British Library, London
British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
England
Website
Visitor Enquiries
Telephone
Visitor Services
020 7412 7332
Events Box Office
01937 546546
Fax
Visitor Information (fax)
020 7412 7340
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the Worlds greatest libraries. Set up in 1973, with galleries formerly in the British Museum building, it moved to its spectacular flagship new home at St Pancras in Central London in 1997.
The John Ritblat Gallery: Treasures of the British Library, PACCAR Gallery of Living Words and the Workshop of Words, Sound and Images offer permanent displays and a changing programme of special thematic exhibitions. We also have the best permanent display of stamps and philately in the world. The Kings Library, housed in a 17-metre glass-walled tower at the heart of the building, plus a number of major works of art can be seen by all visitors. The Library also offers a wide programme of events - including talks, music and discussions, all developing themes and ideas associated with the collections.
Venue Type:
Library
British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
England
Website
Visitor Enquiries
Telephone
Visitor Services
020 7412 7332
Events Box Office
01937 546546
Fax
Visitor Information (fax)
020 7412 7340
The British Library is custodian of the most important research collection in the world, spanning almost 3,000 years and from every continent. This covers books, journals, manuscripts, stamps, patents, sound recordings, printed music and maps.
The John Ritblat Gallery is home to a permanent exhibition of over 200 of the Library's most significant items. These include Codex Sinaiticus (c. 350), Magna Carta (1215), the Gutenberg Bible (1455), Shakespeare's First Folio (1623) - as well as religious, literary, historical and musical works in the handwriting of Leonardo da Vinci, Lord Nelson, Lewis Carroll, Handel, Sir Paul McCartney and many others. The award-winning Turning the Pages was developed by the Library and uses high quality digitised images to simulate actually turning the pages of a precious book.
The PACCAR Gallery is home to temporary exhibitions.
The Workshop of Words, Sound and Images is an interactive gallery which traces the story of book production and sound recording.
Collection details
World Cultures, Social History, Science and Technology, Religion, Personalities, Music, Literature, Decorative and Applied Art, Archives
Collections services
- General guide to collections available
- Public access available to collections information
- Specialist publications on collections available
British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
England
Website
Visitor Enquiries
Telephone
Visitor Services
020 7412 7332
Events Box Office
01937 546546
Fax
Visitor Information (fax)
020 7412 7340
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
2009 marks the 150th anniversary of Edward Fitzgerald's publication of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam - a translation of the 11th century poetical work by the Persian mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. This exhibition tells the story of Omar Khayyam and shows how the translated Rubaiyat became a worldwide success, which has remained almost constantly in print since 1859. Published in over 70 languages, it has attracted many well-known illustrators.
When
9:30am-5pm
Where
The British Library
Admission
Free
British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
England
Website
Visitor Enquiries
Telephone
Visitor Services
020 7412 7332
Events Box Office
01937 546546
Fax
Visitor Information (fax)
020 7412 7340
Web in Feb
Over 41million people in the UK are online. Over 70% of them have bought something online. Are you harnessing the power of the web to turn them into your customers? To help you on your way, we’ve put together a month of special workshops and events: ‘Web in Feb’.
What can you learn in 'Web in Feb'?
Navigate the world of social media and make it work for you
Get your site noticed by Google and increase your traffic
Write a blog, record a podcast, set up a website
Avoid the legal pitfalls of doing business online
Translate the jargon and gain the confidence to use the web effectively.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
10am-4pm
Where
British Library Business & IP Centre
Admission
Price varies (some events are free)
Mingle
Meet other single people in relaxed and fun surroundings. Take part in activities and games at this popular annual event, which this year has a special photography theme.
For more information about the corresponding exhibition: 'Points of View: Capturing the 19th Century in Photographs', visit www.bl.uk/pointsofview
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
7-10:30pm
Where
The British Library
Admission
Price: £5. To book T: 01937 546 546 or visit http://boxoffice.bl.uk
Capture Kings Cross: A Photography Treasure Hunt
Join us for a day exploring this vibrant part of the city through photography. Teams are given clues and sent out into the local streets to find inspiration and construct photos that respond to, or represent each clue. At the end of the day all photos will be presented together on screen to create a unique picture of the area. There are prizes to be won, and selected photos will be exhibited locally.
Teams must consist of 2, 3 or 4 people (teams of 4 are recommended)
Produced by Shoot Experience, Commissioned by the British Library in association with Argent Group, developers of King's Cross Central
For more information about the corresponding exhibition: 'Points of View: Capturing the 1
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
10am-6pm
Where
The British Library
Admission
£7.50 per participant
To book please call the Box Office on +44(0)1937 546 546
(Monday – Friday, 09.00 – 17.00) or visit http://boxoffice.bl.uk
Photography and the Changing City
From the earliest days of photography, when William Fox Talbot captured the construction of Nelson’s Column, the city of London has been a dramatic subject for images of all kinds. Some of our finest contemporary photographers and experts reveal their work and thoughts on how to best capture the metropolis.
With Paul Halliday, photographer, sociologist and course leader for the MA in Photography and Urban Cultures, Goldsmiths, University of London; Rut Blees Luxemburg, whose photographs of London have become celebrated album covers for The Streets and Bloc Party; Mark Power of Magnum Photos; and Mike Seaborne, photographer and Senior Curator of the Museum of London's Historic Photographs C
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
6:30-8:30pm
Where
The British Library
Lewis Carroll and Photography: Exposing the Truth
Globally celebrated under his pen-name of Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898), was also a mathematician and a truly important pioneer photographer. Based on a decade of research and with many unpublished images, leading Carroll scholar Edward Wakeling’s illustrated talk examines the impressive reality of Carroll’s photography, including his studies of children, and tackles the myths surrounding his work.
Edward Wakeling is the editor of the complete surviving unabridged Lewis Carroll Diaries, and co-author of Lewis Carroll, Photographer.
For more information on the corresponding exhibition: 'Points of View: Capturing the 19th
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
2:30-4pm
Where
The British Library
Admission
Price: £6/£4 concessions. To book T: 01937 546 546 or visit http://boxoffice.bl.uk
British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
England
Website
Visitor Enquiries
Telephone
Visitor Services
020 7412 7332
Events Box Office
01937 546546
Fax
Visitor Information (fax)
020 7412 7340
British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
England
Website
Visitor Enquiries
Telephone
Visitor Services
020 7412 7332
Events Box Office
01937 546546
Fax
Visitor Information (fax)
020 7412 7340
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