14 College Libraries So Stunning You'll Actually Want to Study

12. Wren Library – University of Cambridge, UK

Designed by Christopher Wren—yes, that Wren—this riverside gem is a masterclass in symmetry and serenity. Its long reading room, lined with centuries-old wood and flooded with natural light, holds treasures like Newton’s annotated Principia and Darwin’s handwritten notes. It’s less about drama and more about grace. Here, the past feels quietly present, not performative. Everything—from the desk spacing to the gilded shelves—feels intentional and still. It’s the kind of place where you lower your voice without being asked. Serenity meets scholarship, with a river view and a weighty sense of history.