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.
| Type | Name | Address | Contact details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist | Anthropology Library | The British Museum, Great Russell Street London WC1B 3DG |
020 7323 8031 website |
| Specialist | Anti-Slavery International Library | Thomas Clarkson House London SW9 9TL |
0207 501 8939 website |
| Specialist | Bishopsgate Library | 230 Bishopsgate London EC2M 4QH |
0207 392 9270 website |
| Specialist | Book Trust @ Roehampton Institute | Mount Clare Roehampton SW15 5PU |
020 8392 3772 website |
| Specialist | Botany Library | Natural History Museum, Library and Information Services London SW7 5BD |
020 7942 5685 website |
| Specialist | British Library | 96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB |
+44 (0)870 444 1500 website |
| Specialist | British Library, Music Collections | 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB |
020 7412 7772 website |
| Specialist | British Library, Oriental and India Office Collections | 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB |
020 7412 7873 website |
| Specialist | British Library, Patents Trademarks and Designs | 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB |
020 7412 7919 website |
| Specialist | British Library, Sound Archive | 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB |
020 7412 7676 website |
| Specialist | CILT Resources Library | 20 Bedfordbury London WC2N 4LB |
020 7379 5101 website |
| Specialist | Earth Sciences Library | Natural History Museum, Library and Information Services, Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD |
020 7942 5476 website |
| Specialist | Entomology Library | Natural History Museum,Library and Information Services (Wandsworth) London SW18 4NX |
020 7942 5751 website |
| Specialist | French Institute | 17 Queensbury Place London SW7 2DT |
Tel: 020 7073 1350 website |
| Specialist | General/Zoology Library | Natural History Museum, Library and Information Services London SW7 5BD |
020 7942 5460 website |
| Specialist | German Historical Institute Library London | 17 Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2NJ |
020 7309 2019 / 020 7309 2022 website |
| Specialist | Goethe-Institut | 50 Princes Gate London SW7 2PH |
020 7596 4000 website |
| Specialist | Halley Stewart Library, St. Christopher's Hospice |
51-59 Lawrie Park Road
London SE26 6DZ |
020 8768 4660 website |
| Specialist | Huguenot Society Library | Postal address only London WC1E 6BT |
020 7679 5199 website |
| Specialist | Imperial War Museum All Saints Annexe | All Saints Annexe, Austral Street London SE11 4SJ |
020 7416 5294 (film)
020 7416 5333 (photographs)
0 website |
| Specialist | Imperial War Museum Department of Printed Books | Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road London SE1 6HZ |
020 7416 5342 website |
| Specialist | Institute of Contemporary History and Wiener Library | 4 Devonshire Street London W1W 5BH |
020 7636 7247 website |
| Specialist | Lambeth Palace Library | Lambeth Palace Library
London SE1 7JU |
+ 44 (0)20 7898 1400 website |
| Specialist | Lloyd's Register | 71 Fenchurch Street London EC3M 4BS |
020 7423 2531 website |
| Specialist | London Library | 14 St James's Square
London SW1Y 4LG |
020 7930 7705 website |
| Specialist | London Mennonite Centre Library | 14 Shepherds Hill, Highgate London N6 5AQ |
0845 4500 214 website |
| Specialist | National Art Library | Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington London SW7 2RL |
020 7942 2400 website |
| Specialist | National Operatic and Dramatic Association | NODA House
London WC1H 8AU |
0870 770 2480 website |
| Specialist | Paul Hamlyn Library | The British Museum, Great Russell Street London WC1B 3DG |
020 7323 8907 website |
| Specialist | Poetry Library | Royal Festival Hall, Level 5 London SE1 8XX |
020 7921 0943 website |
| Specialist | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Library and Archives | Kew Richmond Surrey TW9 3AE |
020 8332 5414 website |
| Specialist | Royal College of Midwives Library | 15 Mansfield Street London W1G 9NH |
020 7291 9220 website |
| Specialist | Royal College of Nursing Library | 20 Cavendish Square London W1G 0RN |
020 7647 3610 website |
| Specialist | Royal Horticultural Society Library | 80 Vincent Square London SW1P 2PE |
020 7821 3050 website |
| Specialist | Royal Institute of British Architects | 66 Portland Place
London W1B 1AD |
+44 (0)20 7580 5533 website |
| Specialist | Royal National Institute of the Blind Research Library | 105 Judd Street London WC1H 9NE |
020 7391 2052 website |
| Specialist | Royal Society of Chemistry, Library and Information Centre | The Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House Piccadilly London W1J 0BA |
020 7437 8656 switchboard; 020 7440 3371 informati website |
| Specialist | Royal United Services Institute Library | Whitehall London SW1A 2ET |
020 7930 5854 website |
| Specialist | Society of Genealogists | 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road London EC1M 7BA |
020 7251 8799 website |
| Specialist | Trinity College of Music, Jerwood Library of the Performing Arts | King Charles Court, Old Royal Naval College London SE10 9JF |
020 8305 3943 website |
| Specialist | University of London, Senate House Library, Music Department | Senate House London WC1E 7HU |
020 7862 8441 website |
| Specialist | University of London, Senate House Library, Palaeography and Manuscript Studies | Senate House London WC1E 7HU |
020 7862 5598 website |
| Specialist | Wellcome Library | 183 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE |
0207 611 8722 website |