RIBA Headquarters

Royal Institute of British Architects
66 Portland Place
London
W1B 1AD
 
The building is open to the public.

Library opening times:

Monday: closed
Tuesday: 10am-8pm Except 4 and 11 August 2009 when the Library will close at 5pm
Wednesday - Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-1.30pm Except during August 2009
Sunday: closed 

 

Holiday closures

English Bank Holidays and August 2009 closure (revised dates)

The library is closed on Sundays and English public holidays. In addition it is normally closed on the Saturday before bank holidays and from noon on the last weekday before Christmas until after the New Year bank holiday. The reading rooms are normally closed for part of August, but the telephone, email, fax and postal enquiry services remain available.

In 2009 the Reading Room at Portland Place will close to personal visitors at 5pm on Friday 14 August and re-open on Tuesday 8 September at 10am. Please note the Reading Room will NOT be open on Saturdays or late on Tuesday evenings during August. The RIBA Study Room at the V&A will close at 5pm on Saturday 15 August and re-open at 10am on Tuesday 1 September. Please note the difference in closure dates between the two sites. The Photographs Collection at Portland Place will be closed to personal visitors but continue to answer enquires received by email and telephone and to handle orders for images.

  

Admissions

The library at Portland Place is open to RIBA members and the public for reference purposes. 
 
RIBA members should bring their RIBA membership card. Access is free to non-RIBA members on production of proof of identity, which must contain a photograph, e.g. passport, driving licence, student university ID card. Please note only RIBA members may borrow books.
 
Access to the RIBA Collections at the V&A is free to both members and the public.

Appointments

It is essential to make an appointment to see material in the Photographs Collection|. This collection remains at the RIBA in Portland Place.

Drawings and Archives Collections

As part of the V&A + RIBA Architecture Partnership|, the Drawings Collection| and Archives Collection| have moved to their new home at the Victoria and Albert Museum|. The collections are now available in the new RIBA Architecture Study Rooms| at the V&A. For enquiries and availability please telephone +44 (0) 20 7307 3708 or fax +44 (0) 20 7589 3175.
 
The RIBA Architecture Study Rooms are open by appointment, please telephone +44 (0) 20 7307 3708 to make an appointment.
Monday: closed
Tuesday - Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-1pm; 2-5pm
Sunday: closed 

We currently operate set collection times for material; they are 10.15am, 11.45am, 2pm and 3.15pm. The latest time requests can be made for material to be collected from the store each day is 4pm.

 

RIBA British Architectural Library Drawings and Archives Collection

Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
London
SW7 2RL
UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7307 3708
Fax: +44 (0)20 7589 3175

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7580 5533
Fax: +44 (0)20 7255 1541

Public Information Line - Mon-Fri: 10am - 5pm (local time)

Tel: +44 (0)906 302 0400
Information line calls charged at 50p per minute in the UK. These lines cannot be accessed from outside the UK.

Members Information Line - Mon-Fri: 9.30am - 5pm (local time) 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7307 3600
RIBA members only - please give your membership number. 

Library information (general enquiries)  

Tel: +44 (0)20 7307 3882  Mon-Fri: 10am - 5pm
Tel: +44 (0)20 7307 3672  Saturdays: 10am - 1.30pm

Admin, holdings, loans, photocopying, photographs 

Email address:

info@inst.riba.org|