The British Library in Camden

I feel slightly more knowledgeable just for visiting. Do the guided tour to level up fast PLUS you’ll get 10% off at the THE AMAZING BOOK SHOP! The book shop at the British Library! I wanted to buy about an hundred books. Got a great one though. See the photo. From original hand written Beatles lyrics to the the Magna Carts. Seriously get the guided the tour.

I enjoyed my visit to the Treasure Room. They even had some Leonardo da Vinci journal pages.

I recently had the privilege of visiting the British Library, and it was nothing short of extraordinary. The sheer magnitude of its collection is awe-inspiring, encompassing a rich tapestry of literature and historical artifacts. The architectural design is both magnificent and contemplative, providing an ideal backdrop for intellectual pursuits. The reading rooms exude an atmosphere of tranquility, fostering a deep appreciation for knowledge and scholarship. The staff were remarkably accommodating and knowledgeable, enhancing my experience with their insights. Overall, the British Library is a magnificent bastion of culture and learning, and I eagerly anticipate my next visit

The Exhibition on Medieval Woman Saturday 3pm is overcrowded to the point it becomes a horrible experience. You cannot read anything nor see the manuscripts. If you like queuing in a very small crowded space have seconds to read see objects and the queue again go ahead and book it! It is clear the British Library is not enforcing the Ticket times otherwise it wouldn't be so overcrowded. Is it even safe to have so many people in that small exhibition cube? Probably not

Very happy with service and the friendliness

The experience at the library can vary vastly depending on the reading room you are in. I had a lovely experience at the rare books section with the librarians there friendly and willing to help. On that same day, a librarian in Humanities 1 - a certain elderly stocky caucasian man with glasses sure had a lot of attitude to give for absolutely no good reason, he made a personal mission for himself to give off putting attitude to everyone around him. Keep up with the good work lol.

Great place to work quietly. But most of the reading materials have to be ordered in advance. The shelves in the science section are empty so difficult to find anything in your subject matter. I miss the old library that had everything there.

the reading rooms are the perfect place to get some undistracted work done, great staff and lovely atmosphere

Great place to visit, much of it is free and it has some worthwhile exhibitions too

A huge library and an attached gallery

Fantastic place, but unfortunately there are people who, in addition to going to study, sleep for a long time occupying tables or are absent from the table for a long time while others of us are wandering around and passing the time to find a place. In this sense I think that this should be controlled.

One of my favorite places in London. Very gorgeous with rare books and smells good.

Very good exhibition, but a bit too busy: It takes away from the experience when you have to queue to view the individual exhibits. Also, it would have been helpful to have transcripts available for view next to the exhibited text -and a translation of those transcripts to English where the original was in Latin for instance.

Beautiful library. Priceless books. Wonderful cafe. Terrible and rude security staff.

Beautiful place to study and the vibes are just great. Makes you feel very academic

I came here to see a special exhibition and I wasn't disappointed. I recommend booking ahead online because it gets very crowded. Make sure you visit 'The Treasure of British Library' a free exhibition from Leonardo's drawing to a copy of the Magna Carta and Beatle's memorabilia.

I spent my birthday at the British Library, and it was honestly one of the best decisions. The Magna Carta was the main highlight—standing in front of this ancient document was a pretty surreal experience. The rest of the library is packed with all sorts of treasures. I wandered through exhibits with everything from stunning illuminated manuscripts to modern books and even some quirky art. The space itself is great—open, airy, and filled with cozy reading spots. Perfect for taking it all in at your own pace. And I can’t forget the bookshop! I could’ve spent ages browsing the shelves, with everything from classic novels to funny book-themed merch. I bought a book from one of my favorite authors.It’s one of those places you find something cool every time you look around. All in all, it was a birthday well spent. The British Library is such a gem, and whether you’re a history buff, a bookworm, or just curious, there’s a little bit of magic here for everyone. (Review from May 2023.)

Each time I discover an exceptional exhibition.

Great library! Huge with some old books. Great place to study and do researches.

A huge library that also has exhibits, cafes and a souvenir store! I think there’s also parts of the library that you could visit if you got passes and/or tickets, but it’s fine if you just enter and visit the ticket free portions too 👍🏻

A great library with a nice atmosphere and exhibitions.

the spaghetti hair guy at the registration to get your readers pass was super useless and has a real attitude problem.

Great place , plenty of space to either meet up , swat up or head down study hard with readers pass

Very beautiful place, worth the detour if you like architecture, books and old documents

The bookstore is very beautiful and modern. You can go there as a tourist, but be careful to keep in mind that there are people studying/reading there, so avoid making noise. There is a small museum section, very interesting. And a collection of stamps and their evolution over the years. The interior architecture is very designer. There are tables and chairs for you to sit outside of the library area.

It was the perfect space to study and work in a calm environment. However, there are a lot of people, so the seats seem to be full...

I really enjoyed the library, which also had a copy of Magnacarta on display.

Beautifully arranged and cool pieces to view, if you like stolen art.

Such a great place, resource and the real reason I wrote this review: the sausage rolls in level 1 cafe are transcendental.

Only went into the shop as we were on our way home. Several Christmas presents bought! Lovely helpful staff.

Magnificent collection of ancient texts and manuscripts. Kindness of the staff to be able to enter with cabin suitcases. Silent. I love the student environment, multicultural, multiracial, multireligious. Zero problems.

Very cool spot to check out if your visiting and interested in history! Lots of old books, stamps and even music sheets of various topics points in history on display.

We visited the British Library today and it was an amazing experience. We booked in for the treasures tour and our host, James, was so enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and passionate. I would/will highly recommend this experience to anyone.

Great place for a browse around the permanent collections or to see a special exhibition. We bought tickets to see "A Silk Road Oasis" and were transported back in time. It was excellent with some wonderful artifacts on display. The soundtrack only added to the ambience.

Best place to study in the heart of London! Quality staff and always ready to help with any questions you may have.

Leadership needs to get back the core mission, immediately. The curator must be out of their mind. They have an amazing permanent collection of the greatest literature in history. But in the display room, there's a temporary exhibit (that almost no one was interested in) with video blaring. The experience was surreal (in a bad way), trying to take in the collection and having video playing so loudly you can't even read. Also, the bookshop is an embarrassment. There is NO diversity of intellectual thought or tradition represented. It's as if an angry, woke, left-wing grad student stocked the shelves and only wants us to read one type of book. In a way, there's a poetic beauty to having this vapidity sit in contrast to the greatness of Shakespeare and all the rest in the permanent collections.

Amazing 'Treasures' collection and free entrance!

They said it was open until 8pm. And they let me in at 5pm only to be told get out because they have a special event and we had to leave. The staff constantly gave me conflicting information. Pointing me in different directions. Wasted an hour of my time and seeing nothing. I’m sure the exhibition is good. But I won’t be back because of the disorganisation and rudeness of the staff. Shame. I was really looking forward to seeing the exhibition and had travelled an hour across town to see it. Don’t waste your time.

What a joke. Signing up is a pain, can't do online. The person who served me was passive aggressive and not helpful. Can't even use a pen. Should of been told all the rules before wasting my time signing up. What a joke. Embarrassment. Don't waste your time if you just want to study there are hundreds of places better than this.

It was good, but boring, you should add creativity in the bookcases, make it like an office, in small but beautiful rooms with computers or books.

Incredible history and collections that you won’t find anywhere else. It was quick and easy for me to get a reader card here, and there are tons of spaces to study quietly. Will definitely try the different cafes the next time that I’m here

What an amazing place to visit. Seeing the great works of the past is just incredible. I HIGHLY recommend stopping here while in London. Staff was polite and engaging. Loved sharing stories and facts. I was blow away.

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It houses over 170 million collectibles spanning every era of written civilization, from the Magna Carta, a gem, to Jane Austen's notebooks, to the Beatles' handwritten lyrics. I've been there several times. The environment is relaxing and it is pleasant to spend time even just sitting in the lobby The structure of the red brick building is also very beautiful. I remember that years ago there was also an area where you could listen to music, the last time I was there I don't remember if it was still there There are often interesting exhibitions.

You can see world-class records such as The Beatles, Mozart, and Leonardo da Vinci.

A great place to quietly spend time, and the exhibition is worth seeing.

We went to see the Treasures Gallery and it was pretty amazing seeing a historical copy of the Magna Carta! There is also a variety of texts including music, science, religion, and more! Admittedly when we went there were a few items temporarily removed, many being the Beatles display. But hey, it's free and it's a treasure trove of history! It's worth checking out!

An amazing repository of tomes, manuscripts, etc.

Wonderfully space where you can be in close proximity of actual historical books

Absolutely loved visiting the British Library! The architecture is stunning, and the reading rooms are peaceful. A perfect spot for book lovers and history enthusiasts. Highly recommend

I made a brief visit here on August 2024, because I wanted the get a reader card. The occasion was my daughter's move to London to study, so I figured the library can be a quiet place for me to work at when I'll be there in London. It's really nice, and the people are kind and jolly, and there are always exhibitions displayed there.

It's cold and you can't take your coat in.

A quick visit can be worthwhile if you're in the area. I recommend taking a quick look at the Kings Library. Unfortunately only from the outside, but that's worth it too.

Rude security and silly bag policy considering the proximity to St Pancras. You will be refused entry with a medium- sized case

Much more than a library. It’s also a great work/study space. Spent the day here doing research for my writing. Great exhibition of important standout manuscripts and pieces that are housed in the library… Magna Carta being just one example. Places to get coffee and to eat and fairly priced. If you want to use the reading room, then the pass is free and well worth the effort to get it.

Totally worth a visit! U cant read actual books there without a Library Membership but they have a Treasure room with Original works of Davinci, Michel Angelo and more. And yes they have a real Guttenberg Bible on display

First visit inside and I was impressed with the ease of free entry and finding my way around. Started the visit with an “Origin” coffee which was delicious and tasty pastries. Spent a lot of time perusing the displays, although several seemed to be missing from the cases presumably on loan? Stopped into the shop and there is an excellent selection of gifts and also novels. I could come back here for sure!

An impressive building with lots of light and where you can view treasures of British and world history

Beyond the Baseline exhibition was great but didn't live up to the promotion of "500 years of British black music". What it was was one glass case of everything up to 1930 then straight into Shirley Bassey. Once I got over the shock of how misleading it was, what was the was great, although patchy at times

Very unassuming site but holds many priceless treasures in their Treasures Gallery. The whole gallery is very small and easy to navigate. You can easily read the description accompanying each item for context. If not, it might serve you well getting some form of audio guide online. I used the one from Rick Steves. However, because the gallery shifts around frequently, their audio guide can be outdated.

Too cold. Conditioner is working very hard

Interesting depiction of Black Music from past to modern, for an audio event there was far too much information to read. It was rather crowded which made it difficult to see much of the text. It would have been great to hear the audio of some of the early Black artists such as the Tudors, Samuel Coleridge Taylor etc...

The exhibits area, including the Magna Carta, was closed for an undisclosed reason and will remain closed for an unknown period of time. After wandering through the entire building, there is nearly nothing to do except pull out a laptop and access the internet. It is also essentially a glorified coffee shop at this point, with all books hidden out of sight and generally inaccessible to visitors. Hard to imagine that is what the founders and donors envisioned their national library to be. In addition to the cyber attack that has limited their services, the entire organization seems drastically incapable of being appropriate stewards for the resources they have been tasked with to protect, maintain, and provide the public. Very unprofessional.

This is more than a library as it is a museum as well. Good to visit.

Since loosing my mum I have taken to reading research papers and watching people filter through old manuscripts busy with fingers tapping on keyboard buttons, fresh tea and free water is available and at the moment it’s my favourite place in London that hasn’t changed.

Beautiful, spacious learning and research space.

Disappointing. No kids section.

Tourists: check before you go here. The treasures gallery is closed indefinitely so, unfortunately, there's nothing to see here other than a stamp collection and a large collection of books behind glass. Magna Carta, Shakespeare's folio, etc... cannot be viewed. Hopefully it will reopen at some point so check the website before visiting.

The closest tube station is King's Cross St Pancras. Take Euston Road Exit and walk about 5 minutes to The British Library main entrance. When you enter the building from piazza there is a security check before they let you in. In the main hall you will find a gift shop, a cafe (meeting point) and a bookshop. There is also an information desk on the ground floor and the Reader Registration Office where you can get a British Library Card for research, inspiration and enjoyment for free of charge. It is valid for a year. Receptionist and customer service staff are very kind and helpful. You can find Harry M Weinrebe Learning Centre and the locker room on -1 floor where you can leave all your belongings that you can not take with you to the reading rooms. A reusable bag for life is provided for free. There are lifts and toilets on each floor. Newsroom is on the second floor.

Easy to make a readers card, good reading rooms and amenities. Just annoying that you can’t take your bags to the reading rooms or water but it’s understandable cause there are valuable old books, and they provide water outside of the rooms.

We attended the British Library tour with Steven/Stephen (not sure which spelling is correct). It was a fantastic tour crammed with history. We saw some amazing displays, including magna carta, shakespeare, guttenberg bible, Tyndale bible... Lots of other archives of more modern materials from the windrush generation, the Beatles, Oscar Wilde... So much stuff it's impossible to list. Go and check out the exhibits if you can, but I highly recommend you take a guided tour first to help with context and to learn the history of the building and the institution.

British library's member with the picture in some minutes hope you like my integrity to be more proud some thanks can you tell me where I am exactly some other thanks

Saw the free ticketed exhibition Beyond The Basseline. A must see if you're available It tells the story of 500 years of Black British Music

It is a huge Bookstore next to King's Road where a large number of people are concentrated with computers and working, Or at least it seems so since there is a lot of silence. In the center is The King's Librarian, an impressive library of ancient books

Sadly due to the cyberattack in 2023 much of the archives are still not available. Great place when accessible restored

Enter to see a beautiful exhibition of ancient books and manuscripts. For the initiated but not only!

The free exhibition on the ground floor is impressive. From original first editions of Shakespeare's works, to Magna Charta, to Monty Python and Beatles relics, everything is fantastic. I really want to go to the library here :-)

Great day out reading up on Blackusic throughout the years

Nice library, unfortunately no access to the reading rooms without a library card. Coffee on the ground floor is a dream

Went to the Beyond the Baseline exhibition, which was excellent. I'm marking it down due to the fact they allow no food or drink (fine) but this includes water......and it was 32 outside. Not acceptable. Otherwise a great experience.

Cannot believe this was my first visit to this library. Wonderful building with do much going on inside. Apart from using it as a library, there are also exhibitions and other events. Saw Beyond the Bassline which was a comprehensive dive into the last 500 years of black music. Will definitely return for a longer look around.

If you go there, don't miss the exhibition made up of the library's treasures.

I worked here in 1999. My first visit since then. The historical books and documents exhibition is great. It's also free.

There was a barista going round the upstairs coffee shop challenging visitors to provide proof of purchase. It didn't seem like receipts were issued so she was demanding to see the transaction on the banking app on their phone. Cash payments were obviously problematic. What an invasion of privacy! Who does this person think they are? Who is authorising her to check banking apps?

Although I did not have the pleasure of visiting it physically, I took advantage of its online services by requesting the scan of part of a book which was sent to me in a very short time.

Friendly staff, impressive building and well-laid out displays. This was my first visit and I was made to feel welcome immediately. I was browsing, not studying, and was directed to the exhibitions. I was in awe of the antiquities. Thanks to Joe, on the front desk, who completed the paperwork so my novel is now available to borrow!

Comfortable and many things to see. It worth a visit.

This is a British library. It has many different exhibitions and a rich collection of books. The very comfortable thing about this library is that it has cafes on every floor. You can come out and take a rest after reading the books. It’s worth it. As a reminder, remember to apply for a library card before entering the location where you can borrow books.

Was really amazed how as somebody coming from abroad I was able to order a book in advance, get a library card when there and then check out the book for us in the library. It was a rare book and I was delighted to be able to do that, even though I am not a British citizen

Why pay for overpriced co-working space when you can just work at the British library for free?

This is more than a library. It’s a library plus so much more. The rare books, sacred text exhibit holds a rare and amazing collection. There are wonderful spaces to study and work. A cafe with a small and tempting menu. Two gift shops with the most gifts. If I have more time, I would want to hang out here

Overall a great place to quietly study or work albeit management of staff could be improved Pros: -Reading rooms offer quiet places to read or work -large selection of books and other resources Cons: -About 20% of the security staff are rude and condescending--you must interact with them when you enter the building and enter/leave reading rooms. The need for security is obvious, the attitude, not so much -While there are food options on site they are quite limited

Only reviewing the exhibitions experience as that's why we visited. The Treasures gallery is jaw dropping. Whether you're looking for something in particular or just wandering around, you'll find books, poems, art prints, etc. that are incredibly historic, inspiring, and beautiful. Mozart compositions around the corner from Da Vinci note books, ancient Chinese poetry across from a Guttenberg Bible. Michelangelo love poetry, a 2000 year old Egyptian homework book, Javanese calendar art, you could spend hours in just one room. I will knock down a star here because they've done very little for children to enjoy. The material here presents a huge opportunity for interactive displays that kids would love (the Burrell Collection in Glasgow is a good example) but there's very little to keep their attention. Considering the value of instilling a love for books and reading in kids, this seems like a big miss. Our kids actually really liked the Philatelic collection. It was fun for them to search for countries they know about and slide out the displays to see the stamps. Another place where you could spend hours if you're interested in that kind of thing. The gift shop is top tier. I ended up adding about 20-30 books from their selection to my wish list. They also have a great selection of simple souvenirs for very reasonable prices. The leather bookmark I got for £2.50 is my new favourite and the kids found some fun wee notebooks as well. I will agree with other reviewers that the front of house could be friendlier and more helpful. Frowns all around when we entered and that seems to be pretty regular.

I would suggest to have something fun for visitors to see

Love the Library but cannot get through on any telephone number

TERRIBLE - in October 2023 The institution that is the British Library, not some back water village library in the middle of nowhere, the national library of the United Kingdom, was victim to a cyber attack. Nearly ten months later, all the library management has managed to resume in terms of service and access to material is to resume printing library cards / readers tickets, for material that still isn't able to be ordered. Many of the items are allegedly held onsite in a locked storage area in which machines pick the material ordered however due to the cyber attack this system is offline and has been since October 2023 - it's now July 2024. No one has had the brain child of calling a locksmith and busting open the door to said room to retrieve the material manually. I mean..... what idiots do they have managing the British Library and what idiot was allowed to stay in their job whilst managing this shambles of a situation? Sack the management team, call a lock smith - problem solved!

Really lovely library. Disabled entry. Cute book store in there too.

Such a beautiful place, well organised, nice people Everything is easy and managed

The most wonderful library in the Kingdom. Please do organise a lot more events and venues 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🥰🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

These days, libraries simply serve as cafes and event facilities.

Good place to visit but some area restricted due to recent problems.