The British Library ☆☆

A detail from one of the two copies of the Magna Carta (1216) at the British Library of London (Photo © Reid Bramblett)
A detail from one of the two copies of the Magna Carta (1216) at the British Library of London
A detail from one of the two copies of the Magna Carta (1216) at the British Library of London, British Library, London (Photo © Reid Bramblett)
A copy of Shakespeare's First Folio (1623) at the British Library of London, British Library, London (Photo © Reid Bramblett)
Paul McCartney's handwritten lyrics to the Beatles song Yesterday (1966) at the British Library of London, British Library, London (Photo © Reid Bramblett)
Charlotte Brönte's handwritten manuscript for Jayne Eyre (1847)—open to the page where Jane agrees to marry Edward—at the British Library of London, British Library, London (Photo © Reid Bramblett)
James Joyce's handwritten manuscript for Finnegan's Wake (1939) at the British Library of London, British Library, London (Photo © Reid Bramblett)
The libretto for the first performance of Handel's Messiah (1742) at the British Library of London, British Library, London (Photo © Reid Bramblett)
Mozart's handwritten sheet music for the Adagio and Rondo in C minor/major for armonica, flute, oboe, viola and cello (K617) (1791) at the British Library of London, British Library, London (Photo © Reid Bramblett)
The British Library (with St. Pancras Station in the background), British Library, London (Photo by Patche99z)
A portrait of Geoffrey Chaucer in a 1478 edition of The Canterbury Tales at the British Library, London, British Library, London (Photo courtesy of the British Library)
The beginning of Beowulf (c. 1000) at the British Library, London, British Library, London (Photo courtesy of the British Library)
Folio 139r (the opening of St Luke's Gospel) of the Lindisfarne Gospels (AD 715) at the British Library, London, British Library, London (Photo courtesy of the British Library)
A handwritten page of the original manuscript of Alice's Adventures Under Ground (1864), illustrated by the author, Lewis Carroll, British Library, London (Photo by Lewis Carroll)
A Diagrammatic T-O map from Isidore of Seville's Etymologies (early 13th century), the world portrayed as a circle divided by a 'T' shape into three continents, Asia, Europe, and Africa. At the base of the circle is Gades (Cadiz)., British Library, London (Photo by Isidore of Seville)
A page from Li livre des ansienes estoires (c.1285) at the British Library, showing a charming illumination of a naval battle between the fleets of Crete and Athens, British Library, London (Photo courtesy of the British Library)
The Treatise on the Vices (late 14C) by a monk of Hyères Cibo, showing a cellarer and his barrels, at tthe British Library, British Library, London (Photo courtesy of the British Library)

A collection of the English language's greatest books and manuscripts, from Beowulf to Beatles lyrics by way of the Magna Carta, Shakespeare, James Joyce, and more

The British Library is a bibliophile’s dreamland. The official repository of British books, its collections extend to more than 150 million items, with some three million more added annually.

The precious literary wonders on display in its Exhibition Galleries range from the First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays and fire-charred original Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to Charlotte Brönte neatly penned manuscript for Jane Eyre and James Joyce’s wild pencil scrawling that became Finnegan’s Wake.

There are symphonies by Mozart and Handel, and Paul McCartney’s hand-written lyrics to “Yesterday,” Leonardo da Vinci's notebook and letters written by Elizabeth I, Sir Isaac Newton, and Jane Austen, an original Gutenberg Bible nestled amidst the dozens of illuminated manuscripts from various eras (and cultures), and two (count 'em: two) of the only four surviving copies of the original, 1216 Magna Carta (those are kept in a vault-like side room).

In a case devoted to captains courageous, alongside Capt. James Cook’s journal from his second circumnavigation and the ship’s log of the Victory laconically recording the death of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, lies the personal diary of tragic hero Capt. Scott, who successfully made it to the South Pole...but not quite all the way back. Found along with the frozen bodies of Scott and his teammates, the diary lies open to the page of his final entry: “For God’s sake look after our people."

Tips

How long does The British Library take?

The mildly curious will spend at least 25 minutes checking out the Yesterday Lyrics, Magna Carta, and other marquee exhibits.

Bibliophiles will spend at least an hour.

Gift shop alert!

There is also a great gift shop where you can pick up wonderful items for the book-lovers in your life.

(Note however that the gift shop closes at 6pm Wednesday and Thursday, even though the "Treasures Gallery"—the museum bit—stays open to 8pm.)

British Library tours

The British Library offers 75-minute, £10 tours Mon-Sat at 10:30am and 3pm, Sun at 11:30am and 3pm. Book ahead: tel. (0)1937-546-546.

They also offer behind-the-scenes tours of their Conservation Studio, also £10, that are free but must be booked in advance.