Designed in red brick by Sir Colin John Wilson, this late 20^th0century building houses the national collection of books, manuscripts and maps, as well as the British Library Sound Archive. A copy of nearly every printed book in the UK is held here- about 25 million -and can be consulted by those with a Reader Pass. Open to all are the temporary exhibitions in the Entrance Hall and PACCAR Galleries and, housing some  of the library’s most precious items, the Treasure Gallery, where among other highlights are Lindisfarne Gospels, a Gutenberg Bible and Shakespeare’s First Folio. There are also regular talks, discussions and workshops. Pre-booking is advised for the tours, and there maybe a fee for special exhibitions.

Did you know about Bloomsbury Group?

The Bloomsbury Group was an informal set of writers, artists and intellectuals who lived in and around Bloomsbury an the beginning of the 1900s. The group, with its passionate belief in the “aesthetic experience and pursuit of knowledge”, and a modern attitudes towards feminism, sexuality and politics.

There are also regular talks, discussions and workshops. Pre-booking is advised for the tours, and there maybe a fee for special exhibitions.