The British Library

Event SpaceUp to 350 guests

/ About

The British Library opened on Euston Road in 1997, a Grade I listed building by Sir Colin St John Wilson and M.J. Long, begun in 1982 and finished in 1999. Its hire spaces sit inside the working national library, and the events team has run music festivals, conferences, product launches, dinners and drinks receptions in them.

The King's Library Gallery is the room that defines the place: a glass tower holding George III's collection floor to ceiling, with the gallery beside it laid for dinner or drinks. The Upper Gallery, open across the centre of the building, is the largest space at 350 for a reception. On the first floor the Terrace Restaurant opens onto a rooftop terrace with views across London. The Knowledge Centre sits to the side of the main building and hires entirely privately, taking in the 255-seat Pigott Theatre, a foyer with its own bar, and the Chaucer, Brontë, Eliot and Dickens rooms.

Formal dinners and meetings go to the Boardroom Suite: the Boardroom itself, panelled and hung with heritage artwork, with the Cotton, Harley, Burney and Sloane rooms alongside. Hire is direct through the Library's own events team, catering comes through the Library's kitchen partner, and every space is wheelchair accessible. Evening events run to 22.00.

/ Rooms Available

Upper Gallery

Exclusive Hire

Seats 170 / Up to 350

The open gallery across the centre of the building, above the entrance hall. It is the largest space the Library hires and an evening-only one: 350 standing, or 170 seated at round tables.

Flexible Layout

Terrace Restaurant

Exclusive Hire

Seats 120 / Up to 200

The Library's first-floor restaurant, a curved glass pavilion opening onto the rooftop terrace. 120 at round tables or 200 standing, on evening and weekend hire. It can be taken together with the Outdoor Terrace.

Natural Light

Outdoor Terrace

Exclusive Hire

Up to 200

The rooftop terrace outside the restaurant, with views across London. 200 standing, for evening and weekend hire.

Pigott Theatre and Foyer

Exclusive Hire

Up to 200

The Knowledge Centre's auditorium: 255 in raked seating with a stage, and a foyer that holds 200 for a reception. The Knowledge Centre can also be taken whole, which adds its lobby and the four named rooms.

Stage

King's Library Gallery

Exclusive Hire

Seats 80 / Up to 150

The gallery floor beside the glass tower holding George III's library, books stacked the full height of the room. Dinner for 80 at round tables, or 150 standing. Evenings and weekends only.

Eliot

Private

Seats 36 / Up to 68

A Knowledge Centre room with full-height windows: 60 theatre-style, 68 standing, or 36 at cabaret rounds.

Natural LightFlexible Layout

Brontë

Private

Seats 36 / Up to 60

The largest of the Knowledge Centre's four named rooms, and the one that divides. 62 theatre-style as a whole, or two rooms taking 30 and 20.

Natural LightFlexible Layout

Chaucer

Private

Seats 24 / Up to 60

A Knowledge Centre room taking 50 theatre-style, 60 standing, or 20 around the boardroom table.

Natural LightFlexible Layout

Boardroom

Private

Seats 32

Oak-panelled and hung with heritage artwork, seating 32 around the table or at one long table for dinner. The Boardroom Suite can also be taken whole, with the four smaller rooms beside it.