Top Ten School Libraries

Here are our top ten school library recommendations - all of these libraries highlight the diverse ways in which schools can foster a love for reading, encourage academic exploration, and create inspiring environments for students. Happy Reading!

Bedales School
The Memorial Library, built in 1921, combines arts and crafts architecture with over 26,000 books and periodicals. It’s known for its open, unsupervised access to older students, reflecting the school’s trust in its pupils.

Wellington College
The Mallinson Library, redeveloped in 2012, blends history with modernity, featuring hi-tech learning spaces, small glass pods, study rooms, and a sunlit conservatory with outdoor beanbags.

Hitchin Boys’ School
Praised for its vibrant librarian and student-led initiatives, the library features creative programs like “banned books bingo” and offers dyslexia-friendly texts and e-books. The library also includes a stained-glass window, adding charm to its educational setting.

Cheltenham College
The Chatfeild-Roberts Library is renowned for its historic yet welcoming atmosphere, with oak tables, chess sets, and cozy seating. It offers book clubs, author visits, and academic support.

Stephen Perse Junior School Dame Bradbury’s
This enchanting library is set beneath a model tree with hidden bookshelves inside its trunk. The library promotes good reading habits with author visits and access to e-books and audiobooks.

Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst has three libraries, with one boasting a modern and bright design, while the others are ancient, housing historical treasures like a First Folio of Shakespeare. Students hold seminars in these spaces, setting a tone for high achievement.

Godolphin & Latymer
A recently redeveloped, two-storey library with open-plan spaces, bean bags, and trendy furniture, it provides a cozy and stylish reading environment, along with a wide range of magazine subscriptions.

The London Oratory
Situated in a bright central atrium, this library features glass pods for small group work and a rich intellectual collection, with many books considered university-level.

King’s Hawford School
This prep school’s library is housed in a converted double-decker bus, creating a fun and accessible space for reading. It features over 2,500 books and multiple cozy reading nooks.

St Mary’s Calne
Opened in 2020, this two-storey library is designed like an orangery, with tree-like columns and a floating roof. It offers interactive spaces, project rooms, breakout rooms, and an outdoor terrace for a dynamic learning experience.