open space in the london borough of camden. Things to do in kings cross london brunch in kings cross london. It is located approximately 2 kilometres east of the sydney central business district, in the local government area of the city of sydney. Kings cross is a district in north london, england, 2. The canal linked king s cross to the major industrial cities in the north of england. Aug 08, 20 a pictorial history of kings cross station kings cross station is named in honour of george iv.
Youll be on the boat for 2 hours 30 minutes and see the very best of the canal with the chance of ending somewhere really interesting. For the suburb of sydney, australia, see kings langley, new south wales. It just so happens that our bookshop on a boat is as novel and. The original heading was the old arizona dam, located on the salt river about one mile below the mouth of the verde river. Pictorial history of king s cross locomotive depot by p.
Like all canals, the regents lost commercial traffic to the railways and by the 1960s lorries were taking much of the rest. The unpopular building was demolished in 1845, though the area kept the name of kings cross. In the 19th century, the area was one of londons poorest districts and the haunt of charles dickens oliver twist. It has been cited as an example of a privately owned public space in london. Run by canal enthusiasts, we stock the largest range of canal and waterway books, maps, guides and dvds anywhere in britain typically around 500 titles. The best thing about kings cross is that everything that has recently been built up and all the best things to do in kings cross are really close to the station. Kings cross has been a place of trade since roman times and from 1820 until the 1960s, regents canal played an important part in this trade. Little venice to kings cross along the regents canal. This history is in the fabric of kings cross and is a big part of what makes it a special place. Another set back came in the form of a leak, meaning that the boat nearly sank into the watery depths of the canal. Today, this charming waterway can be enjoyed by everyone. Word on the water, the floating bookshop, was about to close down when it found a home there. A number of chairs, both indoors and outdoors, give you the opportunity to snuggle in with your new book.
Sex, pubs and rocknroll kings cross has it all, and so much more. Commended for its simplicity when it opened, the station soon became overcrowded as rail traffic increased in the nineteenth century. Colloquially known as the cross, this name signifies antipodean bohemia, streetgangs and a worldfamous red light district etc. Saturday 17th and sunday 18th of june, the canal towpath at kings cross comes alive as a regatta floats into town. I went for a lovely walk along regents canal with jen.
Bobbing upanddown in london, england at regents canal, is the utterly unique word on the water bookshop its has cozy corners, thick carpets and a complimentary hardwood interior. People now come to kings cross to be surprised, inspired, impressed. It linked king s cross to the major industrial cities in the north of england. Londons floating bookshop word on the water saved from closure. King s cross took its name in the 1830s from a monument to king george iv which stood near where the station now is. Their floating bookshop now occupies a berth near kings cross station, attracting hundreds of tourists and locals every day. The men got the idea for the store from a book, of course children of. Londons only floating bookshop has been saved from closure after finally being offered a permanent home. Click cc for subtitles open for the map of our walk and details of the places we visited map of our walk s. Buy books on london canals from amazon, suggested titles by london canal. We are a literary oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of the station and have recently moved to a bigger and brighter location right at the heart of the shopping concourse. Find the perfect kings cross london canal stock photo. And for over 140 years brought coal, goods and building materials to london.
The upper storey was used as a camera obscura while the base housed first a police station, and later a public house. Water, a floating bookshop in london kings cross, regents canal. We normally offer this trip from little venice to kings cross as a one way cruise. Townend and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. While there are plenty of bars and restaurants to keep the foodies happy, i wanted to highlight the free and unusual things to do in the kings cross area so you can find what others may well miss. A pictorial history of kings cross station flashbak. At hatchards st pancras we are proud to continue and build upon the tradition and prestigious history of our piccadilly flagship, the oldest bookshop in london. Book boom keeps londons canal boat bookshop afloat after finding. The kings cross theatre was converted into a live music venue, surf city, in the early 1960s, catering to the growing rock n roll scene in sydney. Run by canal enthusiasts, we stock probably the most comprehensive range of canal and waterway books, maps and guides anywhere in britain. Boudicca isnt buried beneath platform 10 at kings cross.
A bookshop to float your boat on board londons only bookshop barge, anoosh chakelian discovers a vibrant alternative world of poetry, music and novel browsing. New books lift lid on kings cross and docklands if you like your history served with a helping of grease, oil and heavy machinery, then two new books from the. The 10 best things to do near kings cross station, london. This secondhand bookshop is a 1920s dutch barge which sits on regents canal very close to kings cross station. Regents canal towpath just beyond the lighterman pub, kings cross, n1c 4lw.
Sitting just behind the stations is the regents canal. The historian is the publication for general members of the ha. It is most suited to those with an interest in the canal and want more than a return trip from little venice. The kings cross theatre was converted into a live music venue, surf city, in the early 1960s, catering to. Situated below ground, in between kings cross and london st pancras, the.
New books lift lid on king s cross and docklands if you like your history served with a helping of grease, oil and heavy machinery, then two new books from the. Word on the water, aka londons floating bookshop, is definitely the most unique bookshop on the list. The company altered its name to the north metropolitan railway and canal company in 1892, but no railway was ever built. There is a wealth of printed and digital information about uk waterways, from books about their 200. Kings cross has been a place of trade since roman times. The route is meet at kings cross, granary square steps. Led by british canoe union instructors, the tours are suitable for all levels of experience, including children 9 and over. Feb, 20 awesome silent super8 snapz of the x in the early 70s including rushcutters bay and park, the fountain, fitzroy gardens, the carousel les girls, the rex hotel, the village centre, the wax. A floating bookshop, great books, friendly dog, warm stove, poetry slams and live.
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