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 the desk Jane Austen wrote at in the British Library.
Whether you're looking for a place to work, visiting 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.
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 the collection, while the current temporary exhibition Medieval Women: In Their Own Words explores the complex lives of medieval women.
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 treasures such as Tolkein's illustrations for The Hobbit and a draft of Wilfred Owen's war poem Dulce et decorum est. The Bodleian holds 13 million items in total, 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.
National Library of Scotland
Housing millions of books, manuscripts, music and maps covering virtually every subject, the collections at the National Library of Scotland span the centuries from early times to the digital age. They chart the global and historical influence of Scots at home and abroad, while also recording and reflecting the ideas and cultures of the world. There's a regular programme of free exhibitions and displays throughout the year and a comprehensive events programme.