| Library Name | Area / Borough | Access | Notes | | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------ | -------------------------------------------------- | | British Library | St Pancras, Camden | Free | National library; public reading rooms with card | | London Library | St James’s, Westminster | Paid | Private members’ library (~£510/year) | | Westminster Reference Library | Leicester Square, Westminster | Free | Public reference library, arts & design focused | | Barbican Library | Barbican, City of London | Free | Public lending & music library | | Senate House Library (UoL) | Bloomsbury, Camden | Paid* | Free for UoL students; paid memberships for others | | Idea Store Whitechapel | Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets | Free | Modern community library | | Wellcome Library | Euston Road, Camden | Free | Focused on medical history and health | | Guildhall Library | City of London | Free | Historical & genealogical collections | | Canada Water Library | Southwark | Free | Architectural landmark, full library services | | Kensington Central Library | Kensington & Chelsea | Free | Large public lending library | | National Art Library (V&A) | South Kensington | Free | Public, requires registration; design/art focus | | BFI Reuben Library | South Bank, Lambeth | Free | Film & media focused, limited opening hours | | Bishopsgate Institute Library | Liverpool Street, City | Free | Archives, radical history, and London studies | | Cazenove Library | Stoke Newington, Hackney | Free | Local lending branch |