Welcome to the British Library

We are the UK's national library. Open to everyone and free to use.

What do you want to do today?

Search our catalogues

Discover our collections

Visit the Library

Use our study spaces

Everything for

Research

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Events and exhibitions

An illustration for the Story Explorers exhibition at the British Library, including a montage of different elements, including two moons, a cat in a spaceship, two birds, a frog, a tree and stars.

Story Explorers: A journey through imaginary worlds

16 May 2025 - 18 Jan 2026

Take a free family trip through our collection and discover the stories behind objects, which take you to wondrous places. For children 0–9.

Exhibition

Secret Maps

24 Oct 2025 - 18 Jan 2026

Step into the shadows at this major new exhibition revealing the stories hidden in some of history’s most mysterious maps.

Exhibition

An audience of people sit under pink lights in the Knowledge Centre auditorium in the British Library in London

All events

Discover exhibitions, events, and courses with a host of world-class speakers. In London, Yorkshire and online.

Support our work

As a charity, we work to preserve and share our collection of over 170 million items, which grows every day. Make a donation or explore ways to support our work.

Support us

A woman works to conserve a book at the British Library.

Contact us

Need some help? Find answers to common questions, chat with our customer services team, or send us feedback.

A young man talks to a woman in front of a computer screen at the Reading Room helpdesk in the British Library in London