10 Best Libraries In London To Study & Work

What do you do to turn around a lazy day when studying in London? Do you just dim the lights and dive into the world of words hidden in the pages of history? Instead of hiding in your room, immerse yourself in the best libraries in London – only if you’re in the city! Food for thought: Reading for just  6 minutes can reduce your stress levels by 68% and can improve your sleep quality. So, with tinted glass-adorned palatial domes singing a billion words from the millions of books they behold, you can embark on a journey along with ancient manuscripts or the latest bestsellers. Some of them are the biggest libraries in London, and some of them are free of subscriptions – either way, you can find your haven. Let’s explore the top libraries in London and why you should visit them! 

10 Best Libraries in London 

If you have watched Harry Potter movies and always wanted to visit The Hogwarts Library, the libraries in London will not disappoint. The top libraries in London will make you feel like you are studying at a movie set while letting you switch on your Focus Mode. Here’s our compilation of the best libraries in London that will help you prepare for a bookworm's perfect adventure! 

1. National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum

Year of Establishment: 1837
Address: National Art Library, V&A, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Subscription Fee: Free
Timings: 11 A.M to 5 P.M
Famous For: A permanent collection of over 850,000 printed works and manuscripts.

The quote, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life,” by Pablo Picasso, seems to come to life at one of the most beautiful libraries in London. So, be ready to sprinkle the stardust to your deepest love for the blinding aroma of the original manuscripts by Charles Dickens! It stands proudly as one of the best libraries in London to study for art students and researchers. The heavenly pieces of art collection, which includes ceramics, sculpture, art, textiles, and fashion, make it one of the best libraries in London. Peep into the John Madejski Garden through the enormous antique and alluring glass windows, and you will start calling this beautiful library in London your new home after one visit!  

2. The Maughan Library, King’s College London

Year of Establishment: 1851
Address: Chancery Ln, London WC2A 1LR, United Kingdom
Subscription Fee: Students studying at King's College are only permitted to enter the library
Timings: 9 A.M. - 1 A.M
Famous For:  The Maughan Library holds the main King's collection for the study of Arts and Humanities, Business, Law and Sciences.

One of the best libraries in London, it features a neo-gothic dome, mosaic flooring, stained glass, and an unfathomable collection of theses and books on subjects ranging from history to science. For bibliophiles who dream of reading under the lamp-lit desks, The Maughan Library is the perfect library in London to study. The atmosphere and awe-inspiring collections have been winning hearts for centuries! Undoubtedly, it’s the best library in London to work in, but only if you are a student at King’s. The Maughan Library, part of King’s College London, is also bejewelled by a mediaeval chapel, Weston Room. This library was referenced in the movie Da Vinci Code, and thus, the movie buff in you can tour one of the most beautiful libraries in London.

3. Senate House Library

Year of Establishment: 1836 
Address: Senate House Library, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU
Subscription Fee: Free
Timings: 9 A.M. - 11 P.M
Famous For: One of the UK's largest academic libraries for arts, humanities & social sciences.

Immerse yourself in one of the best libraries in London! The splendour of the Senate House Library, one of the most beautiful libraries in London, is inexpressible! Enter the library (which is a part of the University of London) and get transported to the times when Britain was engaged in the Second World War. You will be standing against loud noises from the typewriters, clicks of telegraph decoding the Morse codes from spies of allied powers and people trying to scream their lungs out for something on the phone line as this was the exact building used as the Ministry of Information by Great Britain during the war. This is a great library to work in. London also captured the imagination of 1984 author George Orwell, who used it as an inspiration for the infamous Ministry of Truth in this novel. Apart from its historical gloriousness, this is also one of the most famous libraries in London, boasting a collection of over 3 million books. It goes without saying how this place holds its place in our hearts as one of the best libraries to study in London! 

4. The British Library

Year of Establishment: 1973
Address: The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
Subscription Fee: £45/month
Timings: 9:30 A.M. - 8 P.M
Famous For: The British Library holds the most comprehensive collection of business and intellectual property (IP) material in the United Kingdom and is also the official library of the UK Intellectual Property Office.

We wouldn’t continue this list without mentioning the spell The British Library casts being one of the best libraries in London. The favourite find of the finest authors, the space holds an astounding collection of over 3,000 papyri and more than 2,40,000 field recordings alongside preserved newspapers, maps, and musical recordings. If you are looking for a collection of diverse languages over different periods, you are reading about The British Library, the best library in London, for that purpose. The place safeguards original Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks and literary manuscripts with historical and cultural significance. The specialised databases and digital archives also come to the rescue, making it one of the best libraries in London. It doesn’t end here; this is one of the prettiest libraries in London to protect a 7th-century Mesopotamian exorcist's bowl with inscriptions to ward off evil spirits!

‍5. National Poetry Library

Year of Establishment: 1953
Address: National Poetry Library, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Subscription Fee:  Free
Timings: 12 P.M - 8 P.M
Famous For: The National Poetry Library is the largest public collection of modern poetry in the world

Ever wonder where poets go to get their pen and start pouring their thoughts through the flowing ink? It's at one of the best libraries in London, the National Poetry Library! Step into the yellow radiance streaming through the doors opened for its loyal bibliophiles in 1953 and feel the fragrance of more than 2,00,000 collections of modern British poetry works. Leafing through the roughed-up pages led to the intriguing world of modern poets, including Huges, Plath, Larkin, W.H. Auden, John Keats, and their contemporaries and renowned successors. Apart from being one of the free libraries to study in London, the library encourages readers to write their own poems on “Poet Trees.” So, bring a large slab of cake from the best cafes in London with ganache and espresso shots and lose yourself in one of the best libraries to work in London. 

6. Bibliothèque Quentin Blake, Institut Français

Year of Establishment: 1910
Address: Bibiliothèque Quentin Blake, 32 Harrington Road, London SW7 3ES
Subscription Fee: £50/year for the classic membership
Timings: 1 P.M - 6P.M
Famous For: Quentin Blake is known as a place where children and their families can enjoy reading, playing, learning, and making up stories together. 

As one of the best libraries in London, this space is a testimony of the magic Quentin Blake created with his illustrations. The biggest French library in the UK is also one of the best free libraries in London. Its welcoming environment features colourful decor, comfy seating, and breathtaking mural artwork. On top of that, while entering one of the nice libraries in London, you will see a special “Roald Dahl” corner! Also, devour the works of the greatest of them all, starting with the gems like timeless Astérix by René Goscinny, Hergé (the generous creator of Tintin) to Dominique de Saint-Mars’s hypnotic and fun illustrative stories she made sure we never forget, much thanks to this place, one of the coolest libraries London! The enchantment by the vivid cubes designated for history’s favourites and wooden flooring invites you to dig in your head in the most famous library in London.

7. The Wiener Holocaust Library

Year of Establishment: 1933
Address: 29 Russell Sq, London WC1B 5DP, United Kingdom
Subscription Fee: £120/year for all, except students who pay £60/year.
Timings: 10 A.M - 5 P.M
Famous For:  The Wiener Holocaust Library is dedicated to the archives of the Holocaust and is one of the best libraries in London. 

If you stroll through Russel Square, you might stumble upon the finest buildings, some of the best parks in London with the most soothing spots and leafy lanes. Nestled in the heart of the Square and of the people of London stands a grade II listed building – The Wiener Holocaust Library, one of the best libraries in London. If you are a history buff and are intrigued by the events of the past and the wrongs and rights done in the history of time, this famous library in London is where you will find answers. Founded by Dr. Alfred Wiener, this place turned out to become the best library in London for its collection of works from the Holocaust era and also from the 1938 November Program. While you skim through the pages of the dreadful history, you will realise you are standing in the world’s leading archives from that period. Genocide, war criminals, testimonials from Holocaust victims, and original letters written by children looking for their parents in the concentration camps are some of the many collections ready to get you up for some tissue or just a deep breath in one of the top libraries in London. 

8. Canada Water Library 

Year of Establishment: 2011 
Address: 21 Surrey Quays Rd, London SE16 7AR, UK
Subscription Fee: Free
Timings: 8 A.M - 8 P.M
Famous For: The library boasts a futuristic, pyramid design and has set an example in using aluminium cladding. 

Relatively new to the list of the best libraries in London for studying, Canada Water Library has won hearts with modern facilities, community hub, and more. The space houses more than 40,000 books, catering to diverse interests. If you are looking for the best books on focus and concentration or want to learn about the local history, this public library in London has got you covered. It’s one of the coolest libraries in London open to the public, where you can use the “LibraryCam” that can live stream views of Canada Water and Canary Wharf. Managed by Southwark Council, the library blends traditional collections with modern services. It’s become one of the best libraries in London, with its focus on book clubs, author talks and workshops, and activities. You can also meet like-minded people and connect with the literary community. Plus, it has become the best library to study in London because of its “study terraces.” 

9. The Wellcome Library 

Year of Establishment: 1949
Address: 183 Euston Rd., London NW1 2BE, UK
Subscription Fee: Free
Timings: 10 A.M - 6 P.M
Famous For: It is one of the best libraries in London, housing more than 700,000 rare medical books, artefacts, and historical photographs.

The Wellcome Library, the best library in Central London, is the epicentre for anyone doing MBBS in UK. As you enter, you will feel stunned by 19th-century wax models detailing medical conditions. Look for the historical medical advertisements showing the bizarre treatments of the bygone era! Moreover, it’s one of the libraries in Central London to study, where you can find a gallery full of mind-boggling objects, such as mermaid mummies and jarred anatomical specimens. Another reason for this place to be on our list of the best libraries in London is because of its 3,000 cookbooks from the 16th century. Yes, this beautiful library in London welcomes you to learn about the historical relationships between food and health throughout the centuries. Though being one of the free libraries in London to study and work, you can go for the daily tours on Napoleon’s toothbrush and what-not! 

10. Kensington Central Library 

Year of Establishment: 1960 
Address: 12 Phillimore Walk, London W8 7RX, UK
Subscription Fee: Free
Timings: 9.30 A.M - 8 P.M 
Famous For: The library boasts an extensive collection of materials related to the history and culture of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. 

One of the best libraries in London, this place is a sanctuary of stories where wisdom of the ages awaits. Traverse through local chronicles of Chelsea and get lost in the leather-bound books! The illustrative biographies of the historical figures create a humble journey for researchers. Being one of the best libraries in London, the maps, archival materials, and photographs feed the interest of any historical enthusiast. Also, this Grade II listed building, constructed by the architect E. Vincent Harrirs, is a notable example of mid-20th-century civic architecture. Not only does it stand as one of the most beautiful libraries in London, but also for being the first library in the UK to be air-conditioned. Moreover, this beautiful library to work in London offers a “Living Library” program where one can interact with someone from an underrepresented group to question prejudices. 

Now that you know all about the free, paid, and most beautiful libraries in London, take your tote and head out for a cultural excursion. Even if you are not an avid reader, the tainted glasses and lamp-lit desks are enough to lure you. While you are at it; you can also make an itinerary to visit the top 25 museums in London and immerse yourself in the architectural marvels of the past era. The hushed reverence, the wealth of resources, and a blend of traditional and modern at the best libraries in London will surely leave you in awe. In case you are new to the city and trying to find your way through, you can check out how to use London Underground and reach your destination!