The building may not be ancient but the treasures inside will keep you engaged for hours…read more Explore the various museum room and see if you're allowed to see some of the really old volumes. Rest in the cafe or sit and read a while in a chair or desk on the upper floors. Stroll the exterior and see the huge line that sometimes forms at (I guess) opening times? Enjoy the special kids programs at many times, and celebrate the love of reading young and old.

As a history buff, avid reader, and past library fundraiser, there is no way I could skip a visit…read moreto the British Library. We enjoyed roaming the floors during an unexpected rain shower, and enjoyed all the historical tomes exhibited here. We did not sign up for cards, and therefor did not get to explore the rooms or stacks, but we did enjoy our walk around. During college (as a history major), it was frequently joked that you haven't really researched in a library if you haven't wound up making out in the stacks... well, after a day of research, I enjoyed some fun pictures and 'making out' with my husband, making this a thoroughly educational stop in our London adventure.

Aimee from Grays Library (reception desk -1st floor) is very helpful and knowledgeable. She…read moreprovided help with my printing and computer issues when asked on today's visit (26/6/2023. 7 stars

This libary is great and caters for all tastes, from fiction on the ground floor to reference on…read morethe first and second floor as well as internet facilities and a newspaper archive

A magnificent and historic library - a wonderful place for scholars and other bookish people.read more

If you are a book worm and love the warm inviting smell of old books lining wooded shelves you have…read moreto visit the Rochester library ..it looks ancient within and so so inviting with nice comfy seats scattered everywhere within the 3-4 rooms where the books live. The lighting is mellow and I can absolutely lose contact with the world sitting with a book inside this library. They have a very good collection of multi-cultural books and dvd's. The laibrarians like the libaray are soft spoken and helpful and do a good job of keeping the library thus well maintained.

I tried to join this gym a few weeks ago. There was limited information available in the foyer &…read morewhen I approached the reception / information desk, a rather rude employee grunted & then pointed at the rack of leaflets I had just looked at, after explaining that the information was not there, the member of staff muttered somthing & walked away. I waited for about 5 mins but no one returned so I left!

I attend quite few classes at Blackshots and I find the staff there very friendly and the classes…read morewell equipped. The instructors Wendy, Helen and Roy aka as oh God by the time you have finished one of his classes are brilliant and keep you well motivated. There are not many people who can get me out of bed for a class at 9.30 in the morning but Wendy and Helen do a fantasic job especially on the weekends. Try it you won't regret it!!

This is one of the biggest libraries in Medway and is housed in an ancient huge building on the…read morebanks of the river Medway. This library has a huge collection of books of every type..specially appealing to some are the books in languages other than english ..like bengali, hindi, urdu, punjabi, chinese etc This library has a good collection of dvd's in different languages too and has a referal section too. There is a small brightly decorated kid's section too and a number of computers for users. The most notable feature however is the introduction of self -checkout systems that were installed last year and does cut down the waiting time for getting your books being stamped.

I have been an active member of Highgate Library since January 1991…read more And that was when, Margaret Thatcher was still the British Prime Minister. I only live around the corner from this Camden library branch, which is Holly Lodge. And even up to this day, I will always use the services at Highgate Library, for hiring out DVDs, PC printing and the photo copy machine. And I even reserve books and DVD from Highgate Library. Highgate Library is literally right next door to Highgate Cemetery, the place of Karl Marx's tomb.

Central Library (or Bexleyheath Library as it is more commonly referred to) is the main library…read moreserving the Bexley Borough area. It is the biggest and has the most comprehensive collection of facilities. These include a large variety of books covering all genres to borrow. There are also extensive free to use IT facilities and internet access. It is an ideal place for school children or college students to study and work or for those without web access at home to log on and check emails. I used the facilities recently to browse through the university prospectuses which were upstairs and sat in their quiet zone to help a friend select a course. The quiet zone was a good place to concentrate and the nature of the zone was well respected by all who used it. DVDs and local history archives are other among the many other things on offer at Central Library which has become an important part of Bexleyheath life as activities such as reading groups, guest speakers and children's activity sessions are offered. The DVD and CD hire is a good way of entertaining yourself on a budget as the rental costs are a significantly lower than those at places such as Blockbuster although the titles are not always as recent or as well stocked as rental shops. The library can get busy at times and although I have never experienced it being cramped, you may have to occasionally wait for a member of staff if you need help. The staff are always cheerful and enthusiastic as well as helpful when it comes to locating items. Getting to the library is easy as it is near the Broadway where almost every bus in Bexleyheath stops. Parking in The Mall or in local pay and displays are available too. Be cautious of parking wardens as they patrol the area regularly.

This is a very friendly library for kids, who will enjoy the fun activities available in the…read morelibrary especially during the school holidays, they can also have access to computers, which they will enjoy using. The book range is good, staff are helpful and kid friendly. The library is well lit and modern. Parking is available via Broadways parking areas, DO NOT try and park on the road as Traffic wardens appear as if by magic ticket you and disappear again!!. The location of library is VERY GOOD, the cinema is nearby as is a range of shopping facilities. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

The Charing Cross Library is on the intersection between Covent Garden, Chinatown and Trafalgar…read moreSquare. It is part of the borough of Westminster and so open its residents, though you can request books for other libraries. The entrance to the building is quite discreet. The library itself is arranged across two floors. On the ground floor are books and DVDs. On the first floor are more books and the computers. The library has a decent fiction section and is notable for its large selection of Chinese language books. Charing Cross library is a small place but does a good job in trying to serve the interests of its community. It is worth visiting, particularly if you are looking for a Chinese language reading book.

This is my local library at work. What distinguishes this library from others is that it stocks a…read morehuge selection of books in Chinese. It also has a lot of manga/comic books, although these are in English and not in Chinese (unfortunately for me, because I am used to reading them in Chinese! Japanese translates better into Chinese than English!) There are two floors, a good selection of books, and they even sort the books into newly arrived, books you should read etc. near the door which I appreciate very much when I am just browsing for a new author. There are computer desks upstairs for use, and mainly reference books and language books there. Stocked downstairs are the Chinese books, Sci Fi/Fantasy/Crime and Children's books. The staff are quite nice and helpful in general, some staff can speak Chinese, of which I'm sure the Chinese community are very appreciative. The book reservation service is also very efficient. They sort it by name and stack the reserved books on a shelf so you can use the self check-out to borrow books. Yes, they have state of the art machines there, doesn't that make you just want to come and visit?

Ightham Mote (pronounced 'Eye-tum Moat') is one of my favourite spots to take friends and visitors…read more The setting, on a hot summer's day, is just perfect: you approach through a lovely, quiet valley (astonishingly so, given how close you are to London), and suddenly, there is a beautiful 14th Century Manor-House, set in a wide moat, surrounded by delightful gardens. The house itself dates from 1320, with additions dating to around the early 1500's. Set around an internal courtyard, features include the original 14th century Great Hall, Old Chapel, Crypt, and a Tudor chapel with a painted ceiling, with motifs reflecting the marriage of Catherine of Aragon to Henry VIII. The house features classic overhanging Tudor wooden-framed walls. The gardens are small but delightful, but the parkland around is very extensive (over 500 acres - 200 hectares). There are both cycle-ways and marked foot-paths around the estate for the more energetic visitor. Being owned by the National Trust, there is an excellent small shop and cafe, with details on accessibility on its web-site.

This is a charming historical building and gardens. Dating back to the 13th century, it reflects…read morethe layers of renovation over the ages all on top of the original 'bones'. It also has a wonderful feel to it of a house someone really lived in, as opposed to a cold museum. Oh, and be sure not to miss the painting of the house and moat by Winston Churchill in the library! The gardens are also lovely, small scale, with some very pretty topiary. All this is set into the background of the moat, which provides a cool feel on a warm summer day. The cafe is also nicely run with a good selection of fresh items for lunch or snack. All in all, a very worthwhile stop!!