The 13 Best Libraries in London

The 13 Best Libraries in London

From the beautiful British Library and the Maughan’s famed reading room to architecturally impressive buildings and under-the-radar book nooks, these are London’s best libraries.



Pubs,
hairdressers and cinemas were among the many places that flung
open their doors on “Super Saturday”. Yet for the book lovers and
armchair adventurers who’ve read their way through BorrowBox or
worn out their Kindle, it’s the reopening of libraries that’s the
most exciting of all. We want to get lost between shelves and
travel through well-thumbed pages.

Whether you’re after an under-the-radar nook for curling up with
a paperback, a centuries-old reading room served by radical
archives or simply fancy perusing in an architecturally stunning
building, there’s a London library to suit every bookworm.

Note that many social distancing policies are currently in
place, including click-and-collect services, the installation of
hand sanitiser pumps, floor markings and perspex screens, as well
as the quarantine of items upon returning. You may also be required
to book a slot in advance. Check individual sites ahead of
visiting.

London’s 13 best libraries and most beautiful reading
rooms


thingstodo

Peckham Library

Shaped like an inverted “L”, the sustainably built, copper-clad
Peckham Library won the prestigious Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2000 – and remains the only
building of its kind ever to have done so. Suspended on a
cantilevered plane, away from the hustle and bustle of street-level
Peckham, the reading space here is naturally bright and
delightfully quiet. If you’re looking for work by black authors,
there’s a great selection here.

Reopening: mid-July, date TBC

Address

122 Peckham Hill Street
SE15 5JR


thingstodo

The London Library

Established in 1841 by Thomas Carlyle, a historian and essayist
who was dissatisfied with the policies at the British Museum, The London Library now ranks
among the world’s leading literary institutions, with more than a
million books and periodicals spanning 27km of open-access shelf
space – oh, and it appeared in Killing Eve too. Any given stack
could take you from the scrawlings of Virginia Woolf to Kazuo Ishiguro and T. S.
Eliot, a former president of the library. Membership is open to
all, but for a fee, giving the space a more exclusive feel (Bill
Bryson has reportedly signed up). Free tours occur twice
monthly.

Re-opening: 6 July

Address

14 St James’s Square
SW1Y 4LG


thingstodo

The British Library

With an estimated 200 million items, this is the world’s largest
library by the number of items catalogued – a copy of every single
book published in the UK and Ireland is deposited here (that’s around 8,000
per day, FYI), among reams of other ephemera, including Jane
Austen’s manuscripts, Beatles lyrics and historical items dating as
far back as 2000 BCE. Drop by to visit public areas (note: the
six-storey glass tower is especially photogenic) and cafés or sign
up for a free reader pass to access the collections.

Reopening: 22 July

Address

96 Euston Road
NW1 2DB


thingstodo

Bishopsgate Institute Library

“I never stop learning” is the motto here. Crowned by a
beautiful glass dome, this indie institute is a go-to for its
cultural events, though we love it most for the historic library
which has been expanding since the place opened to the public in
1895. The catalogue stands out for its focus on London‘s radical, feminist and gay history.
Expect to find the Lesbian and Gay Newsmedia Archive, photographic
and audio materials as well as collections of paraphernalia
including banners, badges, club flyers and condoms. No appointment
is needed; simply arrive, register and search. For more on London’s
social and political history, visit the Guildhall Library, a
15-minute walk away on Aldermanbury.

Reopening: TBC

Address

230 Bishopsgate
EC2M 4QH


thingstodo

National Art Library, V&A

Overlooking the John Madejski Garden, these gilded reading rooms
are a fitting home for the UK‘s most comprehensive public reference
collection of literature on the decorative arts. This is the place
for researching fashion and textiles, browsing comics or perhaps
getting a little inspiration for your next DIY project – and best
of all the museum’s vast collections and exhibitions (and the
V&A café) are within mere steps. You’ll need to be a member of
the library to access its works, but joining is free and open to
all.

Reopening: Expected January 2021, roof
restoration in progress.

Address

Cromwell Road
SW7 2RL


thingstodo

Bethnal Green Library

Surrounded by Bethnal Green Gardens, within a few minutes’
walk of Bethnal Green Underground Station, this Grade II-listed
library is almost a century old, having first opened its doors in
1922. A recent revamp has made it an especially friendly,
light-filled space for remote-worker types who pitch up with a
laptop, but it retains much of that stately Edwardian wood
panelling that makes visiting here feel like stumbling into a
different era.

Reopening: 6 July

Address

Cambridge Heath Road
E2 0HL


thingstodo

SOAS Library

Among the world’s most important libraries for the study of
Africa, Asia and the Middle East, this brutalist library is all sharp
angles, stark lighting and shelves upon shelves of books –
somewhere around 1.3 million tomes, to be exact. Like this? The
University of London‘s Senate House Library is a three-minute
walk away and open to the public for day tickets and summertime
memberships – make a beeline for one of its brown
Chesterfields.

Reopening: 6 July

Address

Thornhaugh Street
WC1H 0XG


thingstodo

Wellcome Library

Part library, part museum, the Wellcome Collection’s library has one of
the world’s best health and medical history catalogues, though its
sections spill over into topics including travel, food, gender and
witchcraft. Expect to perform digital autopsies and cast your eye
over graphic novels or the replica of an alchemical scroll.
Membership is free to all, and day passes are available on a
first-come-first-serve basis – you’ll find us nesting on a sofa in
the homely Reading Room. There’s usually a great calendar of workshops, performances and exhibitions
throughout the rest of the Wellcome Collection too.

Reopening: TBC. Many resources are available
online.

Address

183 Euston Road
NW1 2BE


thingstodo

Maughan Library

Built in 1851, this Grade II-listed, neo-gothic library was the
Public Record Office HQ – “the strong-box of the Empire” – until it
was acquired by King’s College London in 2001. Now an extension of
the university’s Strand Campus, its humanities-focused collection
tumbles over four floors, though the main draw here is the
dodecagonal reading room which made an appearance in The Da Vinci
Code. Access is normally restricted to students, but it’s worth
keeping your eye out for open days and tours.

Reopening: TBC

Address

Chancery Lane
WC2A 1LR


thingstodo

BFI Reuben Library

Like a showreel of the history of cinema and the moving image in
Britain and beyond, the BFI is a must for fans
of the silver screen. Books and journals are aplenty here, though
it’s the dedicated viewing stations that we love the most – find a
screen and deep dive into its back catalogue of multimedia
materials. Visiting is available to all, free of charge – but if
you have something in mind, check in advance as some materials are
kept off-site and need to be requested. Afterwards, stretch out
your legs along the South Bank – Borough Market is a pleasant
20-minute stroll away.

Reopening: TBC

Address

Belvedere Road
SE1 8XT


thingstodo

Kensington Central Library

Built on the site of The Abbey, a grand old house destroyed
during the blitz, this library’s bold, unfussy design caused a stir
when it opened in the 60s – though for us, that’s part of the
charm. It was dreamed up by architect E Vincent Harris, the same
guy that created the bold and beautiful Manchester Central Library. Expect to browse
shelves backdropped by dark-wood panels and soaring striped
pillars.

Reopening: 6 July

Address

12 Phillimore Walk
W8 7RX


thingstodo

Canada Water Library

Shaped like an inverted pyramid, this library’s building alone
is reason enough to visit. Among the newer landmarks on London‘s literary scene, it doubles up as a
design icon thanks to the dab hand of architect Piers Gough.
Peering over the water’s edge, a perforated aluminium facade gives
way to zigzag shelves and a spiral staircase – nab a seat on the
airy mezzanine if possible. The vibe here is fresh and welcoming
thanks to a roster of community events that reflect the diverse
Southwark borough. No need to register here, though only Southwark
residents will be able to take books out. When you’ve done perusing
the shelves, check out what’s on at The
Albany theatre
that shares the building.

Reopening: mid-July, date TBC

Address

21 Surrey Quays Road
SE16 7AR


thingstodo

Swiss Cottage Central Library

Designed by Sir Basil Spence (also responsible for Coventry
Cathedral and the Beehive in New Zealand), this modernist library is a
must-visit for brutalism buffs – though the spiralling, 60s-style,
symmetrical staircases could be taken straight out of a Wes Anderson film. When you’ve done leafing
through the tomes on display, the complex also houses an exhibition
gallery and sports centre kitted out with a climbing wall.

Reopening: July, TBC

Address

88 Avenue Road
NW3 3HA

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