Historic libraries · London
Swiss Cottage Library
In or near Tyburn.
Swiss Cottage Library — a Grade II*-listed library in england-london, United Kingdom.
Oxyman — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 45 min–1.5 h
- Nearest railway station
- Swiss Cottage · 0.2 km
- Paid entry
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Swiss Cottage Library, the nearest railway station is Swiss Cottage, located 0.2 km away. Entry is paid, and wheelchair access is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is NW3 3EU.
About
Swiss Cottage Library is a Grade II*-listed building in england-london, United Kingdom. Grade II* status is conferred by Historic England (or Cadw, Historic Environment Scotland or NIEA equivalents) on buildings of exceptional national interest. See the linked Wikipedia article for full historical and architectural details.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2026
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the official site
Swiss Cottage Library is a public library offering a range of services and resources for the community. Visitors can access books, digital media, and various programs aimed at promoting literacy and learning.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Swiss Cottage Library is a public library in the London Borough of Camden housed in an architectural landmark building on Avenue Road. Designed by Sir Basil Spence of Spence, Bonnington & Collins, it was built between 1963 and 1964. It replaced the former Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead's main library, Finchley Road Library, which had suffered damage during the Blitz and lacked sufficient capacity. The new library was originally part of a larger civic project designed to regenerate the wider Swiss Cottage area, but following reorganisations in local government only it and the adjoining swimming baths were built. The building shows a more open, fluid architectural style compared to other contemporary libraries, with distinct fins revolving around the exterior. Opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 10 November 1964, the library has been Grade II listed since 1997, and was refurbished in the early 2000s as part of the Swiss Cottage Centre redevelopment.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead's first library, Kilburn Library, opened in 1894 and was soon succeeded by Finchley Road Library in 1897. Then known as Hampstead Central Library, this became Camden Arts Centre in 1965. By the 1950s, the Central Library was in need of expansion, having served the same role since establishment. Soon after a refurbishment, it suffered severe damage during the Blitz in World War II, leaving it with only half the required capacity. The borough desperately needed more space for books, and incorporated a new library into its plans for a new civic centre to house its headquarters and other services. With additional damage and destruction to other libraries,…
Architecture
Entry is via a semi-circular foyer with the main staircase in front on entrance; originally lending and return counters were positioned on either side, though these were moved to their respective libraries following the refurbishment. additionally there are study areas, a periodicals room and formerly the borough's local history department, now relocated to Holborn Library. Furniture was specially designed by Spence for the library, though most was controversially removed in the refurbishment and replaced with furnishings of a similar style. Whilst the RIBA Journal defended the new furniture, calling it "pretty good" for local authority standards, Spence's "floating" bookshelves…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.5424, -0.1734
- District
- Camden
- Parish
- Camden, unparished area
- Postcode
- NW3 3EU
- Parliamentary constituency
- Hampstead and Highgate
- Phone
- +44 20 7722 9301
- Established
- 1964
- Nearest railway station
- Swiss Cottage — 0.2 km
- Official site
- www.hampsteadtheatre.com
Sources
- wikidata: Q7658861 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Swiss Cottage Library (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Swiss Cottage Library?
- Swiss Cottage Library is in London, United Kingdom (postcode NW3 3EU), in the parish of Camden, unparished area.
- What is Swiss Cottage Library?
- Swiss Cottage Library — a Grade II*-listed library in england-london, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Swiss Cottage Library?
- The nearest railway station is Swiss Cottage, about 0.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode NW3 3EU.
- When was Swiss Cottage Library built?
- Built or established in 1964. Designed by Basil Spence.
- Who owns Swiss Cottage Library?
- Swiss Cottage Library is owned by London Borough of Camden.
- Is Swiss Cottage Library a listed building?
- Swiss Cottage Library is officially recognised as Grade II* listed.
- How do I get to Swiss Cottage Library?
- The nearest railway station is Swiss Cottage, about 0.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode NW3 3EU.