Services
Access world class Shakespeare collections free of charge in our Library and Archive Reading Room.
The Library and Archive Reading Room
Whether you are studying Shakespeare, interested in performance history or researching your family history, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust provides a Reading Room which is open to everyone and free of charge.
Every year we welcome readers and groups from all over the world who access books, maps, archival documents, newspapers, performance photographs, videos of Shakespeare productions and much more.
Our normal opening hours are:
Wednesday to Friday: 10.00am – 4.30pm
Saturday: 9.30am – 12.30pm
Sunday to Tuesday: Closed
Please contact us on 01789 204016 or e-mail scla@shakespeare.org.uk to pre-order items, to book a video-viewing space, or to discuss any special requirements you may have and we will do our best to facilitate your visit. Advance booking is advisable.
It is sometimes possible to arrange access to the collections outside normal opening hours, with plenty of notice. Please read our terms and conditions of access.
Easter and Shakespeare’s Birthday Weekend
We will be closed on Good Friday (March 29th) and Easter Saturday (March 30th). We will re-open as normal after Easter on Wednesday 3rd April. The Reading Room will also be closed on Saturday 20th April for Shakespeare’s Birthday Weekend due to events in the town. Check our main website for more information on how we will be celebrating.
This year we will be providing a Reading Room service on other Saturdays preceding Bank Holidays.
Additional Services
We provide a range ofcopying and image services and resources for schools
Follow Our Blog
'Tales from the Reading Room' keeps you up to date with what our Reading Room staff and visitors have been up to. It is part of the wider Collections blog,Finding Shakespeare.