Opening hours

Admission free. Building open today 09:30 - 20:00

The British Library is open every day except during the Christmas and New Year period. During Seasonal Holidays our Reading Rooms are closed. For general opening times and seasonal closures, see below.

Building opening times

Monday - Thursday
09:30 - 20:00
Friday
09:30 - 18:00
Saturday
09:30 - 17:00
Sunday
11:00 - 17:00

Seasonal Holiday (excluding Christmas and New Year) and 31 December 2018 openings hours are 11:00 – 17:00, and our Reading Rooms are closed. Please see below for seasonal closures.

(Including the Free Entrance Hall exhibition and Members’ Room.)

Reading Rooms opening times

Humanities, Science, Rare Books & Music, Business & IP Centre, Social Sciences and Newsroom

Monday
10:00 - 20:00
Tuesday - Thursday
09:30 - 20:00
Friday - Saturday
09:30 - 17:00
Sunday
Closed

Asian & African Studies, Manuscripts and Maps

Monday
10:00 - 17:00
Tuesday - Saturday
09:30 - 17:00
Sunday
Closed
First time users will need to register. See the Registration Office opening times below.

Our Boston Spa Reading Room in Yorkshire is open 09:00 – 16:30 Monday – Friday.

Our Reading Rooms are closed on all Seasonal Holidays and on Easter Saturday (see below).

Reader Registration Office opening times

Monday
10:00 - 17:45
Tuesday
09:30 - 19:45
Wednesday - Thursday
09:30 - 17:45
Friday
09:30 - 16:15
Saturday
09:30 - 16:45
Sunday
Closed
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the office closes.

Our Reader Registration Office is closed on all Seasonal Holidays and on Easter Saturday (see below).

Exhibition, galleries & shop opening times

Monday
09:30 - 18:00
Tuesday
09:30 - 20:00
Wednesday - Friday
09:30 - 18:00
Saturday
09:30 - 17:00
Sunday
11:00 - 17:00

The Treasures Gallery closes at 20.00 on Tuesday – Thursday.

Restaurant & cafés opening times

The Terrace Restaurant

Monday - Friday
09:30 - 17:00
Saturday
09:30 - 16:00
Sunday
11:00 - 16:30

The Coffee Shop (Upper Ground Floor)

Monday - Thursday
09:30 - 19:30
Friday
09:30 - 17:30
Saturday
09:30 - 16:30
Sunday
11:00 - 16:30

The King’s Library Café (Floor 1)

Monday - Saturday
11:45 - 16:00
Sunday
Closed

The Last Word café (Piazza)

Monday - Sunday
08:30 - 17:00

Origin Coffee, Entrance Hall

Monday - Thursday
09:30 - 18:30
Friday
09:30 - 18:00
Saturday
09:30 - 17:00
Sunday
11:00 - 17:00

Origin Coffee, Euston Road

Monday - Thursday
07:30 - 18:00
Friday
07:30 - 17:30
Saturday
09:00 - 16:00
Sunday
10:00 - 16:00
See Eat, Drink, Shop for full details.

Seasonal closures

Monday 7 May 2018

Open, all Reading Rooms (including Reader Registration and Boston Spa) closed

Monday 28 May 2018

Open, all Reading Rooms (including Reader Registration and Boston Spa) closed

Monday 27 August 2018

Open, all Reading Rooms (including Reader Registration and Boston Spa) closed

Monday 24 December 2018
Closed
Tuesday 25 December 2018
Closed
Wednesday 26 December 2018
Closed
Tuesday 1 January 2019
Closed