What’s on
Featured exhibitions

Story Explorers: A journey through imaginary worlds
Take a free family trip through our collection and discover the stories behind objects which take you to wondrous places. Designed for children 2 – 7.

Secret Maps
Who shapes your world? Who decides what you see? What hides behind grid lines?
All Events
List of Events

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Secret Maps of a Forgotten Map Library
James Cheshire reveals the classified maps he discovered in a university’s map library.

Darkland Tales: Benbecula
Thursday 27 November 19.15 Booker-nominated Scottish author Graeme Macrae Burnet shares the research behind his newest work.

How Cobra can help your business journey
Friday 28 November 11.00 When you're starting out in business, trying to find the right information can seem daunting. Well, we can help!

Doctoral Open Day: Europe, Americas and Oceania
Friday 28 November 11.30 Explore our collections covering Europe, the Americas and Oceania in this Doctoral Open Day for PhD students.

Start using social media for my small business
Friday 28 November 13.00 Everyone seems to talk about social media these days, but how can Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok and blogging actually help?
Grant finder – Financial support for your business and community
Friday 28 November 14.30 During this webinar the British Library will show you the GRANTfinder business information database.

What is the Black Archive? Reparations and Transformation
Saturday 29 November 9.30 A day of discussions interrogating the past, present, and potential future for Black archives in Britain, and the role of the archive in determining how Black Britons have been and are remembered.

Old English Masterclass
Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 November Explore Old English in its cultural context in this two-day course.

Family Station: Explore and Play
Last Sunday of every month Explore the Library with our creative offer, designed with families.

Story Explorers: A journey through imaginary worlds
Until Sunday 18 January 2026 Take a free family trip through our collection and discover the stories behind objects which take you to wondrous places. Designed for children 2 – 7.

Secret Maps
24 October 2025 – 18 January 2026 Who shapes your world? Who decides what you see? What hides behind grid lines?