Specialist Libraries
London is home to hundreds of specialist libraries, many of which hold collections of national importance. They may be housed in charities and the voluntary sector, part of learned societies or independent collections open solely to members.
The list at the bottom of this page is just a small sample of specialist libraries in London with public access.
How can I use a specialist library?
Some collections are not open to members of the public, but there are many who are willing to allow users access to their collections if they cannot find the information they need elsewhere.
If the subject you are interested in happens to boast a London library, you may be about to discover an Aladdin's Cave on your doorstep! To browse these collections by subject click on the "Browse collections" link at the left hand side of this page and find out more.
Some specialist libraries have also joined the Inspire London scheme and you can gain access for a single reference only visit if you are a member of your public library.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| British Architectural Library | The Royal Institute of British Architects' British Architectural Library (RIBA Library) is the largest and most comprehensive resource in the United Kingdom for research and information on all aspects of architecture. |
| Freud Museum | The Freud Museum, at 20 Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead, was the home of Sigmund Freud and his family when they escaped Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938. It remained the family home until Anna Freud, the youngest daughter, died in 1982. The centrepiece of the museum is Freud's library and study, preserved just as it was during his lifetime. |
| Guards Museum | The Museum has a fine collection of military ephemera spanning 350 years of Regimental history. |
| Horniman Museum & Gardens | The Horniman has three main collections, World Cultures (Ethnography) comprising 80,000 objects, Natural History with 250,000 specimens, and Music with over 7,000 instruments plus 1,000 archive documents. There is also a parallel education handling collection which has over 3,700 objects drawn from all three main disciplines and a library collection with texts and related items covering the main collection areas. |
| Library & Museum of Freemasonry | The Library and Museum of the United Grand Lodge of England houses one of the finest collections of Masonic material in the world. |
| Library and Collection of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers | The Clockmakers' Collection was begun in 1814 and is therefore the oldest collection specifically of clocks and watches in the world. The Collection is shown in a single room, containing at any one time some 600 English and European watches, 30 clocks and 15 marine timekeepers, together with a number of rare horological portraits. The majority of items in the Collection range from c.1600 to c.1850. |
| National Maritime Museum Library | The National Maritime Museum's collection contains over two million objects related to seafaring, navigation, astronomy and measuring time. |
| Science Museum Library | London?s world famous Science Museum?s outstanding collections tell the fascinating story of mankind?s greatest inventions and scientific achievements. There are numerous working exhibits and interactive displays designed to bring the excitement of scientific theory and discovery to life. |