London Sights
- Overview
- Itineraries
- Places to Explore
- Sights
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Entertainment
- Shopping
- Travel Tips
- Features
- Fodor's Choice
- Deals
- Guidebooks
Guidebooks
St. James's Square
St. James's Square Review
One of London's oldest and leafiest squares was also the most snobbish address of all when it was laid out around 1670, with 14 resident dukes and earls installed by 1720. Since 1841, No. 14—one of the several 18th-century residences spared by World War II bombs—has housed the London Library, founded by Thomas Carlyle. With its million or so volumes, this is the world's largest independent lending library and is also considered the best private humanities library in the land. The workplace of literary luminaries from T.S. Eliot to Bruce Chatwin, Kingsley Amis, Winston Churchill, John Betjeman, and Charles Dickens, the library invites you to read famous authors' complaints in the comments book—but you'll need a £15 day or £50 week membership to peruse the collection (bring ID and proof of address), although these have to be booked in advance. Other notable institutions around the square include the East India Club at No. 16, the Naval and Military Club (known as the "In and Out" after the signage on its gateposts) at No. 4, as well as Chatham House, a think-tank on international affairs. A small epitaph to WPC Yvonne Fletcher—shot by a Libyan gunman—can be found on the sidewalk around the square.
- Address: St. James's, London, SW1Y 4LE | Map It
- Hours: Mon.-Wed. 9:30-9, Thurs.-Sat. 9:30-5:30, closed Sun.
- Website: www.londonlibrary.co.uk
- Tube: Piccadilly Circus.
- Location: St. James's and Mayfair
Contact Information
Travel Deals in London
- Europe & Iceland from Seattle (R/T, incl. Tax) Icelandair
- England Experience IExplore
- 5-Night Mediterranean Cruise w/Free Hotel Stay Priceline.com
- Europe & Iceland from NYC (R/T, incl. Tax) — $595-$915 Icelandair
· Forums Trip Reports
-
If you are looking for a place to quench your thirst and experience a true local Irish pub while in Belfast then a visit to The Glory Hole Bar may be a treat for you.
Located in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, Read more -
The howling wind makes for great scenery and white capped crashing waves as I begin my early morning drive from Port Stuart to Belfast along The Coastal Causeway Route.
With stops at Dunluce Castle, The Read more
·United Kingdom Forum
-
I will have a 10 hr layover, passing through London on my way home from Nairobi to California...Can I leave the airport? (I will have checked all my bags through to San Diego) My credit card travel service Read more
· Travel Blog
-
Practical Travel Tips
With London revving up to host the 2012 Olympic Games, following closely on the heels of the Queen's Diamond Read more
-
Travel Tip of the Day
Find out how to get the best deals on diamonds in London... Read more
-
Practical Travel Tips
London is one of our top 21 places to go in 2012—and with the opening of the Belgraves London earlie Read more