Opening hours

Opening times for the British Library's buildings, exhibition galleries and Reading Rooms in London and Yorkshire

Popping in to eat, drink or shop? Find our café and shop opening times

Visiting us over a public holiday? Please see our Seasonal Closures section below.

Early closures at St Pancras

During these times, the rest of the Library will remain open as normal.

On Sunday 18 June 2023

  • The Upper Ground Gallery will be closed all day

On Thursday 22 June 2023

  • All exhibitions (including Treasures Gallery) and Upper Ground Floor will close at 16.30
  • Entrance Hall will close at 17.00. Reading Rooms will remain open as normal

On Thursday 6 July 2023 our entire London site will close at 16.30 (including Reading Rooms, the Knowledge Centre and Piazza).

Between 5–7 July bike stands on the Piazza will not be accessible for bicycle parking

On Tuesday 11 July

  • Our entire London site will close at 14.00 (including Reading Rooms, the Knowledge Centre and Piazza)
  • The Upper Ground Floor Café will close all day
  • All other onsite catering outlets will close at 13.30

On Wednesday 12 July 2023

  • Our Boston Spa site will close at 14.00 (including the Reading Room and Customer Services)
  • There will be no hot food available from the onsite restaurant. Take-away sandwiches, snacks and hot/cold drinks will be available between 08.30 – 10.00

London, St Pancras building opening times 

This includes our public spaces, our permanent Treasures Gallery and our Entrance Hall display space, with the exception of special event days, when these areas may close earlier. 

 Monday  09.30 – 20.00 
 Tuesday   09.30 – 20.00
 Wednesday  09.30 – 20.00 
 Thursday 09.30 – 20.00  
 Friday 09.30 – 18.00
 Saturday 09.30 – 17.00
 Sunday 11.00 – 17.00

London, St Pancras Reading Rooms opening times

Monday 10.00 – 20.00 (Maps, Manuscripts and Asian & African Studies close at 17.00)
Tuesday 09.30 – 20.00 (Maps, Manuscripts and Asian & African Studies close at 17.00)
Wednesday 09.30 – 20.00 (Maps, Manuscripts and Asian & African Studies close at 17.00)
Thursday 09.30 – 20.00 (Maps, Manuscripts and Asian & African Studies close at 17.00)
Friday 09.30 – 17.00
Saturday 09.30 – 17.00
Sunday Closed

London, St Pancras Reader Registration opening times

Monday –Thursday 09.30 – 17.45 
Friday 09.30 – 16.15
Saturday 09.30 – 16.45

London, St Pancras galleries opening times

This includes our temporary exhibitions in our PACCAR galleries. 

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday  09.30 – 18.00 
Tuesday 09.30 – 20.00
Saturday 09.30 – 17.00
Sunday 11.00 – 17.00

London, St Pancras Members' Room

Monday to Thursday 09.30 – 20.00
Friday 09.30 – 18.00
Saturday 09.30 – 17.00
Sunday 11.00 – 17.00

Refreshments available until 30 minutes before the room closes.

Boston Spa, Yorkshire Reading Room and Reader Registration opening times

Monday – Friday 09.00 – 16.30 

Seasonal closures

Visiting us over a public holiday? Please note our amended opening times.

Date London,St Pancras  Boston Spa 
Monday 28 August 2023

Reading Rooms closed

Exhibition Galleries & public areas open 11.00 – 17.00 

Closed