Guildhall Library - City of London Libraries

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Guildhall Library - City of London Libraries

Guildhall Library is a public reference library which specialises in the history of London.

02/06/2026

It's the perfect time of year to be exploring London. 'Touring London' (1930) is a 'little book of friendly guidance' for visitors keen to see the sights. It's nice to think this was carried around in a pocket or bag nearly 100 years ago while the owner roamed London using a far less crowded transport system. 🚇

01/06/2026

⭐️London Festival of Architecture⭐️

Friday 12th June 2026 - 1 PM - 4 PM

Our Relationship with London’s Historical Architecture.🏦

Drop-in event

Historic places connect us with the past which supports a sense of continuity, serving as a foundation of personal and collective identity. Anyone interested in discovering more about London's architectural history should visit Guildhall Library where an extensive exhibition and display of books and images will take you on a journey through time from Norman architecture through to Brutalism, exploring the stories behind London's development.

Book here:
bit.ly/4drBW56

29/05/2026

Crystal Palace lives rent free in our minds.

The photographs are taken from 'Crystal Palace and district' which possibly published in 1900.

The structure was built for the Great Exhibition in 1851, but moved to Sydenham Hill in 1854. Crystal Palace was later destroyed by a fire in 1936.

28/05/2026

Greenwich became a popular resort in the 18th century. With Greenwich park, the Old Royal Naval College, and the Royal Observatory, Greenwich still remains a popular destination for Londoners and tourist alike.

Below are illustrations taken from 'Greenwich: a poem, descriptive and historical' by James Sansom (1808). The images depict Greenwich's most iconic landscapes, including Greenwich Park, the Royal Hospital, and Lord Dacre's seat in Blackheath.

27/05/2026

Why not escape the heat by visitor our new broadside exhibition?

Learn all about how news, gossip, law announcements, satire, and song spread across London.

But more importantly, the library has air conditioning, so you can cool off while you learn.

26/05/2026

Today in London it's a scorching 34°C 🫠

Unfortunately, the bank holiday weekend is over and we can no longer escape to the seaside and cool off in the sea, unlike 'Mama' in the illustrations below (shelf mark: PAM 16407).

22/05/2026

London Festival of Architecture

Friday 12th June 2026 - 1 PM - 4 PM

Our Relationship with London’s Historical Architecture.

Drop-in event

Historic places connect us with the past which supports a sense of continuity, serving as a foundation of personal and collective identity. Anyone interested in discovering more about London's architectural history should visit Guildhall Library where an extensive exhibition and display of books and images will take you on a journey through time from Norman architecture through to Brutalism, exploring the stories behind London's development.

http://bit.ly/4drBW56

21/05/2026

‘Judy, or the London Serio-Comic Journal’ was a satirical Victorian publication full of caricatures and cartoons poking fun at society. This edition 1st May 1867.

These images show absurd scenes of fashionable people struggling with the effects of a hairdressers’ strike and a daring young dandy on a beach who regrets poking a cuttlefish. Behind the style we are all human.

20/05/2026

How to make committee minutes look stylish - some interesting and vivid marbling details of the John Bankes Charity Committee Minutes 1962-1980, part of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers. The combed marbling is achieved by dragging a comb through oil-based paints floating on water onto which the paper or page ends were dipped. Different sized combs could achieve different wonderful effects. 🎨

18/05/2026

New exhibition!

5th May until 29th October 2026
Monday-Thursday, 10am-4pm

BROADSIDES: SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE 📯

From the sixteenth century on, broadsides covered the walls of London, dispensing news, gossip, advice, and more. From biting political satire to dry announcement of laws, with songs, illustrations or a heaping of melodrama, the cheaply printed broadside has been witness to much of London’s history. This exhibition explores the history of broadsides and how they were used to speak to the general public, high and low alike.

Address

Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury
London
EC2V7HH

Website

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/history-and-heritage/guildhall-library

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