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Libraries, museums and bookstores: British Library

Reading Rooms Opening Hours

Monday: 10.00 – 20.00
Tuesday to Thursday: 09.30 – 20.00
Friday: 09.30 – 17.00
Saturday: 09.30 – 17.00
Sunday: Closed

For all opening hours, including reading rooms, please follow this link

Exhibitions

The British Library also organizes exhibitions and events

You can find everything about them here

What it the British Library ?

The British library is the United Kingdom's national library. It means that it automatically receives a copy of every item published in Britain. 

It is free of use. You CAN'T take out books but you can order any book to consult in the different reading rooms. The library has 9 reading rooms:

  • Asian & African Studies
  • Business & IP Centre
  • Humanities 1 and 2
  • Manuscripts
  • Maps
  • Newsroom
  • Rare Books & Music
  • Science 2 and 3
  • Social Sciences 

You can find the catalogue here

Accessing the library

To get a reader pass is nothing difficult.

You need to make an appointment through this page and follow the steps. Here, you can find a list of the documents you need to bring with you. 

Be careful, don't mix up the reader pass with a membership!

  • The reader pass is completely FREE and allows you to access the reading rooms. 
  • The membership, on the other hand, is 80£ and doesn't give you access to the reading rooms.