Step inside the door of bookshop Lloyd’s of Kew, Richmond, Surrey, and it may at first appear as though you are still standing outside on the tree-lined pavement of Mortlake Road. And that’s because sitting slap bang right in the middle of the floor is this amazing bookshelf structure, which is lovingly christened the Booktree.
The Booktree has to be without doubt Lloyd’s of Kew’s finest non-book attraction. In fact it has to be one of the finest non-book attractions in any bookshop (even trumping the dozing cats and tail-waggingly friendly Labradors found in other bookshops). I love how it just rises from the floor as a live tree would, proudly and magnificently bearing its bookish fruits on shelves supported by the Booktree’s uprising trunks.
The Booktree is rather an apt and relevant feature of the bookshop too. Not only is the shop situated within a stone’s throw of the famous Kew Gardens, but the bookshop also doggedly strives to follow the literary preferences of its founding father Mr. Lloyd, and to specialise primarily, although far from exclusively, in books of a gardening and botanical nature.
So that’s the Booktree at Lloyd’s of Kew, and my thanks go to owner and manager Ulrike Bulle (aka ulle.b) both for taking this shot and for sharing it. In fact this is only one of a series of pictures that Ulrike has taken of the shop and posted, so I invite you to head on over to Flickr to view the rest of the set.
Even better, if you’re anywhere near Richmond upon Thames any time, then why not drop in and see the Booktree (and Ulrike) for yourself. The details, including directions, can be found HERE.
About Rob
Brilliant! And even more so with their gardening specialization. What a fantastic way to give some movement to an otherwise linear space.
This is my favourite bookshelf so far, out of all that you’ve featured.
says:
Kristen/Claire – It’s something else isn’t it? Yet it’s also fundamentally simple. I’m surprised other bookshops don’t do this…[puts pinky finger up to corner of mouth]..or do they?
Warmest
Rob
That’s lovely! Although you’d need a ladder to get to the top…
No, wait! It should have branches sticking out sideways, so that you could actually climb the booktree! Not enough treeclimbing being done by adults these days, I say. Probably a bit of a liability issue for the bookstore, though.
How come I haven’t heard about this before?? I live within cycling distance of Kew. I think next time I go for a trundle in that direction I’ll have to drop in on this amazing shop.
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How cool is that Kim? Make sure you check out the opening hours though, they’re a bit unconventional. And if you do go..plenty of photos on your blog please
Warmest
Rob