Celebrating 180 years of The London Library - Andrew Lycett

The London Library is an oasis of intelligence and light that makes visiting the howling West End tolerable and worthwhile. I love the way that I bump into people there who I’d otherwise not see. You can’t speak long, so there’s no danger of conversations becoming boring. Such encounters are a fillip to any day (and much missed during lockdown).

The fabric of the place adds to the experience. This exudes a delightful atmosphere of freedom, satisfaction and calm, which is enhanced by the graciousness of the staff. Remarkably, I’ve never witnessed any form of altercation anywhere in the building. This is linked to the way that members are treated like adults. It starts with being able to rummage in the Stacks and find books you might never have thought of. It extends to being trusted to check out anything you want to borrow (and not just slip it into your bag). And it is reflected in the policy of being allowed to keep volumes out, at least until someone else requests them.

That last benefit is particularly valuable for a biographer. I can pore over a book in my own time, and in my own environment. If I’m working on someone’s life, I can retain diaries or related reminiscences by my side and refer to them when required.

The author, critic and broadcaster is best known for his biographies of Ian Fleming, Rudyard Kipling and Wilkie Collins among others