Make Christmas special with some help from The London Library.

Gift Membership

Membership of The London Library is the perfect Christmas present to give to the book-lover in your life!  Members can browse and borrow from our unique collection of over one million books on 17 miles of open shelves; including history, literature, art, and much more, plus access thousands of periodals, newspapers and magazines. They also have access to extensive online resources which can be used from anywhere in the world.

With an unforgettable building in beautiful St. James's Square, with beautiful rooms and spaces to read, write and think, The London Library is a magical place that has been at the heart of literature for over 175 years.

London Library members have access to:

• An incredible collection of 1 million books, with 6,000 more being added every year, almost all of which are available to browse on open shelves and borrow;
• Subscriptions to thousands of journals and periodicals and a wide range of digital resources;
• Beautiful and practical spaces in which to read and write, open six days a week with late night openings;
• Invitations to special events and discounts on our popular public speaker events;
• Expert staff, always on hand to assist with enquiries;
• A postal loans service anywhere within Europe.

View all of the benefits of membership.

All membership types may all be given as gifts and during the Christmas period they will include a London Library bag and postcard for your gift message and will be wrapped with a Christmas ribbon.

BUY GIFT MEMBERSHIP

Adopt a Book

Adopting a book is the perfect gift for Christmas, and with every adoption you can help develop and preserve the Library’s unique collection.

You can adopt a new book to be added to one of the Library's unique catalogue subjects, or a favourite book from the Library’s collection, and a bookplate will be placed inside the selected volume recording the adoption.

Book adoptions also include a private tour of the Library for the recipient and a guest with the opportunity to see the bookplate in situ.

FIND OUT MORE 

29 Feb-5 April 2020 at The London Library.

This spring, The London Library is teaming up with Creation Theatre, the company that brought us Dracula, to host an exciting new theatre production.

As The Time Machine celebrates its 125th anniversary, delve into the secret corners of The London Library and travel through time to experience HG Wells’ prescient sci-fi classic as never before. 

Writer Jonathan Holloway reimagines the novel to create a world in which time has fragmented, the present is endlessly shifting and the future is strange and uncertain. This surreal, psychedelic adventure draws on cutting edge research from the Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities to challenge our perceptions and raise important questions about time, society and the nature of human existence.

Innovative audio visual design will transform The London Library’s extraordinary building - where Wells was a member for over 50 years - to create a unique theatrical experience, with audience groups being led by their very own Time Traveller. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be provoked on this journey into the unknown. 

BOOK TICKETS

Seating & Prices

The performance will take place in groups of up to 20, moving around various rooms in The London Library.

Tickets: £32 - £35
London Library members: £28
Previews: £18

Recommended for age 12+

If you have any access requirements or suffer from vertigo, please contact us before booking.

Performance Dates

29 February – 5 April

Performances will take place Wednesday to Sunday.

On Wednesday to Saturday performances will begin at 7:00pm, 7:20pm, 7:40pm and 8:00pm.

On Sundays performances will be at 5pm, 5:20pm, 5:40pm and 6pm.

Give one million books this Christmas

Membership of The London Library is the perfect Christmas present to give to the book-lover in your life!  Members can browse and borrow from our unique collection of over one million books on 17 miles of open shelves; including history, literature, art, and much more, plus access thousands of periodals, newspapers and magazines. They also have access to extensive online resources which can be used from anywhere in the world.

Founded in 1841 we are the world’s largest independent lending library - a place of creativity and curiosity, where we seek to inspire and support readers, writers and scholars of all kinds. Today, 6,500 members of all ages and backgrounds, including some of the most familiar names in the literary world, find the Library’s resources invaluable. 

With an unforgettable building in beautiful St. James's Square, with beautiful rooms and spaces to read, write and think, The London Library is a magical place at the heart of literature.

Members have access to:

• an incredible collection of 1 million books, with 6,000 more being added every year, almost all of which are available to browse on open shelves and borrow;
• subscriptions to thousands of journals and periodicals and a wide range of digital resources;
• beautiful and practical spaces in which to read and write, including five reading rooms and a large number of individual study areas, open six days a week with late night openings;
• expert staff, always on hand to assist with enquiries;
• a postal loans service anywhere within Europe, and much more.

The London Library offers various different types of membership, all of which may be given as gifts. Membership starts from just over £22 a month. Find out more about our types of membership here.  During the Christmas period gift memberships include a London Library bag and postcard for your gift message and will be wrapped with a Christmas ribbon.

Special offer

As a special offer for LRB readers we are delighted to provide a free pair of event tickets to any upcoming London Library event. Simply quote 'LRB' on your membership form under how you heard about us and we will contact you to arrange your free tickets.