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    The British Library

    4.6 (186 reviews)
    Closed 9:30 am - 8:00 pm

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    Magna Carta display in a separate chamber.  Try to visit when it's uncrowded!
    Gilbert G.

    If you're a fan of historical works or literature, a visit to the British library is a must-stop destination. First, it's free to the public and offers a nice respite from warm weather (or a drizzly day). Second, the Masterworks collection is the only room for a visit (takes about 1 hour if it's not crowded). Where else can you see original versions of Shakespeare's folios, lyrics by the Beatles, Tyndale's Bible, and the Magna Carta (from 1225 AD)? The power and influence of British culture is most evident in literature. A visit here will make you realize how profound that influence is to this day. Although people are mortal and temporary, it's amazing how written ideas, laws, and music have had such a profound impact across many generations. One tip is try out the second floor restaurant in the back of the library. It's not as crowded as the front lobby cafe and provides you with similar options for coffee, snacks, or lunch (if you wish). The open windows in the back of the restaurant provide sunlight and a lovely view of the other sections of the British Library complex.

    Ava S.

    The British Library is such a great library to explore! The Gallery on the first floor is fantastic, it includes some handwritten Beatles lyrics, handwritten Sylvia Plath poems, Jane Austen's writing desk, Shakespeare's First Folio, and the Magna Carta. The gift shop was also amazing! There's a selection of books, trinkets, postcards, and basically anything a book lover would enjoy. My only negative is how busy the library always is. I have been here on different days and times, and each time I visited there were no places to sit and do homework. Although there are TONS of seating, every time I went the seating was all filled up. That was a major bummer because I would have loved to study and read here.

    Angela D.

    Wow! This library is not your average library! It is more of a museum and for good reason. First off, when you walk in, it is nice and cool. That was great on a very hot day. The entrance was grand and beautiful. I will be completely honest.....We came in for one exhibit only and I wish we would have had more time to spend a full day wandering around the library. When you walk in, on the right is the Treasures Gallery. The Treasures Gallery is, what feels like it should be a once in a lifetime experience. I wish I could have taken pictures but it is not allowed. So what is so great about the Treasures Gallery? Well, it literally holds some of the most amazing and priceless treasures in the world. Just some of the items you can find: Original Beatles lyrics, writings and drawings. Copies of the Magna Carta, a 16th century Japanese scroll, beautiful and intricate religious works such as the Quran and Torah in many formats. Original music by Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart. An original manuscript by Jane Austen. A letter from Gandhi, Works by William Shakespeare. There are intricately drawn ancient maps, drawings and scientific books. There are letters written by previous monarch's, drawings by Leonardo Da'Vinci, There are dozens of other documents, drawings, books, letters, sheet music and manuscripts. I could not name all of them if I tried. It was an amazing experience to be so close to such amazing pieces of work that have shaped the society we are today. It leaves you in awe, literally. The room is dark, cool and has some places to sit down. It's really nice to just sit and think about the amazing pieces of work you are among. We went on a Sunday afternoon, it was not overly crowded and there is no time limit you can be in the exhibits. You can stay from opening to close if you wanted to. The library is free. It was great to have a free attraction, but to have a free attraction that gives you such access to amazing pieces of work is exceptional and truly makes the library a treasure in its own right. The library is very large and we didn't have time to go all the way through it, you can easily spend all day in the library and I would love to go back.

    Ashley D.

    Of all of the places I visited in London and the surrounding area this was one of my favorite places. This library is amazing, there aren't really words to describe it. I first learned about the library while watching a Rick Steeves episode and decided that the treasures room would be somewhere I'd really like to visit. First of all the library is free, which is amazing in it's own right. Most places want to make money so badly they charge crazy amounts to see less than you can see in the treasure room. The items you can see are one of a kind, priceless items. The only sad part was no pictures can be taken, totally understandable, but still :( Some of my favorite items to see were the Magna Carta, the Papal Bull (annulling the Magna Carta), original works by Da Vinci, Mozart, Chopin, the Beeteles, Jane Austin, Shakespeare, and amazing bibles. One dating to the year 400. There are letters written by Kings and Queens, and scrolls that date back almost 2000 years. These types of items cannot be seen in most places but to have one large collection in one room was amazing. It leaves you feeling speechless humbled to be with these documents. The treasures room itself is very easy to find and directly to the left when you enter the library. It was a very nice, cool and dry room. I particularly enjoyed it since I visited during a heat wave. This room provided some much needed relief. There are also places to sit and relax in the room. The library is very easy to get to and close to Kings Cross/St Pancras Station. It was less than a 5 minute walk. If you have the opportunity to visit do not pass it up. It was by far one of the most interesting places I visited.

    Johnny Z.

    Stepping inside this place felt incredibly overwhelming at first with all the people hurrying about, the seemingly never-ending hallways around every corner, and the mighty tall ceilings. There are also numerous exhibits scattered around the museum- including one that houses the Magna Carta. Despite the surprisingly large number of users connected to the internet on a Saturday, the WiFi worked flawlessly. And if you're thirsty or need an extra boost of caffeine, there's a café on the bottom floor to solve that problem. I feel like I barely scratched the surface of what's here so I will definitely be coming back to explore some more.

    Marcy D.

    What an experience to see such literary originals and classics! This is another surreal moment if you have grown up studying or living in Western culture. From the Magna Carta to Shakespeare you will see some iconic pieces on display! I recommend looking at the free Rick Steves audioguides before your visit to download so you can listen as you look at the pieces on display - some of them do rotate to mentally prepare for that in case what you've been dying to see isn't currently on rotation.

    Nikki G.

    This place is magnificent. I can't believe I got to see the Magna Carta, things from Ghandi, Chopin, The Beatles, as well as a letter from Queen Victoria stating how she didn't support women voting. It was absolutely enthralling. The library in the center is just awe inspiring to see. The staff is friendly. No pictures are allowed inside the main room that houses all the cool stuff, but take some mental pictures. Definitely work this into your vacation because it is a gem not to be missed.

    The view from seat 126 in Rare Books.
    Sally H.

    One of the very best libraries in the world. With a reader's ticket, you can access medieval manuscripts, modern microfilm, or books and articles from around the world. In the treasures room, see originals created by Shakespeare, the Beatles, or J.K. Rowling. Visit a special exhibit (like the current one on Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms) to see more priceless artifacts. Truly one of the great places in London.

    Emily T.

    I wasn't sure what I'd find here, but I certainly didn't expect what I saw. We walk in and the library is giant, with escalators leading up to floors and floors of books and exhibits. The English Language Exhibit was really interesting, displaying the birth and evolution of English, English slang throughout regions, the first English-printed bible, audio of people speaking from different regions of the UK... The displays were endless. The coolest thing I learned about was the letter "H." Have you ever wondered why the "H" is silent in words like "honor" and "hour" and "honest"? Apparently, pronouncing the "H" sound was indicative of lower class. The rich therefore avoided pronouncing the "H" in many words, leading to the pronunciation of what we know now. Crazy, eh? I also saw the amazing exhibit of books like the giant book of birds in which each bird is drawn to size (the book was about the size of me and more!). I saw the Magna Carta, the first printed bible, other religious documents. The library has an amazing collection of important document and books from all different cultures. I could not help but drop my jaw a few times and simply be in awe of it all. I enjoyed the "Alice in Wonderland" section, showing the different takes on the original piece and the evolution of Alice to what we typically see her as now. Amazing.

    David R.

    I finally made it to the British Library on my last trip to London, in part because it was near our hotel. But it should be a destination for any lover of books who visits the city. Just take a look at this inventory of works in their main exhibit room: The Lindisfarne Gospels A Shakespeare First Folio The original autograph copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Several illuminated medieval manuscripts The logbook from the HMS Victory at Trafalgar The only extant medieval manuscript of Beowulf All that plus dozens and dozens of other books, maps, historical documents, and of course, the crown jewel of the collection, two of the original 1215 copies of the Magna Carta and several other documents pertaining to it. For anyone who feels a wave of reverence and awe viewing the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., this is even more incredible. They have several audio collections, too; I got to hear W.B. Yeats read "The Lake Isle of Inisfree." I had to drag myself out of that exhibit after about two hours. I could have stayed another two, probably, devouring all those wonderful literary and historical treasures. At the time, the museum had an interesting John Betjeman exhibit. I also enjoyed the "King's Library"--the collection of 45,000 books belonging to George III that his son George IV gifted to the national library under the stipulation that it be maintained separate from the other holdings. Here in the new building, it occupies a glass tower reaching the entire height of the structure.

    neat art/sign at the entrance of the library
    Tomomi S.

    I do agree that the British Library is "one of the great libraries of the world". I certainly did not expect to find some of the greatest treasures of the world at this public library in the heart of London. In the library you can view original documents such as the Magna Carta, first bible prints, illuminated manuscripts. hand written music scores such as Borelo and Messiah, da Vinci's notebook, original manuscript of Lewis Carroll and Virginia Wolfe etc... It was like a museum!!! While we were there, we saw a special exhibit called "Magnificent Maps" which explained how maps used to be a form of "art" before 1800 and maps in the form of art was necessary to convey information. It was a very interesting exhibit, especially my husband loves maps and he has his own collection going at home. I caught myself referring to this library a "museum" as it was like a museum. I wish I lived close to this kind of library to study or just read some books and hang out. Seems to have a free wi-fi but we didn't try.

    British Library
    Alice W.

    The British Library is the largest library in the world with over 170 million catalogued items. There are over 14 million books, as well as historical manuscripts and other significant items that date back 4,000 years ago. As a major research library, the British Library holds not only rare books and manuscripts but also recordings, newspapers, scripts, patents, maps, stamps, drawings, and many other print and digital items. And did I mention that it's FREE? That's right - the largest library in the world is free to the public. The exhibition is amazing. There are some incredible manuscripts in here, such as the Diamond Sutra, the Magna Carta, two Gutenberg Bibles, Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare's First Folio, da Vinci's notebook, the sole surviving manuscript copy of Beowulf, and so, so much more. There are also musical scores by Mozart and Beethoven, as well as the Beatles. There's a plethora of items to check out at the exhibition. You can't take pictures, but it's a nice departure and allows you to fully immerse yourself in reading about the historical items here. In addition, there are other rotating exhibits and events. For instance when I went, they had a Harry Potter A History of Magic event. There are 11 reading rooms, each specializing in a different area. These reading rooms are open to anyone who needs access to the library's collection and services. You'll just need to obtain a Reader Pass. One of my favorite things about the British Library is the wall of books and manuscripts from King George III's library. It's a breathtaking sight. A must in London! I would highly recommend checking out the British Library.

    A UK feminist magazine called spare rib

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    The British Library Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - The British Library

    There are also numerous exhibits scattered around the museum- including one that houses the Magna Carta.

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    Holborn Library

    Holborn Library

    3.3(3 reviews)
    0.8 miBloomsbury

    I can't remember the last time I set foot into a library. But today seemed like a good day for…read morereading so when I found my nearest book repository wasn't far off (and open today) I figured I'd go have a nosey. Obtaining a library card was pretty easy. I gazed at the librarian's massively Sellotaped glasses whilst she reviewed my bank statement (proof of address) and typed my details into a prehistoric desktop computer. A few minutes later I had my card and began browsing. Amidst the folks sleeping in armchairs and studying at tables I spotted a small but surprising selection of titles. Overall though, the goods here are a little thin. Also, the Holborn Library could really do with some good curation. Besides the new arrivals shelf, most of the rest of the selection seemed a bit haphazardly placed. The building itself is rather depressing, is in need of a proper tidy, and most of the patrons do little to improve the atmosphere with their mostly down trodden stares. I ended up borrowing three titles and was amazed at how far technology has come: I was able to check my own books out with a simple swipe of my card. The self check-out bit might be Holborn Library's most redeeming quality.

    I used to like studying in this library because it is relatively quiet...as the kid section is…read moreaway, in the basement of the library. However they recently moved the tables around such that it is now impossible to plug my laptop. Toilets are in the basement and very stinky.

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    Holborn Library
    Holborn Library

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    SOAS Library - SOAS Library Interior

    SOAS Library

    4.0(4 reviews)
    0.6 miBloomsbury

    Of all the university colleges in London SOAS has the most individual character atmosphere. It is…read moredefined by its strongly, sometime radical, left wing political sentiment and generally has a bit of a hippyish atmosphere. In addition to normal uni courses the also run a night school, which I attended for Japanese lessons. As a result of which I was given a university library card. I used the library a few times to do my class work and other university work. It has a great selection of interesting books on the region and so is an good place to browse. There are a number of work places and though a little shabby it is a pleasant enough place to work. Unfortunately, the organization system is pretty dire and it can be very hard to find the books you need. Additionally, their entry policy is fairly militant and, even as a member of the University of London; you need a particular research purpose to be granted access.

    Placed on the SOAS university campus, suitably behind the British Museum, SOAS library houses the…read morecountries most extensive academic collection for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It holds over 1.2 million volumes alongside considerable archival holdings, special collections and increasing electronic resources. The reference centre is open from 9am - 11pm Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 5pm on Saturday and 11am - 6pm on Sunday. If you are not a student of the University of London, you can still access it for free for 3 days within a 12-month period as long as you bring a form of ID such as a passport. If you want to use it for longer than this, £12 day passes are available, as well as £30 month passes, £70 for 6 months or £100 annually (£150 for borrowing rather than just reference). From art and music to economics and finance, politics and religion to linguistic and language - every subject is covered. So if you have anything relating to Africa and the East you want to study for educational, work or personal reasons this is the place to go.

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    SOAS Library

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    Maughan Library - King's College London - On a sunny day

    Maughan Library - King's College London

    4.0(6 reviews)
    1.3 miHolborn

    The King's Maughan University is one of my favourite university libraries. It was near my campus…read moreand I would often head there to do some work. It is in a large handsome building between the law courts and Fleet Street. The library itself is similarly large, and seems to house Kings Humanities collection. It is a decent collection, and LSE is across the road if you need other social sciences books. The mix means that you can get a reading book if you get bored of your work. Rather than having large swathes of seating there a lots of little tables, and small seating rooms. The seats are incredibly comfy and there are dividers so you don't feel exposed. It can sometimes be a little chatty but if you need to crack on there is a beautiful dome roofed quiet work room on the ground floor and higher up there are individual cubical like offices where you can really concentrate. There is also a café in the basement where you can go for a break. Additionally, Kings Students are largely very friendly and there is a nice atmosphere about the place. The Kings Maughan Library is a great library that I would encourage ULU members and academics to make use of.

    In a word, stunning…read more The building housing the Maughan library is absolutely magnificent. Housed in a 19th-century Gothic building, the library is beautiful and filled with period pieces both inside and out. However, because the library is in a grade II* listed building, nothing about it can be changed. Therefore, as a researcher, the labyrinthine stacks are not only intimidating; they are downright frustrating. No matter how many times one looks for the Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, one inevitably finds oneself wandering around the first and first-mezzanine levels cursing under ones breath at the journal's seeming elusiveness. (And if one is looking for a journal title starting with a Z for the first time, (s)he will be baffled to find it on the opposite side of the library and on another floor with respect to the REST of the library's journals after bewilderedly wandering around the majority of the library's journal titles for 30 minutes. Infuriating.) More often than not, I find books I desperately want to consult are checked out, and the library's holdings aren't as numerous as those at the Senate House Library. While the interior furnishings are comfortable, contemporary, and functional, the library's mezzanine levels seem to confuse people. That is, they seem to confuse people into thinking if they're on the mezzanine level that they can have rather loud conversations with their friends without disturbing people studying on the main floor just below them. After unwillingly being subjected to conversations about one too many a drunken antic of an undergraduate, the library has left me a little jaded. For this reason, the library is, sadly, simply okay. Considering its beauty, location and history alone, it is a five-star facility.

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    Maughan Library - King's College London
    Maughan Library - King's College London
    Maughan Library - King's College London

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    Paul Hamlyn Library

    Paul Hamlyn Library

    4.0(1 review)
    0.8 miBloomsbury

    Inside the craziness of the British Museum, you can find a relatively tiny book-lined reference…read morelibrary tucked away in a corner of the building that offers the bibliophile and common wo/man alike an inviting respite. It used to be located in the, er, Reading Room of the British Museum, but that big domed room in the middle of the building now hosts exhibitions and the library has been marginalised. I'll admit, the library was quite dazzling in its days in the Reading Room. But never mind that; its relocation just means that fewer wandering tourists monopolize its reader seats. Just walk on in and take a seat in one of the fancy swivel chairs behind one of the dozen or so computers. Or choose one of the free desks and plug your laptop into the conveniently placed electrical socket (in the desk!) and work away. Some books are readily available for consultation, and other books can be delivered to you at your desk (just like at the British Library, but no need to sell one of your kidneys to get a reader card here!). For non-registered academics and independent scholars, the Paul Hamlyn library offers completely free access to academic databases like JSTOR (private, personal access to this database alone costs hundreds per year!); score. After studying in this well lit, intimate, free and comfortable library, take a walk around a room or two in the museum. After a few visits to the British Museum for the library you'll have bulked up your world knowledge enough to finally slaughter your grandma at Trivial Pursuit. But don't tell too many people, because I want this library gem all to myself.

    Charing Cross Library

    Charing Cross Library

    4.0(5 reviews)
    1.4 miCovent Garden, Strand

    The Charing Cross Library is on the intersection between Covent Garden, Chinatown and Trafalgar…read moreSquare. It is part of the borough of Westminster and so open its residents, though you can request books for other libraries. The entrance to the building is quite discreet. The library itself is arranged across two floors. On the ground floor are books and DVDs. On the first floor are more books and the computers. The library has a decent fiction section and is notable for its large selection of Chinese language books. Charing Cross library is a small place but does a good job in trying to serve the interests of its community. It is worth visiting, particularly if you are looking for a Chinese language reading book.

    This is my local library at work. What distinguishes this library from others is that it stocks a…read morehuge selection of books in Chinese. It also has a lot of manga/comic books, although these are in English and not in Chinese (unfortunately for me, because I am used to reading them in Chinese! Japanese translates better into Chinese than English!) There are two floors, a good selection of books, and they even sort the books into newly arrived, books you should read etc. near the door which I appreciate very much when I am just browsing for a new author. There are computer desks upstairs for use, and mainly reference books and language books there. Stocked downstairs are the Chinese books, Sci Fi/Fantasy/Crime and Children's books. The staff are quite nice and helpful in general, some staff can speak Chinese, of which I'm sure the Chinese community are very appreciative. The book reservation service is also very efficient. They sort it by name and stack the reserved books on a shelf so you can use the self check-out to borrow books. Yes, they have state of the art machines there, doesn't that make you just want to come and visit?

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    Charing Cross Library
    Charing Cross Library - Oscar Wilde sculpture

    Oscar Wilde sculpture

    Charing Cross Library

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    UCL Main Library - From Website

    UCL Main Library

    3.5(2 reviews)
    0.5 miBloomsbury

    Of all the London universities I think that UCL has the most handsome campus. The main Bloomsbury…read morebuilding is visually impressive and built in the Greco-Roman style. Within this building is the main UCL library. Whilst UCL has a number of libraries I was surprised by the relatively small size of their main library. It is, nonetheless, a handsome place built around a room containing frescos and a central statue, similarly in the Greco-Roman style. From this room lead corridors, each containing reading rooms and particular departments. The work places are a little shabby but have charm. The selection, also, isn't amazing but is adequate for general research. The UCL library is an attractive library though it does not have the best facilities.

    It definitely smells like library in here. It's definitely grandiose. It's also incredibly easy to…read moreget lost and I still haven't explored the whole place yet. I get really self conscious looking for history books in here, mainly because it's all shelved in small rooms and within those small rooms there's people studying in the middle of the room, so the main game is to get a book as quietly as possible without looking stupid. I'm 5ft and can't reach further than my head without people thinking it's funny or adorable. This does not bode well for me. I'm also incredibly clumsy. So, if you have seen me around, I'm really sorry for disturbing you! Also, why are there no self service desks, are we not in the 21st century. You can't take books out on Sunday cuz no one is at the issue desk. I don't think the issue desk like me either, apparently they can ignore you if they feel like it, it's in their jurisdiction cuz they might be doing more important work(?)

    The British Library - libraries - Updated May 2026

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