Timeline
09:30
Arrive at the British Library right at opening. The Treasures of the British Library exhibition is free and offers a quiet start to the day before the crowds arrive.
10:15
St. Pancras International Station
Walk four minutes to St. Pancras International Station for a quick bite or coffee at the selection of cafes there.
10:30
Head nine minutes away to Gay's the Word, the leading gay-related bookshop in Britain. It is a historic shop linked with LGBT rights activism and is open from 10:00.
Local tip
The British Library requires proof of identity to enter the reading rooms, but the exhibition does not. Check the route from St. Pancras to Gay's the Word as it is not a direct walk.
Check before you go
- British Library opens at 09:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays to Fridays, and Saturdays. It opens at 11:00 on Sundays.
- Gay's the Word is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:30, and Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00.
Worth knowing
- Gay's the Word is open at 10:30 only on Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa
Getting there
- St Pancras International (rail) · 4 min walk
- St Pancras (subway) · 5 min walk
- King's Cross St Pancras Underground Station (subway) · 5 min walk
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to London (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).