Grand reading rooms, striking architecture — London's greatest libraries are worth visiting for their looks alone.
4 Beautiful Libraries in London You Must Visit
The UK's national library holds over 170 million items — from the Magna Carta to centuries of books, maps and music. Its public galleries are free to visit.
The British Library, St Pancras
Charles Holden's 1937 Art Deco tower — said to have inspired Orwell's Ministry of Truth in Nineteen Eighty-Four. It looks its best during Open House weekends.
Senate House Library, Bloomsbury
Part museum, part library, all free — exploring medicine, life and art. The Wellcome Library holds centuries of medical treasures.
Wellcome Collection, Euston Road
One of the City of London's great reference libraries, with roots going back to the 1420s — a peaceful haven in the Square Mile.