The British Library holds 14 million books, 920,000 journal and newspaper titles, 58 million patents, and 3 million sound recordings. It is the national library of the UK but its exhibitions are one of the major attractions of King's Cross and are open to the public.
The modern building that houses the Library is a purpose-built edifice just nex door to St. Pancras station. A large courtyard offers opportunities for outdoor refreshments. Visitors exploring London's cultural quarter might not have readers tickets to read the millions of books but the great attraction here for visitors is the programme of temporary exhibitions, both major and smaller, that the BL hosts. There is always something to see at the BL and you don't need to be a researcher to drop in. Some of the exhibitions are free of charge.