Bishopsgate Institute

every building in the area excites me and the Bishopgate Institute is no different. It’s appointment only but a friend took me along when they were working on some research. I was much more cited about the inside than the outside this place is packed with big dusty tomes.

This review is for the library only, sadly I have only looked longingly at the course offerings and not taken any (yet).
The library is such a gem in ever odd spitalfields area full of old pubs, over-​priced fashion shops, and financial corporations. The library is FREE to everyone and is exactly what a library should be: Well-​lit, full of old books, packed with long study tables, equipped with free WiFi, and most importantly QUIET. Also, if you are on the hunt for a cute librarian to date, they have quite a few!
The only downside is the hours. They have recently extended their hours to Saturday, but itis hard to fit my insomnia into their opening hours. The schedule is:
Monday– Thursday: 10:00 to 17:30
Friday: 10:00 to 14:00
Saturday: 10:00 to 17:30
Sunday: Closed

Now attempting to give itself a ‘cultural makeover’, this is essentially a glorious old building — built originally for normal people to meet up and learn — is now being almost swallowed by the glass and steel towers of the City.
The building itself has the look and feel of Victorian England, that when you round the lovely corridors to the library, it’s exactly as you’d expect. One of those libraries which just wants to make you stay quiet, of your own volition. It’s got the hallowed smell of old books (of which there is A LOT) and nicely varnished wood. The stock is mainly about local interest and the history of London.
They also have a dance studio and courses on offer here — check the website — but I came to use the library. If you need a quiet space for an afternoon to read something or do some research, you should wile away the hours in here. It’s really really lovely!