Visiting the Library & Archives

The Science Museum Library & Archives is now configured over two sites, at Wroughton near Swindon and at South Kensington in London.  Private and academic researchers including members of Imperial College London are welcome to use the Science Museum Library in London and Wroughton without charge to carry out private research in the collections.

Please note access to the public is for reference only, i.e. items from the library and archive collections may not be borrowed, and that an appointment is essential for access to the Wroughton library.

SML at Wroughton
The Science Museum Library & Archives at Wroughton is located at the Hackpen end of the Science Museum's airfield site at Wroughton near Swindon in Wiltshire. Access is via Red Barn Gate on the A4361 Devizes Road.

Visitors coming by rail to Swindon are advised to take a taxi to the Gate and onwards to Library, fare approximately £15 to £20 each way.  Alternatively there is the Stagecoach no. 49 bus service which operates from Swindon bus station, and goes through Wroughton and past Red Barn Gate on its way to Devizes. Journey time is approximately 17 minutes from Swindon to the Gate, however it may not be possible to provide transport across the airfield to the Library.  Visitors should contact the Library & Archives in advance to make an appointment, and bring personal identification with them.  All visitors must check in with Site Security at the Gate House: please note that Security procedure currently requires a photographic pass to be created and held on the system. 

Current Opening Hours at Wroughton:
Monday to Friday, 10.00 to 17.00

Closed: Sundays, Bank Holiday weekends and whenever the airfield site is closed.

Please note there are no lunch facilities on site but an area has been set aside where visitors may eat a packed lunch.

SML London
The Science Museum Library, London, is housed on Level 3 of the Imperial College London Central Library which is situated on the Imperial College London campus in South Kensington, London SW7, just around the corner from the Science Museum.

Nearest Underground stations: South Kensington or Gloucester Road, on the Piccadilly, District and Circle Lines.
Buses: 9, 10, 14, 345, 49, 52, 70, 74, C1

For a single visit, you need only show personal identification and sign the Visitors' Book at the Welcome Desk, and staff will issue you with a Day Ticket. If you intend to visit more often, you must apply for a Library Admission Card.

Current Opening Hours at London: 
 
Science Museum Library London is now open evenings and Saturdays:
Monday to Friday: 09.30 to 20.30
Saturday: 10.00 to 18.00
 
Closed: Sundays, Bank Holiday weekends and whenever Imperial College Central Library is closed.
 
STS Desk (SML enquiries) staffed Monday to Friday 10.00 to 17.00

There is a cafe just outside the Library but within the Central Library building, alternatively visitors may wish to walk round the corner and make use of the range of visitor facilities in the Science Museum itself.

Imperial College London and the Science Museum reserve the right to refuse admission to their Libraries, and to close the Libraries at any time if circumstances make it unavoidable. Whenever possible, we will display notices and publish a warning on the web sites to give advance warning.