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The Most Insta-Worthy Libraries In London
Society19 UK
Society19 UK

The Most Insta-Worthy Libraries In London

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November 8, 2024
There are so many gorgeous libraries in London that are completely worthy of a place on your Instagram account! We've made a list of some!

*Bod Alert* As an English student I cannot deny my love for libraries; as nerdy as it sounds, libraries can be magical places- not only do they have the power to enrich our minds, but also to enrich our eyes. Many of the libraries in London are set in historically beautiful buildings that are so aesthetically pleasing I actually go a little weak at the knees. Like Belle from The Beauty and The Beast, for me, books possess a certain charm and have the power to bring people together – not that I go searching for my Beast amongst rows and rows of bookshelves!

The outer façades of London libraries provide the perfect Instagram backdrop and more often than not you wouldn’t even know such buildings are home to books and other academic materials. Likewise, the interior of said libraries are just as overwhelming and can be mistaken for resembling a museum or art gallery for the sheer artistry of their designs- again providing more insta-worthy backdrops. So without further ado, below is a list of the most insta-worthy libraries London has to offer:

1. Senate House Library.

Undeniably this library is one of the most insta-worthy libraries in London, if not THE most insta-worthy. Its reputation for being one of the UK’s largest academic libraries for arts, humanities and social sciences is reflected in its exterior. Rising above other neighbouring buildings, at the centre an arresting tower like façade stands erect and other sections of multiple levels extend from this centre like arms that reach out to you, inviting you to enter inside its white, pristine walls. In the heart of this stunning library, two different levels of bookshelves can be seen running along the perimeter of the reading room, facing inwards to the middle of the room, which is dominated by plush mahogany brown and golden sofas that wouldn’t look out of place in a five-star hotel, and which provide the perfect spot for curling up with a book!

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2. Maughan Library.

Situated in King’s College London, there is no way I could exclude Maughan Library from this list of the most insta-worthy libraries in London. The beauty of this library is due to its Victorian architecture and its main selling feature has to be the dodecagonal Reading Room which features three open storeys of books, above which rests a glass-domed atrium. The effect of such a ceiling is that sunlight is able to filter through and bask all of the books in a golden glow, gifting them a magical aura. This dome shaped room is also similar to the one found in Shrek 2 where Donkey extracts a potion to transform Shrek into human form, so as soon as you enter such a room, you are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of books and feel as if you have entered the realm of a fantasy world. Unfortunately, this library is only open to members but it is enough to peruse the nineteenth-century neo-gothic building from the outside!

3. National Art Library.

The fact this library is located within the painfully beautiful and castle like redbrick Victorian and Albert Museum, instantly guarantees that it will be stunning. The beautiful and historic reading room stretches out before you as soon as you enter, and they overlook the John Madejski Garden where lush green grass and a circular pond can be found. Such scenery outside provides the ideal setting for insta-worthy photos, but also a scenic sight to sit back and reflect upon in between reading breaks. Other noteworthy features of this grand library include dark wood desks ideal for working at, floor to ceiling windows which allow natural light to filter through, and an ornate mezzanine balcony. You really do have to pinch yourself to believe it’s a library!

4. The London Library.

This insta-worthy library operates an open-to-all-membership policy meaning there really is no excuse not to have a nose at its striking interior and impressive book collection spanning over 17 miles of book shelves! The narrow, book-lined corridors resemble something of a maze and literally allow you to dive into, and get lost in, books (my idea of heaven). The floors are also composed of metal grilles underfoot which means that you can look down upon seven storeys of space below (and feel your insides go a bit funny in the process!).

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Please use as feature imageRight in the bottom corner of the country is the county of East Sussex. Home of the Battle of Hastings, our many castles and stony beaches. If you grew up in East Sussex, here are some things you would know if you lived here.We’re known for our beachesMost of the beaches at East Sussex are easy and quick to get to but these usually consist of pebble beaches which are extremely uncomfortable to sit on. This is usually the main attraction to people on the summer which is usually packed with people on hot sunny days.And our piersWe are renown for having a few piers such as the one of Brighton. Of course, we used to have the one in Hastings…before it was burnt down. But of course, we have many more we can go to.Bonfires are a huge eventSussex is extremely renowned for its bonfires and parades. These usually comes with parades and firework shows which happen across East Sussex in October and November. Each town does it slightly differently, but all consist of great parades and fireworks.You always loved going to the arcadesThere are many amusement parks and arcades across East Sussex. Although we know how likely we are to win at these games, you can’t help but waste your money just to get one of the fluffy toys. Either that or we try to work together with our friends to get as many tickets as possible, then have to decide whether to cash in the tickets separately or combine them for a bigger price. Or wasting all your 2p machines where you spend your spare chance, and so much more, just to get one of the key chains.The Battle of Hastings was always the one piece of history you always rememberedThe most famous piece of history about us is the Battle of Hastings, which is bombarded into our history lessons when we get the chance. Not to mention an all-day field trip of the battle grounds themselves.You bragged about how it’s the home of ChoccywoccydoodahIf you ever watched this show, you would know that its home is right here in East Sussex. There is another shop in London but of course, its main home is right here. Chocolate cakes and everything chocolate sculpted into anything and everything.The majority of the population consisted of elderly individualsIn many of its small towns like Bexhill and Little Common it’s the place many people retire to. Full of scenic places and cafes, its great to retire but it means that you see more of them more than any other age group. So, when you move out of East Sussex, you find it weird when you see more younger people around.Brighton is the first thing outsiders will mentionIt’s a large city and when you mention to anyone outside of East Sussex that you’re from East Sussex, the first thing they’ll mention is Brighton. Of course, you can say which town you’re from but not a lot of people would really know where that is.You travelled to cities to hang outIf you lived in a village or town, you always went to a city to hang out with friends. In the south of east Sussex, everyone always wanted to go to Hastings or Eastbourne. They’re both bigger towns but with the large amount of music gigs, Hastings was always preferred by many.You were limited for choice for universitiesThere was either Brighton University or the University of Sussex but that was the only options unless you wanted to specialise in animal management or music. Regardless, if you did want to go in Sussex, Brighton is the main city with universities in them.Not a lot of celebrities come from or live hereAlthough there isn’t many celebrities that come here, we did have a few that lived here. For a while, Eddie Izzard lived in Bexhill. During this time, Bexhill college named their new theatre after him. That and, both Brighton and Eastbourne were the centre locations for Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, but as for celebrities, it isn’t really the place you see them, unless they’re on holiday and visiting of course.Have anything else to add about East Sussex, comment below.
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5. The British Library.

Don’t be fooled by the outside of this library for the interior compensates above and beyond. In the middle of the building is a six-storey glass tower whose transparent walls act as a frame for the overwhelming collection of 65,000 printed volumes, pamphlets, maps, and manuscripts inside. This tower will definitely make your Instagram photos stand out from everybody else’s!

6. Peckham Library.

Peckham Library has to be mentioned as the last on the list of insta-worthy libraries in London. It is a stark contrast to the above libraries which are all of a somewhat dated and historical design. The Peckham Library is the epitome of modern architecture, its unusual shape, which can best be described as an inverted ‘L’, as well as its striking block primary colours such as blue, yellow and red, guarantee you can’t walk past it without stopping to take a photo! Far from being conventional, this library with its copper, steel mesh and coloured glass exterior is the perfect candidate to finish this article of London’s most insta-worthy libraries!

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So there you have it, a list of the most insta-worthy libraries in London. Can you think of any more libraries in London? If so, add them to the comments section below.
Featured Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/blur-book-stack-books-bookshelves-590493/
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My name is Nicole Brownfield and I am 20 years old. I am studying English Literature and going into my 3rd and final year of Queen Mary University, London in September. I am currently the Editor-In-chief of my University magazine 'CUB' and my dream is to pursue a career in journalism after I graduate. I love living in London and am obsessed with sourcing out food and drink places, as well as exploring the parts of London I have never been to before. My boyfriend and I have recently turned pescatarian and this symbolises my goal to constantly keep bettering myself and to stay healthy and disciplined. Every day I try and achieve something as I want to look back and be proud of the life I have lived, and to make my family proud too.