Astor Court Hotel
✓ Newly refurbished Standard and Superior rooms in historic Victorian townhouse
🏖️ 1.52 miles from The Serpentine - Hyde Park (Good water quality)
London
Museums & Galleries · London
RIBA Library
📍 W1B 1AD
Photo: Robert-brook (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Books, periodicals and photographs from the 15th century onward
- Almost one million architectural drawings across centuries
- Around 1.5 million photographic images including prints and negatives
- Nearly 1,000 audio recordings of famous architects
- Almost 400 architectural models spanning five centuries
RIBA Library is a research collection covering architectural books, periodicals, drawings, photographs, models and archives, with material ranging from illustrated texts published in the 15th century to current journals. Since a temporary relocation, collections are split between two interim sites: The London Archives, open several days a week including one Saturday a month, and Crown Fine Art, accessible by prior appointment only. Visitors can consult journals, biographical files, books, photographs and rare volumes, with staff on hand to help. It particularly suits architecture students, historians and researchers wanting hands-on access to original material. Located in Westminster, it sits near Bond Street station 0.6 miles away, with The Serpentine - Hyde Park beach 1.5 miles away, and 660 bookable places to stay within 5 miles on BritStays for anyone planning a longer visit.
Practical details
- Open
- Monday to Thursday, plus one Saturday a month, at The London Archives
- Booking
- Crown Fine Art site is by prior appointment only
- Accessibility
- Advise the team in advance of any accessibility needs
- Best for
- Researchers and visitors interested in architectural history and archives
From the attraction's own website on 27 Sep 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Disabled Access
- ✓ Gift Shop
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🎪 What's on near RIBA Library
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Fri 13 Nov · 18:30
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Sat 5 Dec · 12:00
Mega Mega: Romford's Suburban Sound Revolution
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Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to RIBA Library into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
A weekend in London: an accessible itinerary →
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🗺️ Plan the drive to RIBA Library
🚆 Or come by train
- Bond Street 0.6 miles
- London Euston 0.7 miles
- Tottenham Court Road 0.7 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page