The London Library

#OTD Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born. The mind behind Sherlock Holmes, Doyle joined the London Library in 1896. His stories can still be found among our open shelves today - part of a collection designed to be browsed, discovered and borrowed.

We’re delighted to launch The London Library Digital Archive, created with TownsWeb Archiving and powered by their PastView platform. It's now available to explore. Explore now: londonlibrary-archives.co.uk

A quiet corner. A book you weren’t expecting to find. An afternoon that disappears between the shelves. 📚 Become a member to discover around one million books, beautiful reading spaces, and a literary home in the heart of London.

Tucked away in the Library, the Foyle Lightwell offers a quiet space for reading, writing and reflection. A calm part of The London Library where natural light, books and ideas meet - whether you’re deep in research or simply taking a moment between the shelves. 📚

Acclaimed author and London Library member Jessie Burton reflects on the inspiration she’s found among the stacks - a space that has shaped the writing of three of her novels.

Four books from Philippa Gregory’s bookshelf 📚 All available to browse and borrow from our collection.

Last week, we welcomed historian Sir Antony Beevor to The London Library for a sold-out event on 'Rasputin and the Downfall of the Romanovs', in conversation with writer and broadcaster Marcel Theroux.

The Spring 2026 issue of The London Library Magazine.🌿📚 This issue celebrates the life and legacy of former Library President Sir Tom Stoppard, with a tribute led by Sir Tim Rice, alongside features with Sebastian Faulks and Alice Loxton. Available exclusively to all members.

We're excited to announce LL185, our summer season of events celebrating 185 years of The London Library as the home of inspiration. All tickets available via our website: londonlibrary.co.uk/whats-on

Bank Holiday opening hours 📚 The Library will be closed on Monday 4 May. We’ll reopen on Tuesday 5 May, 9.30am–9pm.

Last night at in the Reading Room at The London Library, we had a sold-out event with Steve McQueen in conversation with Paul Gilroy on Bounty — a powerful exploration of colonial history, memory, and the layered beauty of Grenada’s landscape 🌿

Four short stories, recommended by London Library member Richard Ayoade 📚 Sharp, strange, and quietly profound - discover the stories that have stayed with him. All available to browse and borrow from our collection. #LondonLibrary #RecommendedReads

Wherever you are, discover your home of literary inspiration at The London Library. With Remote Membership, access over a million books, journals & digital resources, plus postal loans delivered to your door. Learn more via the link in bio 📚

Follow the shelves and see where they take you... From quiet corners to hidden stacks, The London Library is a place for wandering minds and unexpected discoveries. Every visit tells a different story.

The London Library is alive with ideas. As part of the National Year of Reading, there’s never been a better time to immerse yourself in books, research and creative thought. The home of literary inspiration. Become a member to discover: londonlibrary.co.uk/join

🐣 Please note our Easter 2026 opening hours at The London Library: 📅 Closed from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 📖 We'll reopen with normal hours on Tuesday 7 April

Last night, The London Library hosted a sold-out evening: 'The Mitfords'. Carla Kaplan, Rachel Trethewey and Amy Rosenthal, in discussion with Rachel Holmes, each offered their own lens on the lives of these complex, rebellious and often contradictory women.

A space of your own, in the heart of London. The London Library is a home for anyone who loves the written word. From Charles Dickens to Kazuo Ishiguro, we've been the home of literary inspiration for 185 years. Become a member: londonlibrary.co.uk/join/join-onli…

We have once again partnered with The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award, which has just announced their 2025 winner as Harry Shukman for #YearOfTheRat. Congratulations Harry! 📚✨ #YoungWriterAward

Poets have long been part of The London Library’s history. This World Poetry Day, we’re celebrating just a few of the poets who have been part of the community over the years. 1. T. S. Eliot 2. Sylvia Townsend Warner 3. Edith Sitwell 4. Cecil Day Lewis