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Jenice Kim / © Culture Trip
Jenice Kim / © Culture Trip
London / See & Do
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The 10 Best Libraries in London

Picture of James Gunn
James Gunn
Updated: 28 November 2017
The UK is known for excellent research standards across the board at its universities and often finds itself at the forefront of cutting edge learning in many different disciplines. It is not a surprise, then, that supporting this intellectual prowess is a network of libraries which provide a benchmark standard for archives, exhibitions and research capabilities. As one would naturally expect, London is home to many of these institutions.

The British Library

Library
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The British Library
The British Library | © gabriele gelsi / Shutterstock

The British Library

The British Library is not just the largest library in terms of number of items catalogued in London, but the world. Though you need to a be a resident of the UK to be able to access the reading rooms, once you are eligible the membership is free to the 150 million items, sourced from across the world. A copy of everything ever published in the UK is held by the library which was created in 1973 and the institution plays host to many ground-breaking exhibitions and research projects conducted throughout the year.

British Library, 96 Euston Road, London +44 330 333 1144

Interior of The British Library | © gabriele gelsi/Shutterstock

Interior of The British Library | © gabriele gelsi/Shutterstock | © gabriele gelsi / Shutterstock

More Info
Sun:
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Mon - Thu:
9:30 am - 8:00 pm
Fri:
9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Sat:
9:30 am - 5:00 pm

Atmosphere:

Indoors, Quiet

The London Library

Library
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The London Library

As the name might suggest, if you are looking for books, The London Library wouldn’t be a bad place to start. With a collection of over one million books and anyone eligible for membership, The London Library takes pride in its position amongst the elite of literary institutions in the capital, providing intellectual support some of the great minds of British culture since 1841. If a full membership doesn’t take your fancy, there are free evening tours of the library happening regularly throughout the year.

The London Library, 14 St. James’s Square, London +44 20 7766 4700

More Info
Mon:
9:30 am - 8:00 pm
Tue:
9:30 am - 8:00 pm
Wed:
9:30 am - 8:00 pm
Thu:
9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Fri:
9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sat:
9:30 am - 5:30 pm

Guildhall Library

Library
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Guildhall, London
Guildhall, London | © Roman Babakin/Shutterstock

Guildhall Library

The first of the specialist libraries on our list, the Guildhall Library is the definitive resource for London history. It has 200,000 primary documents dating from the 15th to 21st century, including special collections dedicated to Samuel Pepys, John Wilkes and Thomas More. The nature of the collections means that the Guildhall Library is a great place to conduct historical social research of London as well an invaluable research for plotting out your own family tree.

Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, London +44 20 7332 1868

Guildhall, London | © Roman Babakin/Shutterstock

Guildhall, London | © Roman Babakin/Shutterstock

More Info
Mon:
9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tue:
9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wed:
9:30 am - 7:30 pm
Thu:
9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Fri:
9:30 am - 5:00 pm

National Art Library at the V&A

Library, Museum
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V&A Cafe
V&A Cafe | © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

National Art Library at the V&A

The Victoria and Albert Museum has always been at the forefront of thought in art and design. The National Art Library supports this ambition and provides access to collections which are central to the V&A mission, including extensive research on topics like drawing, painting, sculpture, fashion, textiles and woodwork. The workspace in the National Art Library is among the most spectacular in London and should you feel peckish, tea at the V&A café is renowned for good reason.

National Art Library at the V&A, Cromwell Road, London +44 20 7942 2000

V&A Cafe | © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

More Info
Tue - Thu:
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Fri:
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Sat:
10:00 am - 5:30 pm

The Poetry Library at the Southbank Centre

Library
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The Poetry Library at the Southbank Centre

The most comprehensive collection of modern British Poetry in the country can be found in The Poetry Library at the Southbank Centre. You can browse the thousands of poetry titles while taking in the breathtaking views of the Thames and Somerset House atop the Southbank Centre. Given its status, the library serves as a centre for poetry in London, and runs regular events and competitions that anyone can get involved in. It is open everyday between 11am and 8pm, apart from Monday when it is closed to the public.

The Poetry Library at the Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, London +44 20 7921 0943

More Info
Sun:
11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Tue:
11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Wed:
11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Thu:
11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Fri:
11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sat:
11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Bishopsgate Institute Library

Library, School
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Bishopsgate Institute, Tottenham, London
Bishopsgate Institute, Tottenham, London | © Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock

Bishopsgate Institute Library

Similar to the Guildhall Library, the Bishopsgate Institute Library is in the Square Mile and specialises in the social history of London. However, what differentiates the Bishopsgate Institute Library is that it caters for interests in the radical, social, labour, feminist and gay history of the capital. The wonderful glass dome that sits above the workspace is worth a visit in itself. The institution is completely open to the public with free wi-fi – irresistible if you’re caught with a spare hour in and around Liverpool Street station.

Bishopsgate Institute Library, 230 Bishopsgate, London +44 20 7392 9200

Bishopsgate Institute, Tottenham, London | © Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock

Bishopsgate Institute, Tottenham, London | © Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock

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Wiener Library

Library
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Wiener Library

The Wiener Library is dedicated to the study of the Holocaust and has an authoritative archive for the Nazi Era. Originally founded in 1933 by Dr Alfred Weiner in Amsterdam in a bid to use intellectual freedom to counter Nazism, the Weiner Library relocated to its Russell Square premises in 2011, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Heavily reliant on volunteers and charitable donations, the library hosts regular exhibitions and events to continue the work of its founder, raising awareness not just of the Holocaust but of other humanitarian crises around the world.

Wiener Library, 29 Russell Square, London +44 20 7636 7247

More Info
Mon:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tue:
10:00 am - 7:30 pm
Wed:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thu:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fri:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wellcome Collection Library

Library
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The Wellcome Collection building on Euston road, London
The Wellcome Collection building on Euston road, London | © Chrispictures/Shutterstock

Wellcome Collection Library

The Wellcome Collection Library is a world-leading resource for the study of medical history as well as being an influential voice in contemporary medicine and biomedical science. The Wellcome Collection is known for its dynamic and boundary-pushing exhibitions which do not shy away from the squeamish topics one might associate with medical research. Yet it is the interdisciplinary nature of many of its events and exhibition which makes it an accessible and rich exploration for people of all intellectual backgrounds and inclinations.

Wellcome Collection Library, 183 Euston Road, London +44 20 7611 8722

The Wellcome Collection building on Euston road, London | © Chrispictures/Shutterstock

The Wellcome Collection building on Euston road, London | © Chrispictures/Shutterstock

More Info
Mon - Wed:
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thu:
10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Fri:
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat:
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

St. Bride Library

Library
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St. Bride Library

Originally a prominent social, cultural and recreational centre for London’s print industry in Fleet Street, the St. Bride Foundation now serves an important purpose of preserving the traditions and artefacts of an industry so under threat in the digital age. As well as the St. Bride Library, which has famous original texts like Dr Johnson’s Dictionary; there is a theatre, opportunities to learn traditional printing techniques in workshops, as well as a packed schedule of print-related lectures and exhibitions.

St. Bride Library, 14 Bride Lane, London +44 20 7353 4660

More Info
Wed:
10:00 am - 8:00 pm

The BFI Reuben Library

Library
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The BFI Reuben Library
The BFI Reuben Library | © BFI Southbank

The BFI Reuben Library

With a mission statement to provide a ‘comprehensive coverage of the moving image in Britain’ The BFI Reuben Library and its textual, film and digital collections also remains international in its scope. The staff at the Reuben Library stand out for being especially helpful and attentive to researchers, able to assist large groups or individuals who choose to work in the excellently equipped Edwin Fox Foundation Reading Room.

The BFI Reuben Library, Belvedere Road, London +44 20 7255 1444

More Info
Tue - Sat:
10:30 am - 7:00 pm

Atmosphere:

Indoors, Quiet, Peaceful