As a business proposition, it was bound to sink.

When Paddy Screech and Jon Privett opened their floating bookstore on London's Regent's Canal eight years ago, they thought it would be "exciting" to switch locations every two weeks.

Moving to a new berth every 14 days also helped them avoid expensive fees.

But they ended up avoiding customers as well.

"People would come see it, see things they wanted to buy, see things they wanted to show their friends, they'd come back the next day and and we'd be gone," Mr Privett said.

"Publishers would say, 'We want to do a book launch, where will you be in April?' and we'd say we don't really know. So, they'd do their book launch somewhere else."

Adding to their woes, their Dutch-built canal boat flooded when someone decided to use an out-of-order toilet.

Many tourists and locals stop to discuss the titles of the stores books with the booksellers. ( ABC News: Nick Dole )

With their business quite literally going under, a community campaign led to an offer of a permanent berth.

"We got saved," Mr Screech said.

Their floating bookshop now occupies a berth near King's Cross station, attracting hundreds of tourists and locals every day.

Many of them stop to discuss the titles with the booksellers.

"Reading tends be a solo activity, [so] a lot of people think they're the only one that still does it," Mr Privett said.

"It makes people realise they're not alone."

'Real book' resurgence

Co-owner of the floating bookshop Paddy Screech says "books are benefiting from the fact that people are trying to find something they trust". ( ABC News: Nick Dole )

In Britain, sales of printed books rose 8 per cent in 2016, while the sales of e-books plunged 17 per cent.

Mr Screech said he thought he knew why.

"Books are benefiting from the fact that people are trying to find something they trust," he said.

"[A book] isn't quick and cheap and instantaneous, it's properly sourced and you know someone's researched it.

"It's been through a series of hoops before anyone would publish it and that makes it reliable and authentic.

"It's hard to find anything reliable or authentic these days."

The floating bookstore also has a cosy place to read. ( ABC News: Nick Dole )

There are thousands of titles on display, above and below deck.

Neither bookseller hesitated when asked which was their favourite.

Mr Privett nominated Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, which he described as "life changing".

Mr Screech said that while he would have once picked a "worthy" novel, he has a new favourite.

"The truth is it's Watership Down by Richard Adams, which is a children's book about rabbits," he said.

"I think [it] is one of the most grand, sweet pieces of modern literature I've ever read."