British Library visits
Two trips to the Library
(Photos/words ©urban75, January 2007, November 2008)
As national libraries go, the The British Library is definitely the new kid on the block, only coming into existence after The British Library Act was passed by Parliament in July 1973.
Initially scattered amongst a selection of institutions, a lack of storage space led to the building of a dedicated central library next to the Gothic splendour of St Pancras railway station.
Opened by HM The Queen in June 1998, the British Library can now claim to be one of the world's greatest libraries with 150 million items, in most known languages, dating from 300BC.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-01.jpg)
The Library is set back from the busy Euston Road, with visitors walking through a large portico into an enclosed courtyard to the main entrance.
The Piazza hosts a small amphitheatre for open-air performances and a number of sculptures.
See 360º panorama
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-02.jpg)
Walking across the piazza.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-03.jpg)
The impressive entrance hall with a ceiling that 'ascends in a sequence of waves' to its full, five storey height.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-04.jpg)
Heading towards the exhibition space (to the left) and the cafe (at the far end).
Inside can be found priceless treasures such as the Magna Carta, the Lindisfarne Gospels, Leonardo da Vinci's Notebook and the first edition of The Times from 18 March 1788.
![Corner of Cleveland Street and Goodge Street, London](images/british-library-05.jpg)
Visitors checking out Morgan's 'London Actually Survey'd' map of 1682 at the London: A Life In Maps exhibition.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-06.jpg)
A view of the exhibition space.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-07.jpg)
Checking out the maps.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-08.jpg)
Grabbing a coffee in the cafe.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-09.jpg)
The cafe area is shadowed by an enormous wall of ancient books.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-10.jpg)
Another view inside the map exhibition.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-11.jpg)
Looking across the entrance hall.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-12.jpg)
Bonkers chair in the entrance hall.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-13.jpg)
Information desk at the entrance.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-15.jpg) Empty cloakroom.
![British Library photos, photographs from a trip to the British Library, St Pancras, London, NW1 2D](images/british-library-14.jpg)
Crowds leaving at the end of the day (note: the Library closes quite early - they were turfing us out at 5pm).
'Taking Liberties' exhibition, November 2008
We visited a fascinating exhibition at the British Library revealing Britain's '1,000-year struggle for our freedoms and rights.'
!['Taking Liberties': British Library](https://www.urban75.org/london/images/taking-liberties-01.jpg)
A tour of historic struggles for freedom, there's over 200 iconic documents and objects on display including the well known - like the Magna Carta of 1215, and the 1649 death warrant of King Charles I - and lesser known documents like the hand-written minutes of the Putney debates, recording the arguments between Cromwell's New Model Army and the radical Levellers.
!['Taking Liberties': British Library](https://www.urban75.org/london/images/taking-liberties-02.jpg)
!['Taking Liberties': British Library](https://www.urban75.org/london/images/taking-liberties-03.jpg)
!['Taking Liberties': British Library](https://www.urban75.org/london/images/taking-liberties-04.jpg)
!['Taking Liberties': British Library](https://www.urban75.org/london/images/taking-liberties-05.jpg)
Facts:
Address: The British Library, St Pancras, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB
Trains St Pancras, King's Cross, King's Cross Thameslink and Euston
Underground King's Cross/St Pancras, Euston and Euston Square
Buses 10, 30, 73 and 91
Map location
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