The British Library

The building

Designed by Colin St John Wilson with MJ Long and opened by the Queen in 1998, the red-brick library was listed Grade I in 2015. Eduardo Paolozzi's bronze Newton sits in the piazza, and inside, the six-storey glass King's Library tower holds the books collected by George III. The collection runs to more than 200 million items, including some 14 million books and millions of sound recordings.

What to see

The free Sir John Ritblat Treasures Gallery is the highlight for most visitors, with a room given over to Magna Carta and manuscripts such as the Lindisfarne Gospels. Ticketed exhibitions change through the year. To use the Reading Rooms you need a free Reader Pass, which you register for on site. The Treasures gallery is open late on Monday to Thursday evenings, a quieter time to visit.

Plan your visit

The library is recovering from a cyber-attack, so some services may be limited; check the website before you go. There are cafés and a restaurant inside, and accessible toilets on every floor. The British Museum is around a 15-minute walk south through Bloomsbury. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome and hearing loops are installed. King's Cross and St Pancras stations are next door, so it is easy to fit in before a train.

Highlights

• Free Treasures gallery with Magna Carta
• Lindisfarne Gospels and a Gutenberg Bible
• King's Library glass tower
• Grade I listed 1998 building
• Paolozzi's Newton statue in the piazza

Good to know

• Treasures gallery is free; major exhibitions are ticketed.
• A free Reader Pass is required for the Reading Rooms.
• Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed, subject to availability.
• Some services may be limited after a cyber-attack; check before visiting.

Frequently asked questions