44 Must-See Literary Landmarks in the United Kingdom

43. The London Library, A Literary Labyrinth in St. James’s

Tucked behind the glamour of Piccadilly, The London Library has been a haven for writers since 1841. Dickens, Woolf, Churchill, and T.S. Eliot all roamed these shelves. With its rolling stacks, cast-iron walkways, and books arranged not just by subject but eccentricity (e.g., “Curiosa”), it’s a browser’s paradise. Members describe it as part library, part portal—where time slows and ideas expand. It’s not open to the public like the British Library, but for literary pilgrims, even peering inside is a thrill. If you ever wondered where ideas hide before they hit the page, this is one of their oldest homes.