Top 10 Libraries in London

Finding the best libraries in London to study and work in remains the most important quest for international students. International students need to maintain a good score in their university term exams to keep their scholarships going and continue, if any and also to get a rewarding career ahead of their chosen course. 

Being able to focus on studies in a foreign land can seem like a task especially when you are living alone and surrounded by your thoughts or just living with friends and you cannot trace a lonely spot for yourself to sit and focus on studying. This is the case when students go on the lookout for the “best libraries in London near me” or just all the “free libraries in London”. In this article, we will list the best libraries in London, their facilities, features, timings and locations. You can then just make your decision as to which library in London you wish to join. 

Following the top 10 libraries in London list, we have also covered different libraries that will serve different purposes and needs of international students. Read this article till the end to find out.

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Top 10 Libraries in London to Study

Check out the best libraries in London, England, some of which are free of subscription fees, some of which are public and some of these are the most beautiful libraries in London. 

1. The British Library
2. Senate House Library
3. Barbican Library
4. Bibliothèque Quentin Blake, Institut Français
5. Bethnal Green Library
6. National Poetry Library
7. The Wiener Holocaust Library
8. National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum
9. The Maughan Library, King’s College London
10. The London Library

Also Read: Part time Work Options in UK for International Students

Details on the Top 5 Libraries in London

Below are the specific details that will be beneficial for international students aiming to get a subscription to the London libraries near them.

1. The British Library

One of the largest libraries in the world, the British Library in London houses nearly 200 million books across different subjects for different needs. The library mostly remains open to readers and conducts several exhibitions from time to time. The British Library owns a wide collection of study items in over 400 languages including printed and electronic books, periodicals, microfilms, manuscripts, maps, music scores, and philatelic items.

The library serves as a national resource for students across the UK and internationally. Below are some significant points about the British Library, London.

• Total Number of Books: 200 million (approximately)
• Location: 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, UK (near St Pancras Station).

• Timings: The British Library remains open from 9:30 AM to 8 PM from Monday through Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6 PM on Friday, 9:30 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and 11 AM to 5 PM on Sunday. The library remains closed on certain specific days that you can check on the official website. 

• Subscription Fees: The British Library is mostly free to visit. However, there may be some fees depending on reader registration type and access level.

• Year of Establishment: 1973

• Unique Features: The British Library, London, England houses some of the world's most valuable historical documents, including the Magna Carta and handwritten lyrics by the Beatles. It also boasts a stunning building and a rich program of events and exhibitions.

2. Senate House Library

Central library for the University of London and the School of Advanced Study, the Senate House Library holds a collection of over 2 million books, 1800 archival collections and 50 special collections. The Senate House Library gives access to beautiful study spots to its readers across Central London. Formerly known as the University of London Library until 2004, the Senate House Library finds its place in the beautiful art deco building from the 4th to 19th floors. 

The major collection in the Senate House Library focuses primarily on arts, humanities, and social sciences. Some specific collections include Commonwealth Studies, English, History, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Romance Languages and Literature, United States Studies 

• Total Number of Books: 2 million books, 1800 archival collections and 50 special collections 
• Location: Bloomsbury, Central London

• Timings: 9:00 AM to 11 PM From Monday through Friday and 9:45 AM to 9 PM from Saturday to Sunday.

• Subscription Fees: Subscription fees vary depending on your affiliation (student, faculty etc.) and level of access. 

• Year of Establishment: The library started with the foundation of the University of London in 1836, but its collection grew significantly from 1871 onwards.

• Unique Features: The Senate House Library holds the Goldsmiths' Library of Economic Literature, and the Palaeography Room contains a collection of Western European manuscripts, offers beautiful study spaces and loan programs for notebooks and iPads.

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3. The Barbican Library

The Barbican Library is a public library that boasts its collection of untimely books, audiobooks and graphic novels. While the place has much to offer, the Barbican Library also offers a children's and a music library and hosts regular events, exhibitions and activities for its book lovers. 

The Barbican Library is part of the Barbican Centre, London, a complex housing an art gallery, theatre, concert hall, and cinema. The proximity of the Barbican Library to the arts scene makes it unique. While its exact holdings aren't available online, due to its location within the Barbican Centre, the library likely has a strong collection of art, design, theatre, and music-related materials.

• Total Number of Books: The exact number of books is not publicly available, but the Barbican Library boasts a large collection.
• Location: Level 2, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS and is accessible by public transport and foot or bicycle.

• Timings: The Barbican Library remains open from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM on Tuesday and Thursday. On Saturday, the library opens from 9:30 AM to 4 PM and remains closed on Sundays, public holidays and all bank holidays.

• Subscription Fees: Membership is free to anyone who lives, works, or studies in the City of London or is a regular visitor to the Barbican Library.

• Year of Establishment: 1982

• Unique Features: The library likely has a strong collection of art, design, theatre, and music-related materials.

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4. Bibliothèque Quentin Blake, Institut Français

Owing to almost 40,000 listed items, the Bibliothèque Quentin Blake, Institut Français is one of the largest fee-access French libraries in London, UK. The library proudly boasts both its classical and contemporary English and French literature. For newspaper and magazine lovers, the library lists the latest copies of both to read either on its online website or on the site. Overall, the library serves the interests of all ages on all language levels across the fields of French history and literature. 

• Total Number of Books: 40,000
• Location: 32 Harrington Road, London SW7 3ES

• Timings: 1 PM to 6 PM from Wednesday through Friday,  12 PM to 6 PM on Saturday. The library remains closed from Sunday through Tuesday.

• Subscription Fees: While there is free access to the library without borrowing privileges, new members must check the online website or at the site for packages related to borrowing subscriptions.

• Year of Establishment: Originally opened in the 1980s as the Children's Library relaunched and renamed Bibliothèque Quentin Blake in 2015 after refurbishment

• Unique Features: The library is named after children's illustrator Sir Quentin Blake, who is a patron of the library and features original artwork by illustrators, including a mural by Quentin Blake himself.

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5. Bethnal Green Library

The Bethnal Green Library, through its large collection of books, caters to the interests of people of all ages with a variety of fiction and non-fiction books. The specific genres and subjects of books are not listed on the official website but likely include classics, contemporary fiction, mystery, romance, biographies, history, self-help, and more. It is one of the best libraries in London to study, read and work. The library also offers the facility of two halls to hire, each with a capacity of 100 people for the purposes of conferences and exhibitions. 

The visitors of the Bethnal Green Library claimed that stepping into this library feels like going back in time as the library is still adored with Victorian interiors. Other than that, the Bethnal Green Library became the popular choice among locals due to its free Idea Store, a network of public spaces where community people can have free access to workstations and computers. 

• Number of books:  While the exact number isn't publicly available, Bethnal Green Library offers a wide collection of materials.
• Location: Bethnal Green Gardens, Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 0HL Idea Store
• Timings: 10 AM to 6 PM from Monday through Wednesday, 10 AM to 8 PM on Thursday and 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday. The library remains closed on Friday and Sunday.

• Subscription Fees: Bethnal Green Library is a public library, so there are no subscription fees to borrow books.

• Year of Establishment: 1922

• Unique Features: The Bethnal Green Library has an interesting history associated with it as its building was originally built in 1570 and used as a private lunatic asylum until 1920. This unique library in London for study offers a variety of events and programs, including story time for children, homework help, and an art club.

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Other Top Libraries in London

Now that we have checked the list of the top 10 libraries in London. Below are some the best libraries in London, which differ by various parameters such as in terms of their size, architecture, facilities and association with the university or colleges. 

Library Name	Total Number of Books (estimate)	Subscription Fees
The Wellcome Library	800,000	Free
Canada Water Library	Not available	Free
Artizan Street Library	Not available	Free
Shoe Lane Library	Not available	Free
Guildhall Library	200,000	Free
London Metropolitan Archives	Not available	Access fees may apply
Royal Geographical Society	600,000	Membership required
The Wiener Library	100,000	Free
Marx Memorial Library	5,000	Free
Wimbledon Library	Not available	Free
LRF Heritage Centre	Not available	Free
Battersea Library	Not available	Free
Carnegie Library	Not available	Free
Royal College of Nursing Library	Not available	Membership may be required
City Business Library	Not available	Free
The Swedenborg Society	Not available	Membership may be required
The Inner Temple Library	Not available	Membership required
Westminster Reference Library	300,000	Free
RHS Lindley Library	200,000	Membership may be required
Crofton Park Library	Not available	Free
Forest Hill Library	Not available	Free
Shepherd’s Bush Library	Not available	Free
Cricklewood Library	Not available	Free
St Bride Library	Not available	Membership may be required
Wood Green Library	Not available	Free
John Harvard Library	Not available	Membership required
Kensington Central Library	Not available	Free
The BFI Reuben Library	Not available	Membership may be required

Also Read:

• Cost of Living in London for Students
• Cost of Studying in UK for Indian Students in 2024

This was all about the nearby library for study in London such as the British Library London UK, the Senate House Library, the Barbican Library and several more famous libraries in London. If you have any doubts, feel free to drop your queries in the comments below.