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11:00
Looge / Talks & Ideas / British Library
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Talks & Ideas →
British Library
96 Euston Road · NW1 2DB
www.bl.uk →Institutional · Cultural Centre
British literary scholarship · Knowledge and research institution · Public intellectual discourse · Curatorial exhibition practice
Intellectually demanding · Social + contemplative
Upcoming
Tickets
Thu 27 Aug
10:30
Thu 27 Aug
11:00
Treasures Tour
The second largest atlas in the world, the historic library of King George III, Magna Carta. See and learn about these items and much more on a guided tour of some of the treasures in our collection.Our knowledgeable, passionate Library staff will introduce you to their favourite items in our Sir John Ritblat Gallery and divulge fun facts and lesser-known histories you won’t find anywhere else.Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave from the Information Desk.Children 11+ may attend if accompanied by an adult.
Fri 28 Aug
10:30
Fri 28 Aug
11:00
Fri 28 Aug
11:30
Treasures Tour
The second largest atlas in the world, the historic library of King George III, Magna Carta. See and learn about these items and much more on a guided tour of some of the treasures in our collection.Our knowledgeable, passionate Library staff will introduce you to their favourite items in our Sir John Ritblat Gallery and divulge fun facts and lesser-known histories you won’t find anywhere else.Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave from the Information Desk.Children 11+ may attend if accompanied by an adult.
Fri 28 Aug
14:00
Building Tour
Have you ever noticed that our iconic building looks like a ship? Or wondered what it takes to store, access and deliver the 13 million books in our collection to Readers?Discover more about our history, collection and architecture on a tour of the public areas of the Library where you’ll visit our viewing gallery, book handling room, Reading Rooms and more. You’ll be guided by our knowledgeable, passionate Library staff who will share the Library’s unique quirks.Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave from the Information Desk. Children 11+ may attend if accompanied by an adult.Can’t get enough? Why not try our Treasures of the British Library Tour as well.
Fri 28 Aug
15:00
Treasures Tour
The second largest atlas in the world, the historic library of King George III, Magna Carta. See and learn about these items and much more on a guided tour of some of the treasures in our collection.Our knowledgeable, passionate Library staff will introduce you to their favourite items in our Sir John Ritblat Gallery and divulge fun facts and lesser-known histories you won’t find anywhere else.Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave from the Information Desk.Children 11+ may attend if accompanied by an adult.
Sat 29 Aug
10:30
Sat 29 Aug
11:00
Sat 29 Aug
11:30
Sat 29 Aug
13:00
Sat 29 Aug
13:45
Sat 29 Aug
14:30
Sun 30 Aug
11:00
Sun 30 Aug
11:00
Family Station: Explore and Play
The Family Station, located on the Upper Ground Floor, includes creative resources full of ideas to explore, make and play in the Library. Start your family adventure here, then go off to discover our building and learn all about the Library.What is the Family Station?It is completely drop-in, so arrive anytime between 11.00 and 15.00 and stay for as long as you like. You’re welcome to arrive, leave, and come back whenever suits you best. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all timeswhile our Learning Assistants will be onsite, Family Station is completely family-led and informal. Meaning you can play, read and explore as a family, and help yourself to our various creative resourcesthere will be fun sensory items out to play with, a pop-up reading corner with braille and tactile editions and art materials to experiment, draw and buildyou can also borrow specially designed trails to explore the wider Library through your senses and enjoy playful interactions with our building and collectionthe Family Station is fully accessible and suitable for children with SENDthe Family Station also runs on select school holiday dates.Find out further useful information about facilities at the Library and how to find us.
Sun 30 Aug
11:00
Treasures Tour
The second largest atlas in the world, the historic library of King George III, Magna Carta. See and learn about these items and much more on a guided tour of some of the treasures in our collection.Our knowledgeable, passionate Library staff will introduce you to their favourite items in our Sir John Ritblat Gallery and divulge fun facts and lesser-known histories you won’t find anywhere else.Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave from the Information Desk.Children 11+ may attend if accompanied by an adult.
Sun 30 Aug
11:30
Building Tour
Have you ever noticed that our iconic building looks like a ship? Or wondered what it takes to store, access and deliver the 13 million books in our collection to Readers?Discover more about our history, collection and architecture on a tour of the public areas of the Library where you’ll visit our viewing gallery, book handling room, Reading Rooms and more. You’ll be guided by our knowledgeable, passionate Library staff who will share the Library’s unique quirks.Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave from the Information Desk. Children 11+ may attend if accompanied by an adult.Can’t get enough? Why not try our Treasures of the British Library Tour as well.
Sun 30 Aug
15:00
Treasures Tour
The second largest atlas in the world, the historic library of King George III, Magna Carta. See and learn about these items and much more on a guided tour of some of the treasures in our collection.Our knowledgeable, passionate Library staff will introduce you to their favourite items in our Sir John Ritblat Gallery and divulge fun facts and lesser-known histories you won’t find anywhere else.Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave from the Information Desk.Children 11+ may attend if accompanied by an adult.
Sun 30 Aug
15:30
Treasures Tour
The second largest atlas in the world, the historic library of King George III, Magna Carta. See and learn about these items and much more on a guided tour of some of the treasures in our collection.Our knowledgeable, passionate Library staff will introduce you to their favourite items in our Sir John Ritblat Gallery and divulge fun facts and lesser-known histories you won’t find anywhere else.Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave from the Information Desk.Children 11+ may attend if accompanied by an adult.
Mon 31 Aug
11:30
Treasures Tour
The second largest atlas in the world, the historic library of King George III, Magna Carta. See and learn about these items and much more on a guided tour of some of the treasures in our collection.Our knowledgeable, passionate Library staff will introduce you to their favourite items in our Sir John Ritblat Gallery and divulge fun facts and lesser-known histories you won’t find anywhere else.Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave from the Information Desk.Children 11+ may attend if accompanied by an adult.
Mon 31 Aug
14:00
Treasures Tour
The second largest atlas in the world, the historic library of King George III, Magna Carta. See and learn about these items and much more on a guided tour of some of the treasures in our collection.Our knowledgeable, passionate Library staff will introduce you to their favourite items in our Sir John Ritblat Gallery and divulge fun facts and lesser-known histories you won’t find anywhere else.Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave from the Information Desk.Children 11+ may attend if accompanied by an adult.
Mon 31 Aug
15:30
How to master social media for your business
Social media is an essential part of today’s business landscape. With a successful social media presence, you can increase your brand’s visibility and reach a whole new audience of potential customers.This interactive session led by Vee Roberts, founder of Insight2Marketing, will explore the many ways you can use social media to boost and grow your business. You will learn how to develop, build and extend your brand’s social media presence to reach your target audience and grow your client base.Overview:Learn how to develop your brand’s profile and online identityFind new ways to attract more clients through social mediaUnderstand how to produce content that converts social media users to your customersLearn how to integrate social media with your marketingDiscover the importance of analytics for growing your online brandPart of the Business Masterclasses collection.
Tue 1 Sept
11:30
Dementia-Friendly Monthly Art Workshops
Join us for a monthly creative workshop inspired by our collection and designed for people living with dementia and their carers. Each workshop will focus on a different creative process – from printmaking and watercolour to clay modelling. Workshops are delivered by Melissa Fry from Engage Here. No experience needed.Workshops are free and refreshments are provided.Workshops take place on the first Wednesday of the month between 11.00 – 13.00. To find out more and to book a place please e-mail [email protected]. Booking is essential.
Wed 2 Sept
11:00
EPICo Conference 2026
Welcome to the third EPICo Conference, hosted at British Library sites in London and Yorkshire, UK.The European Print Initiatives Collaboration (EPICo) network is delighted to announce its third EPICo Conference, taking place from Wednesday 30 September to Friday 2 October 2026. The main conference will be held at the Library's Knowledge Centre in London, with a limited number of places available for an optional visit to the Library’s high-volume storage facility in Yorkshire the day before the conference starts, on Tuesday 29 September.Building on the traditions established since the first meeting in Kuopio, Finland in 1999, the 3rd EPICo Conference will once again focus on collaborative approaches to the management and preservation of physical library collections with the theme Libraries Together: Safeguarding Our Collections for the Future.As in previous years, the conference will bring together library professionals, partners, publishers, exhibitors, and invited guests from across Europe and beyond for an engaging programme of talks, discussions, and networking opportunities. We look forward to welcoming you to the third EPICo Conference in London!Ticketing and conference registration will be available in Spring 2026.
Wed 2 Sept
18:00
Thu 3 Sept
10:30
Thu 3 Sept
18:00
Thu 3 Sept
19:00
Fri 4 Sept
11:30
Fri 4 Sept
13:30
Mon 7 Sept
11:00
Tue 8 Sept
10:30
Tue 8 Sept
12:00
Online Course: Discovering Medieval Manuscripts
Medieval manuscripts are touchstones of human history: priceless not only for the texts they contain but for the stories they accrue through time. Today, a few of these manuscripts are well known; others are hidden gems; many more linger only as ghosts. Each has a story to tell.Through the six weeks of this online course we invite you to meet some of the treasures of the British Library’s medieval manuscript collection, stretching from the first inklings of literacy in England through to the great flourishings of later medieval written culture. We’ll consider the unique nature of manuscript production, the many hands and materials involved in the creation of a manuscript, and the long afterlives – and sometimes deaths – that follow. We’ll delve into the manuscripts’ visual cues and mise-en-page, the interplay of word and image, the stylistic choices made by scribes and illuminators. And we’ll explore the use of text and language on the manuscript page, reading works written in both Old and Middle English, as well as Latin. Along the way, we’ll encounter miracles and monsters, marauding Vikings and courtly lovers, and much more.No prior knowledge is needed and translations will be provided as required.This course takes place on Microsoft Teams. The joining information will be emailed to you in advance of each session. Sessions are recorded and uploaded to the Course Padlet, and can be watched back at your leisure.Access to the Course Padlet is available until Tuesday 17 November 2026.
Tue 8 Sept
12:30
Wed 9 Sept
10:00
Wed 9 Sept
14:00
Thu 10 Sept
11:00
Thu 10 Sept
12:00
Thu 10 Sept
13:00
Why this place matters
Cultural lineage
British literary scholarship →
See other venues in London working in this tradition.
Cultural lineage
Knowledge and research institution →
See other venues in London working in this tradition.
Cultural lineage
Public intellectual discourse →
See other venues in London working in this tradition.
Cultural lineage
Curatorial exhibition practice →
See other venues in London working in this tradition.
thematic collection
Literary London →
The national collection made public through exhibitions, talks and reading rooms.