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British Library

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British Library

9.3^/10

1,025

ratings

The experts at The Guardian and Time Out London recommend this place
"Wow, absolutely love the Reading Rooms."(14 Tips)
"usually not crowded exhibit of the Magna Carta"(7 Tips)
"important manuscripts"(5 Tips)
"Good for informal meetings and has Business and IP centre resource."(5 Tips)

173 Tips and reviews

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magna carta
books
reading room
manuscripts
café
free Wifi
exhibits
coffee
quiet
tours
library
study area
scenic views
spacious
architecture
comics
people watching
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LondonistOctober 14, 2010
Been here 25+ times
Head into the permanent exhibition to see original hand-written lyrics to Hard Day's Night scrawled by Lennon on the back of a first birthday card to his son.
Travis CombelAugust 15, 2014
The historical documents etc. are very interesting.
Cynthia SamuelsJanuary 24, 2012
What a wonderful, silent place to work! Now I have a card for one year, too!
Aaron SavageMay 10, 2010
I wouldn't bother with the restaurant, the food went downhill dramatically over the last year. Try the independent cafes and deli places around York Way and Kings Cross Road.
Bronwyn DurandJanuary 27, 2010
Amazing place for knowledge junkies. The business and IP centre is invaluable for startups both as an info source and networking possibilities. Read more
Giuseppe SollazzoJuly 13, 2011
There's a free water dispenser on the first floor. It can save you on a warm day.
Jenn PJuly 1, 2015
Really lovely modern library
Danilo Crnogorac [SU7]September 3, 2014
http://zvukk.blogspot.com/2014/05/zvucna-arhiva-britanske-biblioteke.html
نجديةAugust 27, 2020
Must visit.
Alan MortonNovember 22, 2015
Reading rooms and areas restricted to members only
Sheila HozhabriDecember 8, 2010
Been here 10+ times
Try the business & IP, floor 2 for plenty of work space. Much less crowded than social science.
Abraam ArmApril 10, 2019
Large but busy
Bernhard SommerfeldMay 24, 2011
Love also the quirky gift shop and knowledge junkies :-)
Jamie ClagueNovember 17, 2010
If you're waiting for a train at Kings Cross or St Pancras the library is well worth a visit
Christine WongJanuary 28, 2014
Go look at the original Alice in wonderland on display!!!
Alex BilbieSeptember 13, 2011
The toffee and banana muffins at the cafe are great!
Aqua GirlJune 8, 2015
Great for working in style
Sean InsigneJanuary 9, 2015
Been here 10+ times
Focus and determination!
Gagan SinghAugust 5, 2015
Free WiFi and grand library.
Antoine AdamNovember 4, 2013
Opening times and closures
Anton OrdApril 24, 2013
Free wifi and power sockets Apple users!
Cla ClaNovember 6, 2018
Worth a tour
Aquiles BraynerJuly 4, 2011
Been here 5+ times
Check also the Growing Knowledge exhibition to discover more about digital scholarship tools...
Matt SFebruary 2, 2012
Been here 5+ times
Don't miss the illuminated manuscripts exhibition.
AnyTripMay 13, 2011
Register for a reader's pass and gain access to thousands of books and documents.
Gregg BrownOctober 22, 2011
Been here 5+ times
The coffee from the inside café is exceptionally good.
Gagan SinghAugust 5, 2015
Reading rooms are very nice here.
Diana ZhangMay 27, 2018
Nice reading rooms
James WhatleyAugust 15, 2014
The comic book exhibition isn't as good as I hoped it'd be. The shop is better... :/
JaeT 👧😚May 23, 2013
It has the coolest facade!
Rosemie CallewaertAugust 9, 2014
Enjoy books, WiFi & coffee
Matt SOctober 3, 2012
Been here 5+ times
Kerouac's On The Road exhibition from 4 Oct is worth a look
Tom SavoryMay 21, 2013
Check out the excellent Patrick Hughes apt reverspective!
Søren Leth-NissenJuly 16, 2011
Check out the Magna Carta and start thinking. It is worthwhile!
Howard WrigjtMarch 25, 2016
Cafe good but very busy
Adam SmithOctober 28, 2010
The main Peyton and Byrne café is always packed and competition for a table can be vicious.
Olga PavlovskyMay 24, 2013
If you need to work here, beware the wifi is very jumpy. Obviously, the busier it is, the worse it gets...
애란 최May 5, 2017
Too bad you need a readers pass to access the reading rooms.
StephanieNovember 1, 2011
Been here 5+ times
Prepare to give the blood type and sex of your third unborn child in order to receive a reader card.
RichardFebruary 28, 2016
See an original Magna Carta
Cj AquinoJanuary 7, 2016
Love the vibe
Lydia A.January 25, 2010
Don't miss the Lindisfarne Gospels & Cotton Nero A.X - probably the library's greatest treasures!
rahimOctober 23, 2013
Very useful for university students
Paul DorsainvilJanuary 28, 2011
Go read in the top floor, Friend's room...Great couches and views
Rod VTMarch 1, 2015
The one and only!
Nafis Tahshish IslamAugust 13, 2015
The reading rooms.
Kristyn UlandayJuly 28, 2015
SO MANY BOOKS. NERD HEAVEN.
Klara VargaDecember 29, 2015
They were closed, but they allowed booking guided tour. I was disappointed.
Joan L.October 8, 2009
at Kings Cross; get there early for workspace and free wifi. Goes wonky by 2:30PM, otherwise fab.
Nini PapuashviliMarch 20, 2012
The most helpful librarians ever!!!

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