The library is my favourite place in the world. Free books to read, no talking allowed, and a learning atmosphere—just my idea of time well spent.
Luckily for me, London has a number of libraries—close to a thousand, in fact. That’s a lot to visit within an adult’s lifespan.
That’s why I’m sharing some of my go-to haunts with my fellow curious bookworms. These spots tick off several must-have boxes: wafting bibliosmia, cosy nooks, and no-fuss modern services to help you get something done!
So, it means this list also benefits remote workers suffering from home-clutter fatigue syndrome!
1. The British Library
Media credit: britishlibrary
Website: https://www.bl.uk/
Address: 96 Euston Road
Contact info: [email protected]
Fees: Free upon sign-up
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM
- Friday – 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday – 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday- 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
No need for wordy introductions—the British Library is on everyone’s must-visit list. Not only is it the country’s flagship library, but it also holds a 170-million-item stash that’s expanding daily.
Quite impressive, right? But it’s not as impressive as the fact that its reading rooms—all 11 of them—are free for persons 18 years old and older.
You’d still have to sign up, though, but that means spending your money on other things. Perhaps you can grab an espresso or toffee to stay awake!
The second best thing is that their tables are height adjustable—a win for vertically challenged people. Plus, they have facilities and gadgets for the vision and hearing impaired.
For those interested in cerebral stuff, the library boasts of unique collections. This includes Leonardo Da Vinci’s original notebooks, first-edition Don Quixote, and King George III’s maps.
Pro tip:
Before you can use the reading room, you must get a Reader’s Pass at the reception in Boston Spa. Carers and assistants have to get one for themselves as well!
2. John Harvard Library
Media credit: mousetailcoffee
Website: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/culture-and-sport/libraries/find-library/john-harvard-library
Address: 211 Borough High Street
Fees: Free
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday – closed
Even though it’s rather small, the John Harvard Library seems to have a vacant space or two for anybody rushing to get work or studying done. Designed with productivity in mind, there are also sockets right on most tables.
The atmosphere here is generally quiet except in the afternoons when schoolchildren go milling inside after school hours.
If you’re stuck in a rut, check out its e-services: stream some movies or listen to audiobooks. While it can be a distraction, it has its benefits sometimes.
You can also check out its Local History Library Section if you’re into the yesteryears. And if you’re hungry, there’s a cafe out front that serves great coffee and a variety of menus.
To top it all off, getting a study space here is free unless you want to hog a meeting room all by yourself, in which you’d have to book and pay in advance.
Pro tip:
Students in a group study or a team of remote workers can book their affordable meeting rooms by the hour. Speak to a library staff or book online to get started.
3. National Art Library
Media credit: abigailleoniereads
Website: https://www.vam.ac.uk/
Address: Cromwell Road
Fees: Free
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 10:00 AM to 5:45 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: closed
If you need some inspiration in your studies or work, check out the quite Instagrammable National Art Library. It’s the leading public institution for fine and decorative arts, and one of the most picturesque libraries with its ornate and gilded decor.
However, it can easily be missed for its location inside the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The library is airy, with high ceilings and windows that look into the garden. It’s quiet and smells of old books, lending the room a tranquil atmosphere.
Bookcases lined with hardbound books on literature and decorative arts surround you as well. There are even original manuscripts from Charles Dickens himself.
What’s more, you’ll really feel like an ancient scholar studying some serious stuff when you sit on one of those dark, solid tables arranged in rows. It’s as ancient as it goes—trying to find tables with plug sockets.
The best thing here is that all this proper library service is free, including the computers within the reading room. But it can usually get busy, especially during school days.
Pro tip:
Visitors interested in fashion can browse the NAL’s full run of Vogue issues, going back to its first print in 1892. To do this, access the library’s PCs.
4. Senate House Library
Media credit: senatehouselib
Website: https://www.london.ac.uk/about/services/senate-house-library
Address: University of London, Malet Street
Contact info: +44 (0)20 7862 8500 ([email protected])
Fees: Membership required for the general public
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 9:45 AM to 9:00 PM
One interesting piece of trivia that would excite bookworms is that the building of this library was the inspiration for George Orwell’s 1984 book.
The sinister dystopian feel ends there, as the interiors of the library are well-lit and warm. There are even big tufted leather sofas you can sink into; just be careful not to fall asleep.
With more than 430 study spaces in the Senate House Library, there’s really no worry you won’t find one on any given day.
One thing you have to check out is its window seats that let you sit a distance away from the next person. An introvert’s dream space, it is!
Plus, it comes with its own outlets, light, and shelf.
The excitement does not end there, as the library houses tonnes of books—more than 3 million and counting. Some of these date back to before 1851!
Pro tip:
The reception desk and membership area are on the 4th floor. Right next to this area are card-operated turnstiles you need to get into to go to the library occupying the next up to the 7th floors.
5. Study Space at the Francis Crick Institute
Media credit: thefranciscrickinstitute
Website: https://www.crick.ac.uk/about-us/visit-us/study-space
Address: 1 Midland Road
Contact info: +44 (0)20 3796 0000
Fees: Free
Opening hours:
- Wednesday – 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Thursday to Saturday – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Sunday to Tuesday: closed
Technically not a library, this study space made it to this list because of its merits and location.
The Francis Crick Institute—named after one of the duo who formally published the DNA’s structure as it’s known today—was established for the advancement of science.
What better way to study than within an intellectual institution?
Furthermore, none can ignore the space’s value offerings. It’s free and loaded with a lot of power sockets.
To top it off, the whole place is bright and airy, making it helpful to stay mentally alert.
Additionally, it’s conveniently located in King’s Cross, right next to the British Library. There’s also a cafe within the place, so you can just get the whole day going without having to leave your seat.
Lastly, the study space is located within an exhibit of the brain. You might even get a tip or two about absorbing information!
Pro tip:
The place is a registered Eduroam institute. Students from around the country and worldwide can access this service in the study space. Ask the staff for guidance.
6. The Barbican Library
Media credit: barbicanandcommunitylibraries
Website: https://www.barbican.org.uk/your-visit/during-your-visit/library
Address: Silk Street
Contact info: + 44 020 7638 0569 ([email protected])
Fees: Free
Opening hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Tuesday, Thursday – 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM
- Sunday – closed
The Barbican Library has earned its place among Londoners as one of the quietest places to study. The music library, in particular, has individual booths you can disappear into.
These booths are generally for listening to music, which aligns with the Barbican’s reputation for having the largest music catalogue of any public library in the country.
If you can’t get a space there, you can always head to the art library. It has large tables and cosy armchairs.
The best places, though, are near the window with natural light. Just note that there seems to be a shortage of plug sockets here—countable on one hand.
However, the rest of the place is great. There’s an indoor garden and conservatory within the building complex, perfect if you need to clear your head.
You can also give the pianos a try; they’re connected to a headset, so no one can hear your less-than-stellar skills.
Pro tip:
Check out the Barbican’s most curious collection of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction in the 1930’s to 1940s. It has around 1,000 titles from the likes of Agatha Christie and G.K. Chesterton.
7. The Wellcome Library
Media credit: wellcomecollection
Website: https://wellcomecollection.org/
Address: 183 Euston Road
Contact info: +44 (0)20 7611 2222 ([email protected])
Fees: Free
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
As one of the largest libraries in London, The Wellcome Library has plenty of seats and wide open spaces. Plus, there are lots of power sockets everywhere except in the reading room.
The reading room is something you must check out because of its collection of books and displays of amulets and scrolls. It’s also where you can find beanbags and sofas should you require a break.
When it comes to mealtimes, there’s a cafe within the building, but it’s quite pricey.
If you’re into some bizarre stuff, the Wellcome Library is famed for its rare collection of medical books.
In addition to these fascinating volumes, it also keeps medicine-related items dating back to the Middle Ages. Amongst its most unusual displays is a mummified mermaid kept in a jar!
Pro tip:
Shop for unusual items like the skeleton-hand oven mitts, skull-print totes, and books entitled ‘Am I Normal?’ and ‘How to be a Renaissance Woman’.
8. Canada Water Library
Media credit: the_hithe
Website: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/culture-and-sport/libraries/canada-water-library
Address: 21 Surrey Quays Road
Contact info: +44 020 7525 2000 ([email protected])
Fees: Free
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Nicknamed “study terraces” for its inverted pyramid shape, the Canada Water Library is a blend of traditional and modern libraries. It’s equipped with modern technologies yet hosts book clubs and writers’ workshops inside its doors.
In case you need a health check from studying too much, there’s a kiosk where you can check your heart rate and blood pressure for free.
The library is located in a public square, so it may look kind of busy but fret not. It’s really spacious.
There are more than 41 study spaces with lots of open areas and nooks and crannies, just in case sitting on the floor is your thing.
You’re also going to love the library’s interiors because there’s plenty of natural sunlight streaming all through oak-veneered shelves. It’s the kind of brightness that keeps you energetic!
Not to mention that it’s just a few steps away from the Tube, so it’s convenient to go to!
Pro tip:
Browse the “The Library of Things” section and rent instead of buying not-often-used items such as hedge trimmers, drills, and carpet cleaners. Good for your pocket and the environment too!
9. SOAS University of London
Media credit: soasuni
Website: https://www.soas.ac.uk/research/library
Address: 10 Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square
Contact info: +442078984163 ([email protected])
Fees: Free, depending on the access type
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 9:30 AM to 10:00 PM
UoL’s SOAS Library—that’s the School of Oriental and African Studies for you—is a must for any student of related disciplines. It is one of the world’s most influential libraries, hosting around 1.3 million volumes on its shelves.
These volumes include fields like anthropology, colonialism, and religion. You’ll also find other interesting things like ancient manuscripts, rare maps, and personal letters.
Nowhere else can you see floors of bookcases and rows of study spaces. It creates the perfect atmosphere to get you all juiced up for serious brain work.
If you’re into design, know that the library is inside the building designed by brutalist architect Lasdun, the same guy who did the Royal National Theatre.
You might also find the futuristic feel of the place familiar. It has appeared onscreen on The Crown, Lockwood & Co., and Criminal, among others.
Pro tip:
To be able to use the library regularly, if you’re neither a UoL student nor an alumnus, sign up online for a free membership. However, if you want to use some services, there are applicable fees.
10. City Business/Guildhall Library
Media credit: guildhalllibrary
Website: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/history-and-heritage/guildhall-library
Address: 5 Aldermanbury
Contact info: +44 020 7332 1812 ([email protected])
Fees: Free
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Friday to Sunday: closed
The best thing about the City Business Library (CBL) is that you don’t have to pay for access to its comprehensive business resources, tech, and information alike.
This means you can park yourself at any of the multitude of computer terminals—there’s a lot, really. It can be a lifesaver if you find yourself without a laptop.
After that, you can immerse yourself in all things business, like market research, journals, regulations, and the like.
However, take note that the place can get pretty busy sometimes.
If it does, you can always go up to the Guildhall Library on the upper floor. It has lots of tables, chairs, and a cosy sofa.
That’s also where you’ll find books on everything about the history of London. Not only that, you can also find pamphlets and newspapers dating back to the 16th century!
One really important thing to remember is that there are a lot of rules to follow in these libraries, especially regarding cell phone usage.
Pro tip:
Visitors with roots in London can use its family history database to look into their family tree or trace their ancestors.
