Read the room: Five great libraries to explore
From one of the largest libraries in the world to a unique collection of women's writing, we highlight five reading rooms that will keep bookworms happy for hours.
Discover more about Beatrix Potter and the Lake District at The Armitt Museum and Library, or see rare and early editions of works by women at Chawton House.
Whether you're looking for a place to work, wanting to visit an exhibition or have young bookworms in the family, these five libraries are treasure troves of literature and history that will satisfy the most enquiring of minds.
And, if you have a National Art Pass, you'll get great benefits at lots of these venues – from free entry, to 50% off exhibitions.
Discover five libraries to visit with an Art Pass
Chawton House
Set in the home and working estate of Jane Austen's brother Edward, Chawton House Library is a registered charity with a unique collection of books focusing on women's writing in English from 1660 to 1860. The library holds early editions and rare works by women, including Mary Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft. Don't miss Dressing Up: Fashion and Nightlife in Eighteenth-Century Hampshire, a temporary exhibition exploring how people in the county enjoyed life after nightfall from 1750 to 1820 (opens 3 October 2026).
British Library
Established as an independent institution in 1973, the British Library is one of the largest libraries in the world, with over 170 million items in its collection. In addition to newly published books, it's home to several historically significant manuscripts, from Beowulf to Magna Carta. Highlights include Shakespeare's First Folio, the world’s earliest maps and Michelangelo’s anatomical illustrations. There's also an exciting exhibitions programme, including a permanent exhibition showcasing treasures from the collection. From 30 October 2026, you can discover the places, experiences and people that shaped one of the world's most famous crime writers in this exhibition on Agatha Christie.
Bodleian Library
Combining 26 different libraries across Oxford, the Bodleian is the largest university library system in the UK. It is also a major visitor attraction, with thousands of people each year drawn to see its treasures and stunning architecture including the Divinity Room, which doubled as the infirmary in the Harry Potter films. The Bodleian holds more than 13 million printed items, including manuscripts, archives, rare books, printed ephemera, maps, music and digitised collections, and hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions.
The Armitt: Museum, Gallery, Library
Reflecting the social history of Ambleside and the wider context of the development of the Lake District, the Armitt Museum and Library houses books, records, photographs and artworks related to the area and spanning hundreds of years, exploring the impact of the environment on writers from Wordsworth to Beatrix Potter. It's also home to temporary exhibitions, such as An A to Z of Beatrix Potter, which examines some lesser-explored areas of the writer's life.
Glasgow Women's Library
Did you know? Glasgow Women's Library is the only accrecited museum in the UK dedicated to the lives, histories and achievements of women. Founded in 1991 as a grassroots project, it has since flourished into a multi-award-winning visitor attraction with a free lending library and a nationally significant archive holding fascinating artefacts, including Suffragette memorabilia and 1970s Scottish Women's Liberation ephemera. Get involved in their programme of special events – from reading groups, talks by authors, creative workshops and much more.