Pauses in Passages

Stay in the loop

the lobby of the british library. to the left are three layers of thick white banisters. at the bottom are tables with people sitting at them. in the foreground is an escalator railing

What’s in the Treasures Gallery in the British Library?

What to Know About This Awesome Corner Amid the Stacks

If you’re a book lover or history buff, this is a must-see/must-do. Why? Read this British Library Treasures Gallery Review and find out.

Key Takeaways

Cost & Time

  • Visiting the Treasures Gallery is entirely free and can be done in about two hours, making it a perfect quick stop.

Historical Highlights

  • You can see an amazing collection of historical documents, including Shakespeare’s Folio, a draft of the Magna Carta, and original writings from Leonardo Da Vinci. There are also hundreds of religious texts from around the world, including the Codex Sinaiticus and the Gutenberg Bible.Add

Perfect Location

  • The library is conveniently located near King’s Cross and St Pancras Stations, making it an ideal destination before or after a train journey. Its address: 96 Euston Rd. London NW1 2DB. The Treasures Gallery is in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery.

Hours

  • Mon-Fri 9:30am to 6pm, Sat 9:30am to 5pm, Sun from 11am to 5pm

For Older Children & Adults

  • Although young children are allowed, it’s a particularly great stop for anyone interested in history, literature, religion or genealogy. There are free experiences throughout the year designed especially for children under the age of 9.
  • the courtyard of the british library. the building is comprised of three sections from this view. the moddle section has a sloped roof with a high column pointing upward. below that to the right are four thin layers with a brick layer underneath. to the left side of the middle building is a series of sloped roofs. In the foreground are brick walkways.
  • the entrance to the British Library. the words "the british library" is above a set of automatic glass doors
  • the main stairwell of the british library. in the distance are three open stories
  • an escalator in the british library. behind it are columns of books behind glass casing
  • a stack of suitcases with a manual typewriter at the top. in the distance are shelves of books

A Personal Tour of the Treasures Gallery at the British Library

I had the opportunity to visit the British Library all by myself. It’s something I’d wanted to do for months. So on a Friday, I took the train into London and did just that. And it’s just what this world-weary, politically pooped soul needed. I got a reminder that, as bleak as things may look right now, people for generations have been through the same and come out the other side.

I thought as I wandered around the Treasures Gallery, looking at intricate, sometimes ornate handwriting in impossibly tiny letters, I pondered what the world was going through at the time these people put to paper what they did. 

Some of the exhibits I saw truly amazed this GenX expat who comes from a country barely 250 years old.

  • Shakespeare’s very first folio, stitched together with his earliest work
  • Handwritten notes Leonardo DaVinci scribbled as his busy mind worked–probably faster than his hand could write
  • A draft of the Magna Carta, standing alone and encased in glass, that I couldn’t steer my gaze from
  • Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation
  • A medical book written by Henry VIII, which astonished me. I never knew he suffered from leg boils, much less took such an interest in medicine.

My favorite exhibits were those that showcased writers. 

  • Jane Eyre’s letter to her sister talking about S&S (Sense & Sensibility) and how the characters haunted her.
  • Chaucer’s pages and their intricately inked words.
  • Michael Palin’s Monty Python script, which I couldn’t wait to tell Dave–my avid MP fan–about
  • Writing by an aspiring playwright named Mary, one of Anne Boleyn’s friends.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

Listen to Virginia. Find a place get a bite.

Anyone interested in religious texts should schedule a day in the library, as there are iterations upon iterations of Bibles, Torahs, Qurans, and writings from other world religions to linger over. A Bible (the Polyglot Complutensian Bible) written in four columns in four different languages piqued my interest. And I still can’t wrap my head around the artwork that went into the ancient Mahākāśyapa and medieval sacred texts.

But it was a square-shaped exhibit in the middle of the space that affected me most. It narrates four rebellions from English history. Workers standing up to landowners–the haves versus the have-nots. The rich exploiting the less fortunate to an untenable point. 

The rebellions were squashed, and the leaders executed with unimaginable cruelty. But their efforts were not in vain. The England I currently live in, with all its blemishes, takes care of its people. They are free to speak truth to power without retribution. 

I am thankful to live here. 

Planning a trip to London?

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: Is it possible to visit the British Library?

    A: The library is open to the general public seven days a week. Opening hours are Mon-Fri 9:30am to 6pm, Sat 9:30am to 5pm, Sun from 11am to 5pm 

    Q: Can I go to the British Library for free?

    A: Yes! The Treasures Gallery is free to enter, and you can obtain a free Reader’s Card to access the reading rooms. For more info about the Reader’s Card, visit: https://www.bl.uk/visit/reader-pass 

    Q: Is the open library free to use?

    A: Yes. You can access available books and documents with a Reader’s Card.

    Q: How long does it take to see the Treasures Gallery at the British Library?

    A: It took me just about two hours to see nearly everything. If you’re particularly interested in religious texts, you may want to plan for a little more time.

    A: Can you just sit in the British Library?

    A: Yes. Its vast lobby is perfect for grabbing a snack or resting your feet in air-conditioning. Make sure you walk to the back of the lobby. There’s an incredible display of stacked books there. On the left-hand corridor running alongside the lobby are documents arranged in pull-out drawers that are free to peruse. I also recommend a wander through its gift shop. 

    Q: What is the British Library Controversy?

    A: The library’s database was hacked a couple of years ago, and they are still trying to recoup what they lost. I’m not sure what the controversy is, but that’s the gist of what happened.

    A: How much does it cost to go to the British Library?

    Q: Absolutely nothing.

    Q: Is it worth it to visit the British Library?

    A: I think so, especially if you’re in and around King’s Cross Railway Station and have an hour to spare.

    Q: Can you see the Magna Carta at the British Library for free?

    A: You can see a draft of the Magna Carta for free. Not the actual document.

    Happy and safe travels!

    the name Missy in cursive

    Missy Kavanaugh-Carryer is an American travel writer and content creator living in England’s Cambridgeshire countryside who travels to London a lot. (And can’t wait to stay at the Dilly again as soon as possible.) It’s one of her favorite cities out of the 16 she’s been to since moving to the UK.

    She is also a professional copywriter and the founder of Sweet Relief Creative, a boutique marketing company focused on writing and producing content for the travel and lifestyle industry.

    Discover more from Pauses in Passages

    Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

    Continue reading