Visiting the Library & Archives

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

The new library & archives at the Swindon site is now open and will be offering a full range of services by the end of the month.

Please note access to the public is for Reference Only.

SML Swindon
The Science Museum Library & Archives, Swindon, is located at the Hackpen end of  the Science Museum's airfield site at Wroughton on the edge of 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 Library, fare approximately £10 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 and a Day Rider ticket costs £2.70.

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 Swindon:
Monday to Friday, 10.00 to 17.00

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 Reception Desk, and the attendant 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:
Monday to Friday, 10.00 to 17.00

There are no lunch facilities within the Library but 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.