Question of the week: Do you have a favourite library in London "Okay, yes, there are bigger libraries in London. And possibly even prettier ones. But my choice for *my* favourite library is Lambeth Palace Library. It is, in origin, the personal library of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and is one of the first public libraries in England (open to the public since 1610), and has books and manuscripts dating from the 9th century to the present. You'll need a letter of introduction to get in, and, if you want to see anything old, delicate or important, another letter detailing why you want to see it. (They don't just hand the Gutenberg Bible out to anyone who asks.) But other than that, the Library is a free resource open to the public.
It is not a lending library, so anything you see will have to be left there (including the Gutenberg Bible), but if you are interested in English history, Church History, or family history, it is a great resource. The librarians are very helpful and can suggest things to help you in your research, as well as help you read tricky hand-written documents.
Or, just take a look at the pretty pictures on the website. Hopefully they'll inspire you to head south of the river and delve into England's past."- Kris
* Photo by plentyofants, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.
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