Free Things to do at the British Library: A Visitor's Guide

Magna Carta

Magna Carta, meaning ‘The Great Charter’, is one of the most famous documents in the world.

Originally issued by King John of England (reigned 1199–1216) as a practical solution to the political crisis he faced in 1215, Magna Carta established for the first time the principle that everybody, including the king, was subject to the law.

Although nearly a third of the text was deleted or substantially rewritten within 10 years, and almost all the clauses have been repealed in modern times, Magna Carta remains a cornerstone of the British constitution.

Shakespeare’s First Folio

The First Folio is the first collected edition of William Shakespeare's plays, collated and published in 1623, seven years after his death. Folio editions were large and expensive books that were seen as prestige items.

Shakespeare wrote around 37 plays, 36 of which are contained in the First Folio. Most of these plays were performed in the Globe, an open-air playhouse in London built on the south bank of the Thames in 1599. As none of Shakespeare's original manuscripts survive (except, possibly, Sir Thomas More, which Shakespeare is believed to have revised a part of), we only know his work from printed editions.

Jane Austen’s spectacles

This pair of tortoiseshell spectacles, along with an embroidered spectacles case, forms part of a small collection of personal items long associated with the novelist Jane Austen.

Scientific examination has revealed that the lenses are convex, or ‘plus’ lenses, which are prescribed for long-sightedness, a condition in which close-up vision is impaired. This finding aligns with several of Austen’s own letters, in which she refers to her ‘weak’ eyes and mentions difficulties with her vision, particularly when reading or writing. The spectacles would likely have aided her in many of the close-up tasks that occupied her daily life.

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Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Arundel notebook

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), painter, sculptor, architect and engineer, kept notes and drawings of his studies, ideas and inventions. Over 7,000 pages have survived, including this notebook, known as Codex Arundel.

The structure of the notebook reveals that it was not originally a bound volume. It was put together after Leonardo's death from loose papers of various types and sizes, some indicating Leonardo's habit of carrying smaller bundles of notes to document observations outdoors.