How to Get a British Library Reader Pass in London

This guide is for adults who have moved to London from abroad and want to use the British Library, whether you are researching, studying or just looking for a quiet place to work. It covers who can get a free Reader Pass, which documents to bring, how the Reading Rooms work and whether paid membership is worth it.

• What a Reader Pass gets you
• Who can apply, and what about children
• The ID to bring
• Registering in person at St Pancras
• Using the Reading Rooms
• Membership and the Members’ Room
• FAQ

What a Reader Pass gets you

A Reader Pass is the British Library’s library card, and it is completely free. According to the Library’s Reader Pass page, it gives you access to the collection and to the Reading Rooms in London and Yorkshire. Each pass is valid for three years.

The British Library is not a lending library, which surprises a lot of newcomers. You cannot take books home. You order items and read them inside one of the Reading Rooms instead. The rooms also work well as a free study space. You can sit and work there with your own laptop even if you never request a single book, and you get comfy seats, power outlets and free Wi-Fi.

One date matters if anyone has passed you an old card. After the cyber-attack in October 2023, the Library changed its systems, so you need a pass issued or renewed since 21 March 2024 to request collection items.

Who can apply, and what about children

Anyone over 18 who can visit the Library in person can apply. You do not need to be an academic. The Library says its readers include researchers, students and members of the public, and family history research is one of the most popular reasons people come. If you are tracing relatives who lived in Britain, it is a good place to start.

Under-18s cannot get a Reader Pass at the moment, and that includes teenagers who are studying hard for exams. The Library suggests that young people use their school or local library instead. If you visit with children, the public desks around the building are open to anyone and have free Wi-Fi, so an older child can do homework there while you are in the building. They just cannot come into the Reading Rooms with you.

The age rule applies to adults too. A guest over 18, a carer or an adult dependant needs their own Reader Pass to come into the Reading Rooms with you.

The ID to bring

This is where newcomers most often get caught out. You have two options. The first is a single state-issued photo ID printed with your photo, name and address, such as a driving licence or national ID card. Many foreign licences and ID cards do not show an address, and in that case the Library will not accept the card on its own.

The second option is two separate documents, one showing your name and one showing your home address. Your passport covers the name. For the address, the Library accepts bills and financial documents, NHS letters such as appointment letters and prescriptions, DVLA correspondence, or a tenancy agreement. For many people who have just arrived, a tenancy agreement or an NHS letter is the easiest proof of address to find.

The Library accepts originals, photos, online versions and scanned copies, as long as the text is legible. Documents must be valid, or issued within the last 12 months where that applies. If any document is not in English, you are responsible for providing an official translation. The Library will not issue a pass without seeing acceptable ID, so check this before you travel.

Registering in person at St Pancras

You cannot register or pre-register online at the moment, because the 2023 cyber-attack damaged the Library’s systems. In London, you register at Reader Registration at the St Pancras site. The other option is Boston Spa in Yorkshire.

The Library does not list registration hours on the Reader Pass page. Instead, it points you to its main opening hours page, so check that for current times and closures before you go. Reader Registration is closed on bank holidays. The page also notes that the whole St Pancras site will be closed on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December.

If you want to read collection material on the same day you register, bring a phone or another personal device that can open your email. You will need it to verify your catalogue account, and you cannot check email on the Library’s PCs. To order printed material or use online resources, you will also need a username and password for the main catalogue. Manuscripts and sound and vision items are ordered differently, but you still need a pass for them.

If your pass expires, bring the old card and your ID to Reader Registration. Your Reader number moves across to the new pass, which is valid for another three years. Replacing a lost or damaged pass before it expires costs a non-refundable £10. Questions about registration can go to reader@bl.uk.

Using the Reading Rooms

There are 11 Reading Rooms in London, and each one specialises in different material. According to the Reading Rooms page, you can choose any room for personal study, but some items can only be read in particular rooms. Each room has Reference staff who can help you find what you need. Show your pass at the security desk as you go in.

The rules take a visit or two to get used to. You can only use pencils. Coats, bags and laptop cases go in the cloakroom or a locker, and no food or drink is allowed. Keep your phone and laptop on silent and keep headphone volume low. The rooms are kept cool to protect the collection, so bring an extra layer.

The Maps, Manuscripts, and Asian and African Studies Reading Rooms close at 17.00 Monday to Saturday. For the other rooms, the Library points you to its main opening hours page. PCs and scanning have been restored, but the page says printing is still unavailable while new software is introduced, and the Library has said it hoped to launch this in 2026. Check the Library’s service status guide before you rely on printing.

Membership and the Members’ Room

The Reader Pass and paid membership are separate things. Membership is aimed at people who enjoy exhibitions and events. According to the membership page, Standard Membership costs £95 and Joint Membership costs £135, and you save £15 a year if you pay by annual Direct Debit.

Members get free entry to exhibitions as often as they like, with a guest, and quieter Members-Only viewing hours. They also get discounts on event tickets, tours and adult courses, and 20% off in the Library’s cafés, restaurants and shops, although some restrictions apply. The Members’ Room has a private bar, a café and a study room, and you can bring a guest each time you visit. If you mainly want to read and study, the free pass is all you need. If you want a regular place to meet a friend and you go to exhibitions, membership is worth considering.

FAQ

Can I use my passport as my only ID?

Usually not. A passport shows your name but not your address, so you also need a second document showing your home address, such as a tenancy agreement, a bill or an NHS letter. Single-document ID must show your photo, name and address together.

Can my teenager get a Reader Pass?

No. The Library cannot currently issue passes to anyone under 18, and it suggests that young people use their school or local library. Anyone can use the public desks around the building, which have free Wi-Fi.

How much does a Reader Pass cost?

Nothing. The pass is free and lasts three years. The only charge is a non-refundable £10 if you need a replacement for a lost or damaged pass before it expires.

Do I need membership to use the Reading Rooms?

No. The Reading Rooms only need a free Reader Pass. Paid membership is separate and covers exhibitions, discounts and the Members’ Room.

Official sources: bl.uk · bl.uk · bl.uk

Last checked: 2 November 2026 against the pages linked above. Prices, opening hours and programmes change; the venue’s own site always has the current details.