Visiting & using our collections

The Library will re-open on Thursday 3rd December

Following the lifting of lockdown, we are pleased to announced the Library will re-open on Thursday 3rd December. We will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 1pm and from 2pm to 4pm.

Advanced booking is essential as we have a reduced staff on-site and reading spaces are limited. To book a visit, please email [email protected], specifying the material you wish to consult and your preferred date and arrival time. The last opening date for 2020 will be Tuesday 22nd December.

Please note you will be asked to complete a declaration form confirming you are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms at the time of your visit, and that you agree to abide by the new regulations in place at Burlington House for the safety of all visitors and staff.

For information about requesting images and image licences, please see the page on our website for Images & Photocopying.   

How you can visit

We are always delighted to welcome new researchers to the Library & Museum to consult materials that are not available elsewhere, and to help them navigate our archives and collections.

Please tell us about your research, what you wish to see and when you would like to visit. You can search the majority of our collections online, using our catalogues.

For further information, please see our Guidelines for Researchers [PDF].

When you can visit

The Library will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm, from Thursday 3rd December. Our last opening day of 2020 will be Tuesday 22nd December. Please email [email protected] to arrange a visit.

Museum bookings are by prior appointment only. Please direct any museum enquiries to [email protected]

How we can help

Engraving by Samuel Lysons and Robert Smirke 1797 of The Orpheus Mosaic at Woodchester

You can contact the Museum ([email protected]) for enquiries about:

• Museum objects
• Paintings

You can contact the Library ([email protected]) for enquiries about:

• Printed materials
• Archives
• Manuscripts
• Prints and drawings

Information on requesting photocopies or scans is available here

You can usually take photographs during your visit (without flash) for private study or reference purposes only, but please ask permission first! The Society can provide high-quality photographs for publication purposes for a fee. You can find more information about requesting images here.