Host your event at the iconic 
British Library 
British Library commercial venue hire 
centraleventsteam@bl.uk 

Contents 
Did you know the Library holds a copy 
of every book published in the UK? 
But we don’t stop at books – we also 
hold newspapers, sound recordings, 
prints, drawings, maps and manuscripts, 
which make up the 170 million+ items 
in our collections. 
3 
Welcome page 
4 
Why choose us 
5 
Client testimonials 
6 
Meetings and Conferences 
15 
Evening hire 
19 
Capacities 
20 
Event add ons 
21 
Catering 
22 
FAQs 
23 
Find and contact us 

Host your event 
among Shakespeare, 
Leonardo and Austen 
Home to some of the world’s most precious books, 
manuscripts, maps and relics, the British Library is 
a breathtaking backdrop for private events. 
We are ideally located for guests coming from far 
and wide. Our iconic building is situated in the heart 
of London, with King’s Cross, Euston and St Pancras 
International just around the corner. 
Our dedicated team is on hand to bring your event 
to life. We hold all types of events, from corporate 
meetings in our purpose-built conference centre, 
to dramatic evening dinners in front of the historic 
King’s Library. We can accommodate almost any of 
your unique ideas with our expert knowledge and 
outstanding event spaces. 
Did you know that the 12-foot bronze 
statue of Sir Isaac Newton in the Piazza 
was inspired by an original watercolour 
by William Blake? Bringing science, 
poetry and art into one. 

Why choose us? 
Enjoy a central location 
We’re located right next to central London 
stations: King’s Cross, St Pancras and Euston, 
making us accessible across the capital, UK 
and Europe.We’re also under an hour away 
from London City Airport and Gatwick Airport 
via public transport. 
Walking distance from closest stations 
St Pancras, 2 mins 
King’s Cross, 4 mins 
Euston, 7 mins 
Euston Square, 11 mins 
Warren Street, 15 mins 
See some of the most important 
items in history 
Inspire your guests with the cultural history 
of the British Library. Impress with a tour 
of our world-class collections, a guided 
experience of the storied architecture of 
our Grade I listed building, or a visit to 
one of our current exhibitions. 
With an add-on tour of our Treasures Gallery, 
view iconic pieces of history like Magna Carta, 
Shakespeare’s First Folio, Leonardo Da Vinci’s 
notebooks, and early European maps. 
With a walkthrough of our building, explore every 
nook and cranny of the Library, lifting the veil behind 
the inner workings of the national repository. 
Or enhance your event with a visit to one of our 
acclaimed exhibitions – past themes have included 
medieval women, fantasy, Alexander the Great 
and Black British music. 
To find out more about enhancing your event 
with a cultural add-on, enquire with our team. 
Take advantage of our versatile spaces 
Our diverse range of spaces mean we can host party 
sizes from four to 350 people. We’ve held all kinds of 
events including music festivals, meetings, conferences, 
product launches, dinners and drinks receptions. 
We offer full technical audiovisual support too so 
you can light the room up with your brand colours 
or showcase your product on our screens. And our 
wonderful in-house caterers can create tailored, 
delicious menus for your guests to enjoy. 
Did you know the Library’s design 
is inspired by the shape of a ship? 
There are telltale features throughout 
the building, such as this porthole window, 
which creates a striking viewpoint. 

Client testimonials 
“Communication in the lead up to 
the event was slick and the team 
on the day were very helpful and 
professional.” 
“ We absolutely enjoyed hosting 
our event at the British Library (the 
team) was incredibly supportive, 
responsive and kind. We will 
definitely consider booking the venue 
again this year for our remaining 
planned events.” 
“ It was a great venue for our event. 
The seating in the theatre is very 
comfortable when sitting for long 
periods of time, and the breakout 
rooms were well set up... the day 
ran smoothly, and we wouldn’t 
hesitate to book again in future.” 

Meetings and 
Conferences 

The Knowledge Centre 
The Knowledge Centre is perfect for 
hosting meetings and multi-day 
conferences. It contains multiple meeting 
rooms, our 255-seat Pigott Theatre, and an 
open-plan networking area with a bar. 
Each space within the Knowledge Centre 
is kitted out with audiovisual facilities 
allowing you to customise your event 
and wow your audience. 
The Knowledge Centre can also be hired 
for evening events, receptions and dinners. 

Pigott Theatre 
Maximum capacity: 255 
The Pigott Theatre comes with everything 
you need for conferences, presentations, 
ceremonies and panel discussions. 
The Theatre offers: 
• a Panasonic 2K projector, delivering crisp, 
high-definition visuals 
• 7.2 tannoy surround sound system – ideal for 
immersive screenings, keynotes and conferences. 
• a full professional lighting rig, including gobo 
projectors and customisable colours to match 
your brand colours 
• a range of microphones tailored to every 
presentation style 
• digital sound desk with up to 64 inputs 
• stage and display foldback monitors 
(confidence monitors) 
• stage audio foldback monitors. 

The Foyer 
The Foyer is a large connecting space 
where you can join up your event with 
a drinks reception, networking 
or exhibitions. 
It offers: 
• a 4K display screen for welcome messages, 
branding and digital signage 
• ample power sockets to support exhibitor stands 
• a built-in PA system for announcements 
and event messaging 
• dedicated Wi-Fi provision offering speeds 
of up to 100Mbps. 
Did you know throughout the Library there 
are many pieces of art by renowned artists 
such as Barbara Hepworth and Antony 
Gormley? This work by David Nash, 
Spiral Sheaves, sits in the Knowledge 
Centre’s entrance. 

Knowledge Centre 
meeting rooms 
Our meeting rooms are named after authors 
Chaucer, Eliot, Dickens and Brontë. 
Nearly all have large windows, making 
them light and spacious – perfect spaces 
for brainstorming, inspiring discussion or 
relaxed conversation. All meeting rooms 
(except Chaucer) have windows for 
natural daylight. 
Technological and audiovisual set-ups in 
every room mean we can cater for a range 
of digital meeting requirements. Some of 
these spaces can also be segmented or 
joined together to create larger or smaller 
rooms for breakout meetings. 
To find full details of each spaces’ 
capacities with different seating options, 
take a look at our capacities section. 
Each meeting room comes with: 
• 4K TV 
• Microsoft laptop 
• amplified lectern. 

Eliot  Maximum capacity: 60 
Dickens  Maximum capacity: 25 
Brontë Maximum capacity: 62 
This room comes with the option of a divider, so you 
can choose to have the entire space (maximum capacity 
62 standing) or two smaller rooms for separate meetings. 
Chaucer Maximum capacity: 50 
This room is only available for hire 
alongside the Pigott Theatre. 

The Boardroom Suite 
Our Boardroom Suite offers a classic 
setting for meetings and executive 
business events for up to 32 people. 
It contains the Boardroom – a large, 
elegant space complete with original 
heritage artwork, as well as several 
smaller meeting rooms. These spaces 
are all linked by a foyer, perfect for 
networking. 
Accessible via private lifts, the Suite 
is tucked away high up in the Library 
building, ideal for an exclusive and 
intimate event with a touch of grandeur. 
Choose to hire any of our spaces from a 
single meeting room to the entire Suite. 
All the meeting rooms have windows for 
natural light. 
The Boardroom Suite can also be hired for 
evening events, and is the perfect setting 
for elegant dinners. 

The Boardroom 
Maximum capacity: 32 
Suitable for meetings or dinners, this is the 
largest space in the Boardroom Suite. 

Cotton  Maximum capacity: 12 
Harley  Maximum capacity: 12 
Burney  Maximum capacity: 8 
Sloane  Maximum capacity: 4 

Evening hire 
An evening event at the British Library is 
like no other. Our hosting spaces represent 
our unique literary and historical heritage. 
They also offer dazzling architecture and 
gorgeous views over London. 
These spaces are available for evening 
hire from 18.00 until late into the evening, 
  
allowing your guests exclusive access. 
Did you know the Library was the largest 
public building constructed in 20th century 
Britain? To create a welcoming atmosphere, 
the main entrance has a graduated ceiling 
that only provides the visitor with a view of 
the building’s huge scale once they reach the 
heart of the space. 
Did you know the King’s Library houses 
the original collection of King George III 
(1760–1820)? He insisted on his collection 
being displayed separately from the rest of 
the Library, which is how it remains today. 
King’s Library Gallery 
Maximum capacity: 150 
Best for: Dinners, drinks 
receptions and soirées 
For the literary-inclined, our King’s 
Library Gallery, steeped in history, is a 
showstopping heritage backdrop for 
dinners or drinks. Situated at the centre of 
the Library, the space is unique for both its 
beauty and its historical significance. 

The Terrace 
Maximum capacity: 150 
Best for: Dinners, dances 
and drinks receptions. 
The Terrace is a modern space complete 
with floor-to-ceiling windows and an 
expansive outdoor area boasting panoramic 
views across London. This space is perfect 
for dinners and dances. 
In the summer you can lead your guests 
onto the rooftop and soak up the sunshine 
and stunning views across St Pancras. 

Upper Gallery 
Maximum capacity: 350 
Best for: Gala dinners, drinks 
receptions, award ceremonies 
The Upper Gallery is right at the heart of 
the Library. This area offers a breathtaking 
open space for networking events, product 
launches or drinks receptions. Surrounded by 
a marble interior and fantastic architectural 
views, and with the King’s Library in the 
background, this is a truly glamorous and 
awe-inspiring space. 

Capacities 
Find out which space is suitable for your event. 
* Available for evening hire only 
All our spaces are wheelchair accessible and 
fitted with a hearing loop. We can also provide 
digital and audiovisual support as needed. 
Space 
Capacity (Theatre) Capacity (Cabaret) Capacity (Reception) Boardroom 
King’s Library Gallery* 
N/A 
80 
150 
N/A 
Terrace Restaurant* 
N/A 
120 
200 
N/A 
Outside Terrace* 
N/A 
N/A 
200 
N/A 
Upper Gallery* 
N/A 
150 
350 
N/A 
Boardroom 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
32 
Cotton Room 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
12 
Harley Room 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
12 
Burney Room 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
8 
Sloane Room 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
4 
Knowledge Centre 
Pigott Theatre 
255 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
Brontë 
62 
36 
60 
24 
Brontë A 
30 
18 
30 
12 
Brontë B 
20 
12 
25 
12 
Dickens 
25 
18 
25 
12 
Eliot 
60 
36 
68 
24 
Chaucer 
50 
24 
60 
16 

Looking to enhance 
your event? 
From the Treasures Gallery to the 
King’s Gallery, the Library is brimming 
with fascinating books, manuscripts, 
art and artefacts. 
We offer tours of the building and our 
collections as add-ons to events. This offers 
a unique opportunity to explore the curious 
oddities and inner workings of the Library 
and its fantastic history, with an expert. 
Experience the wonder of the Library, 
tailored to you and your guests. 
We also have an exciting programme of 
exhibitions, which you can invite your guests 
to explore. 
If you’d like to enhance your event with a 
tour or exhibition, speak to one of our team 
to find out what’s possible. 

Impress with every bite 
Our catering partners, Graysons, are experts 
in providing high-quality refreshments and 
top-class dining arrangements. 
When you book an event with us, our 
knowledgeable team will help you plan 
the perfect spread, whether it’s a healthy 
breakfast, delicious lunch, afternoon tea 
or a sit-down evening dinner. Talk to our 
team to find out more. 

FAQs 
How long will your team take 
to reply to my email? 
Once we receive your request, a member 
of our team will strive to get back to you 
within 24 hours. 
What is included in my quote? 
Your quote will include the hired space, a 
catering order for the anticipated number of 
guests, audio-visual requirements and any 
additional needs such as cloakroom staffing, 
equipment hire or early access fee(s). 
How long will the set-up take? 
Most set-ups take around 30 minutes, which 
is free and included in your quote. For longer 
set-ups with complicated decorations or props, 
we might need to add an additional fee. 
Do you offer building tours? 
We do! Ask a member of our team about 
adding a tour of the building or our collections 
to your event. 
Will the Library be open to the 
public during my event? 
Although the Library is open to the public every 
day, many of our event spaces cannot be accessed 
by visitors, even during those hours. In specific 
circumstances we can redirect members of the 
public away from privately hired areas. 
Are your spaces accessible? 
All of our spaces and toilets are fully accessible 
and fitted with a hearing loop. We can provide 
digital and audiovisual support as needed. 
Is there parking available onsite? 
We have parking spaces available for disabled 
drivers but encourage all other visitors to access 
the Library via our excellent public transport links. 
Are there projectors or screens at the venue? 
Yes, all rooms that we hire can have projectors 
and screens. Ask about our AV packages with a 
member of our team to find out more. 
If you have any other questions do 
not hesitate to get in touch with our 
team at centraleventsteam@bl.uk 

Find us 
96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB 
Contact us 
Contact our dedicated team at 
centraleventsteam@bl.uk 
bl.uk/services/commercial-venue-hire 
@britishlibrary_venuehire