Holborn Library

Holborn Library is a four-story building on Theobalds Road constructed with a reinforced concrete frame, metal-framed windows, and a distinctive russet brick exterior. The ground floor features a reading room with a Swedish-inspired mezzanine balcony, while the basement contains a separate children's collection.

The building was completed in 1960 and became the first large post-war multipurpose library in London, designed by architect Ernest Ives and overseen by Borough Librarian J Swift. The Queen formally opened it on August 15, 1960, marking an important moment in London's library expansion after the Second World War.

The Local Studies collection on the first floor holds documents and archives that record the history of Camden and its communities. Visitors can explore the neighborhood's past through original records and materials that reveal how the area has changed over time.

Access to the building is level at the entrance and collections are spread across multiple floors, so an elevator is available for moving between levels. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter periods, which makes it easier to explore the different reading areas and collections.

The entrance displays a royal coat of arms commemorating the Queen's opening in 1960, a detail that many visitors pass by without noticing. This small marker represents an important chapter in how London rebuilt its public institutions after the war.

Location: London Borough of Camden

Inception: 1960

Elevation above the sea: 22.9 m

Address: Holborn Library, 32 Theobolds Road, London, WC1X 8PA

Email: libraries@camden.gov.uk

Website: https://camden.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/libraries-and-online-learning-centres/holborn-library

GPS coordinates: 51.52100,-0.11550

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:47