The British Library

The British Library

The predecessor of the British Library was the British Museum, founded in London in 1753, which has a history of over 250 years and is one of the oldest museums in the world. The British Library Act passed by the UK Parliament in 1972 stipulated the merger of six major institutions — including various departments of the British Museum Library, the National Central Library, the National Lending Library for Science and Technology, and the British National Bibliography — to form the British Library. Since its establishment, the library has continued to grow: in April 1982, the India Office Library and the Royal Manuscript Collection joined, and in 1983, the National Sound Archive also became part of the British Library. The inclusion of these institutions not only injected new vitality into the growth of the British Library but also significantly expanded its resources.

The British Library is one of the largest academic libraries in the world, with a collection of over 150 million items. These collections include not only books but also other printed and digital materials such as manuscripts, periodicals, newspapers, magazines, scripts, patents, databases, maps, stamps, drawings, sheet music, videos, and audio recordings, making it one of the world's premier sources for scholarship, research, and innovation. In addition, the library is also a popular tourist destination. Its main building at St Pancras is grand in scale and open to the public seven days a week, making it a must-visit attraction.

British Library

Must-visit reason: One of the world’s largest academic libraries

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Britain[Britain]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Greater London [Greater London]

City where the attraction is located: London [London]