British Library, London

British Library Tourist Info

The British Library (BL) is the national library of the United Kingdom. It is located along Euston Road, between Ossulston Street and Midland Road. The British Library is also one of the world's most significant research libraries, holding over 150 million items in all known languages and formats. The Library's collection of books alone number over 25 million. The British Library is the legal deposit library, meaning it has the right to receive one copy of all the books produced in the United Kingdom, including foreign books distributed there. It adds 3 million items to its collection every year.

The British Library was originally part of the British Museum. It only came into being in 1973, with the British Library act of 1972. For many years, its collections were distributed into several sites around central London, including within the British Museum, at Chancery Lane, at Holborn, Boston Spa, Yorkshire and Colindale. In 1997 all these were pooled together into a single new building next to St Pancras Railway Station.

The British Library is the largest public building constructed in the United Kingdom in the 20th century. At the centre of the British Library is a 4-storey glass tower called the King's Library or Royal Library. It contains 65,000 printed volumes donated by King George III between 1763 and 1820.

An Act of Parliament in 1911 ensured that the British Library is entitled to receive a copy of every item published in Britain.

Getting there

Location: 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
Phone: 020 7412 7000
Opening Hours: Wed-Fri: 9:30 am - 6:00 pm; Tue: 9:30 am - 8:00 pm; Sat: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm; Sun: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Nearest Train/Tube Stations: King's Cross, St Pancras, Euston, Euston Square stations.

Location Map of the British Library

British Library
author: Luigi Tedde (Jertix) | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners

British Library
author: Harry Knight | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners

British Library Atrium
author: Ephemeron | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners

Local Tours of London

A practical and often cost effective way to see London is to join a local tour. Check out the Local Tours of London that you can book online.

Return to London Budget Travel Guide or to UK Budget Travel Guide

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