Guildhall Library - City of London Libraries

⭐️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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

‘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.

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. 🎨

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.

Next week we are delighted to host Ian Doolittle's book launch, Logic Has Its Limits - A New history of the City of London Corporation. His accompanying talk- 'The Corporation of London - What's in a Name?' - traces the odd history of the City's corporate status, presenting Ian's personal interpretation of this once-much-debated issue. The event will also include a display of books from the Guildhall Library curated by Ian. As well as a chance to purchase his new books.
In person and online tickets availble through eventbrite.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/logic-has-its-limits-a-new-history-of-the-city-of-london-corporation-tickets-1986436970452