Opening Hours
Monday & Tuesday: 9.30am-9.00pm
Wednesday - Saturday: 9.30am-5.30pm
Sunday: Closed
Wednesday Late Opening
The Library is open late one Wednesday a month throughout the year.
On these days, some reading rooms will be unavailable to members to facilitate events. Desk spaces will be available in other reading rooms and throughout the rest of the Library.
Find out more
Bank holidays
Christmas 2024
Closed: Tuesday 24 - Friday 27 December inclusive
Closed: Wed 1 January
Closing early: close at 5.30pm on New Year’s Eve (Tuesday).
Contact Us
This page lists all of the contact email addresses for teams and departments, this will be the quickest way to get the right answer to any questions or concerns. If you would like to speak to a specific member of staff please see our London Library Team.
Member Services
- Reception: (020) 7766 4700 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Book enquiries, loans and renewals: (020) 7766 4743 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Postal loans: (020) 7766 4782 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- For more general feedback about Library services: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Membership
- Membership enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fundraising
- Fundraising enquiries and donations: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Founders’ Circle: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Legacy enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Filming and Venue Hire: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Marketing & PR
- Press enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- The London Library magazine: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Events
- Public events: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Administration
- Accounts - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Acquisitions
- New book suggestions: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- New title donations: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Feedback
While at the Library, if you notice something that is not in keeping with the Library's best practices, please speak directly to a member of staff at the Issue Hall desk.
If you notice an ongoing issue that is impacting your experience at the Library, please email us via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Find Us
The main entrance is located in St. James's Square. There is one alternative members' entrance at ground level via Mason's Yard, off Duke Street St James's.
How to Get Here
Bicycle: Storage is available for members' exclusive use in Mason's Yard (capacity 16 bicycles). Please collect a swipe card from the reception desk of the TS Eliot House entrance. Bicycles are left at members' own risk. Santanders Cycle Hire, a public bicycle sharing scheme, operates in the area. The closest docking station is on the east side of St. James's Square.
Tube: Nearest underground stations are Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly, Victoria lines) or Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo, Piccadilly lines). Visit the Transport for London Underground Site for up to date information.
Bus: Nos. 38, 22, 19, 14, 9 stop on Piccadilly. Nos. 3, 9, 12, 13, 15, 23, 139 & 159 stop on Regent Street. Visit the Transport for London Buses site for more details.
Parking: Pay and display parking spaces in St James's Square are in operation Monday to Saturday 8.30-18.30.
Disability and access: The members' entrance in Mason's Yard provides level entry to the building with a platform lift inside for wheelchair access.
The St James's Square entrance is not wheelchair accessible.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
Accessibility facilities
Wheelchair accessible lift provides access from the basement to floor 6, including the Times Room, Art Room and Reading Rooms.
A wheelchair accessible lift in the basement area next to the Foyle Lightwell Room.
Portable induction loop at Reception.
Some older parts of the building are difficult to access for those with mobility constraints, but staff will retrieve material on request and provide assistance.
