Visitors and tourists

The Wren Library has been open to visitors since 1695 and so for centuries people have come to admire the beauty of Sir Christopher Wren’s architecture and our wonderful collections. In addition to manuscripts and printed books, the Wren houses sculptures, portraits, wood carvings and a stunning enamel-painted window, all of which can be enjoyed by visitors. It is, however, very much a working library at the heart of the College community, and so you will see members of staff and researchers accessing materials at the shelves, sitting in the bays and moving around the space more generally. In May and June, we also host students revising for their exams, and therefore we ask visitors to be mindful and respectful of those using the Library for work purposes.

You can read more about the History of the Wren Library in a series of posts from our blog, Treasures from the Collection.