Visited by more than 20 million annually, London has always been well-regarded as a world-class destination boasting enviable attractions. From the British Museum to the Tower of London, these familiar sites have drawn tourists from across the globe, hoping to capture a glimpse of the city that defined history for centuries. However, there is one London monument that stands out from the rest… the British Library.

With over 170 million books on file, the British Library is a quiet bibliophile’s oasis in the heart of the bustling capital. Each with their own unique tale to tell, one of the world’s largest libraries has everything possible to transport you to worlds and times unknown.

Within a small corner of the library, however, there is a truly special exhibit welcoming visitors free of charge. Set in a darkened, temperature-controlled room, the British Library’s treasures gallery offers those lucky enough to grace its hallowed halls the chance to marvel at the library’s rarest and most influential literary works.

Albeit a small exhibit, what the treasures gallery lacks in size it more than makes up for with the quality of works on display. On entering, visitors are greeted by world-famous works from the disciplines of literature, music and science. Here, Shakespeare’s First Folio and da Vinci’s notes stand side by side with the excellence of Elgar and Vaughan Williams’ musical lyricism.

Venture further in, and the gallery presents snapshots from the people’s history. Early breakthroughs in emancipation, as seen through the Magna Carta and documents from the Peasants’ Revolt, make way for the birth of a nation in the Declaration of Independence.

At the time of writing, the gallery has bolstered this part of the exhibit with a special display focusing on the worries and troubles of life during the reign of the Tudor monarchs. Featuring a series of correspondences, it creates a clearer picture of the era’s governance and the population’s views of its often-crumbling stability.

The final treasures shown in the gallery focus on religion, modern science and popular culture. A testament to the all-encompassing creativity of humanity, colourful scriptures take pride of place alongside developments in AI and paraphernalia from the Beatles, Monty Python and Harry Potter, ultimately showing how varied the collection is.

Away from the never-ending crowds found throughout the UK capital, the British Library is a gem even in a sea of diamonds. From Shakespeare to ancient Qur’ans and even scripts from Monty Python, its small yet excellently curated collection rivals any throughout the city and provides a fascinating insight into world history.