The London Library

Tiny books, vast stories. Among The London Library’s collection of around one million books are miniature editions like these, proving that literary treasures don’t always take up much space. Just one of many interesting finds waiting to be discovered.

Congratulations to longstanding London Library member Tim Bouverie, winner of the Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize for non-fiction for Allies at War. Around 700 books are published by Library members each year. Find out more about membership via the link in our bio. 📚

Last night at The London Library, Camilla Grudova, Mark Haddon and Amber Medland joined Irenosen Okojie to explore crafting the perfect short story. Inspired by Magic and Mechanics from Scratch Books, the evening unpacked the ideas and decisions that shape compelling fiction.

A quiet place to think, write and read. The Study at The London Library offers members a dedicated space for focused work. Immersed in the calm atmosphere of the building, it’s a place where ideas can take shape without distraction - in the heart of London.

🌍Happy International Women’s Day! Discover just a few of the remarkable women who have also been members of The London Library → 1. Christabel Pankhurst 2. Virginia Woolf 3. Vita Sackville-West 4. Helena Bonham Carter

Happy World Book Day! 🌍📚 At The London Library, discovery stretches a long way. Across 17 miles of open shelves and around one million books, members can browse, explore and stumble upon ideas they didn’t know they were looking for. Discover more: londonlibrary.co.uk/join

What does it mean for something to be 'emblematic'? Discover more about in our latest display in the Reading Room, featuring a number of books from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries on emblems. Available to all London Library members.

Twelve writers + a DJ = one of the best nights you’ll ever have in a library. Earlier this week, in collaboration with Sony Music, Inua Ellams brought his live literature phenomenon, the RAP Party, back to The London Library — celebrating 30 years of The Score by Fugees.

4. Valentine Ackland & Sylvia Townsend Warner – poets and partners for nearly four decades. There are many more whose stories remain layered, complex, and in some cases, partially hidden. #LGBTHistoryMonth #LondonLibrary #HiddenHistories #QueerHistory #LibraryArchives

3. Marie Corelli – novelist who lived with her lifelong companion Bertha Vyver for over 40 years.

At The London Library, history lives not only on the shelves, but within our membership. Discover some of the Library’s historical LGBT+ members: 1. Cecil Beaton – photographer, artist and designer whose work went on to influence queer visual culture.

17 miles to browse and borrow, around one million books and infinite possibilities. At The London Library, discovery happens between the shelves, in unexpected corners, and sometimes in the book you weren’t even looking for.

Swipe to see The Reading Room then & now 👉 From quiet study in the early 20th century to today’s writers, researchers and thinkers at work, the Reading Room at The London Library has long been a space for deep focus and discovery.

For over 180 years, The London Library has been a home for readers, writers and thinkers. Our Supported Membership offers a reduced-rate option for those who qualify - including individuals on lower incomes or experiencing financial hardship. Learn more: londonlibrary.co.uk/join/join-onli…

⏳ Only one week left to apply! Applications for the The London Library Emerging Writers Programme 2026/27 close at 5pm on Monday 23 February 2026. 👉 Find full details, guidelines and FAQs via the website: londonlibrary.co.uk/about-us/ll-em…

Some love stories begin on a page. 💌 This Valentine’s Day, adopt or sponsor a book at The London Library and leave your name inside a story that will endure for generations. All funds support the ongoing care of the collection. #TheLondonLibrary #ValentinesDay

A founding London Library member, Charles Dickens’ acclaimed body of work is celebrated and enjoyed globally to this day. The books on this display are just some of our Dickens treasures from the Special Collections. #TheLondonLibrary #SpecialCollections #CharlesDickens

Discover new work by London Library member Olga Braga. Donbas is a darkly funny new play about a family trying to keep living — making jokes, dyeing hair, falling in love — while war moves closer. 📍 Donbas runs until 28 February at Theatre 503 in Battersea, London.

Stories have a unique way of encouraging independent thinking. Through our Subsidised Schools Membership Scheme, The London Library supports state schools in giving pupils access to a world of stories, ideas and research. Find out more: londonlibrary.co.uk/about-us/the-s…