Worth a Journey

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The World’s 100 Best Libraries

John Rylands Library

Manchester, United Kingdom

  1. THE WORLD’S BEST LIBRARIES WORTH A JOURNEY · 2026 ✦ ✦ N° 29 2026
John Rylands Library

Neo-Gothic library in central Manchester, designed by Basil Champneys and built around 1900. Inside, vaulted stone ceilings, stained glass and shelves of old books surround the Historic Reading Room and exhibition cases.

Highlights

  • Historic Reading Room
  • Stained glass windows
  • Exhibition display cases

Good to know

  • Free entry
  • Queues at busy times
  • No photos on the grand staircase

Also in the United Kingdom

  1. Library of Birmingham N° 33 Library of Birmingham Birmingham Public library
  2. Liverpool Central Library N° 41 Liverpool Central Library Liverpool Public library
  3. Bodleian Library N° 56 Bodleian Library Oxford University library