★★★★★ – The Daily Telegraph

★★★★ – The Times

Dazzling beauty, striking resilience. Gold has long held the power to ignite feelings of awe and wonder across cultures.

Take a journey around the globe to learn how gold elevated art in manuscripts and books. See everything from Qur’ans written in gold, to diplomatic treaties inscribed on gold plates cast together in our smaller exhibition space.

Discover the masterful techniques used to handle such a precious metal. Penned in gold ink are gospels from the age of Charlemagne, letters from King James II and decrees of Mughal Emperor Shah ‘Alam II. Portraits from Constantinople and illustrations in The Golden Haggadeh are set on backgrounds of gold leaf.

Each stroke of the brush builds the connection – layer-by-layer – between gold, the sacred and the royal. Examine items that are hundreds of years old. Unveil the stories illuminated by gold.

Supported by:

The exhibition is supported by the Goldhammer Foundation and the American Trust for the British Library, with thanks to The John S Cohen Foundation, The Finnis Scott Foundation, Owen Family Trust, P F Charitable Trust, and all supporters who wish to remain anonymous.

Ticket prices and concessions

Book your ticket in advance and save £2 (discount included in the prices below) . 

*Excludes bank holidays and school holidays.

Please note you may be asked for proof of concession on arrival.

Pre-booking your visit helps us manage our capacity and offer the best possible visitor experience by keeping you updated with information before your visit. We want as many people as possible to have the chance to see our exhibitions so, like many other museums and galleries, we’re offering discounts to those more able to visit outside of our most in-demand days, helping to increase our capacity during our busiest periods for those who can’t. 

Free carer tickets are available by contacting the Box Office on 01937 546546.

Accessibility

To reduce contact in our galleries, physical copies of large print guides won’t be available. You can still view a digital copy of the Gold large print guide (PDF) that you can look at on a smartphone or tablet, or print out before your visit.

Temperature in the Gallery

You may find the gallery cooler and darker than other areas of the Library. This controlled environment protects any items that may fade, discolour, or be damaged in bright light or humid conditions. We recommend bringing an extra layer for your comfort.