Throughout its rich history, London has been a place of pilgrimage for scholars and knowledge seekers. Over the centuries, the city has become home to a number of historic institutions and iconic buildings such as the British Library.
During your stay at one of our many 5 star city Hotels London, be sure to take a trip to the iconic library to discover a world of knowledge and a paradise of history and culture. Whether you’re staying at the M by Montcalm Shoreditch London Tech City or any of our other great locations, you’re never too far from an afternoon at the British Library.
To help you discover more about the amazing history of the library and to get you excited about your trip, we’ve put together this in-depth guide that will take you on a journey through time.
- Despite being such an integral part of London’s cultural scene, the British Library is one of the newest additions to the city’s architectural structure. The building itself was constructed in 1973, however, the majority of the material which it holds has been around for centuries and was originally part of the national library which was held by the British Museum. The decision to create a purpose-built library to showcase and exhibit the vast collection of material came after the introduction of the British Library Act of 1972.
- It wasn’t long after the building was opened before the library began merging with a number of bodies and institutions, causing its vast collection to grow even larger. Some examples of other organisation which were taken under the umbrella of the British Library include the Office for Scientific & Technical Information, The India Office Library & Records and the National Sound Archives which all merged to create the library that we know today.
- As well as being home to a vast collection of books, journals, scientific documents, sound recording and other materials, the British Library also holds one of the largest archives of historical documents in the world. This is a collection which has been amassed over centuries. The initial collection was created from a series of donations that were gathered during the 18th century. This was known as the Foundation Collection and has since expanded even further to provide the public with a wealth of information and an unbeatable selection of invaluable knowledge.
Before the large central building was created at the Euston Road site, the library’s collections were housed at several locations around London including Bloomsbury, Chancery Lane and Bayswater. During the early stages of planning, there was a great deal of debate and contention regarding the building of a single central library and the effect it would have on its historical predecessors. However, it was eventually built and has proven to be a success, drawing in millions of visitors from around the city and the wider world every year.
