The British Museum Reading Room, a once-grand public reading space in the heart of the museum, has finally reopened its doors to visitors after 11 years of closure. Steeped in history, the Reading Room, designed by Sydney Smirke and opened in 1857, was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. It even served as the main reading room for the British Library at one point. Famous literary figures like Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Oscar Wilde are just a few names that graced the Reading Room with their presence.
The Reading Room underwent several changes throughout the years. In 1997, the books were relocated to a new building at St Pancras, and the Reading Room itself received a restoration before reopening to the public in 2000. From 2007 to 2017, the Reading Room transitioned into a space for temporary exhibitions. However, with the opening of the World Conservation and Exhibition Centre in 2014, the need for the Reading Room as an exhibition space diminished.
In 2022, recognizing the significance of the Reading Room, British Museum Chairman George Osborne committed to reopening it to the public. The initial step involved introducing 20-minute guided tours in 2023. As of July 2024, the Reading Room is no longer restricted to tours or tickets, allowing visitors to explore this architectural marvel at their own pace. Beyond its historical significance, the Reading Room is also considered an architectural marvel in London. The use of cast iron, concrete, glass, and innovative heating and ventilation systems for the mid-19th century made it a technological masterpiece.
