Walworth Library & Southwark Heritage Centre: all you need to know

They’re two of the local area’s most valuable spaces: Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library. Somewhere that the local community can escape to and use to explore the heritage of the area.

Within the library and heritage centre you’ll find thousands of books, with historical artefacts dotted and displayed in amongst the shelves. It’s truly a place to explore and learn more about, not just the local area, but also the people and places of London.

At the library in Southwark, you can:

- borrow books

- use a public PC

- take home a mystery book bag

- use the study spaces

- hire a meeting room

- attend an event

- use the e-library service from home, to rent e-books

- visit the Faraday Room: a digitally silent space

- explore the Southwark Heritage Centre’s collections

There’s a lift access to the library and all computers offer access to Dolphin Supernova Software for audio assistance and screen magnification if required.

The Story of Southwark Exhibitions gallery is now on display within the heritage centre. It features a catalogue of artefacts from across council collections and focuses on the people and places of the local area.

The World Wall features artefacts from further afield, and is also on display within the Heritage Centre.

Much of the Southwark Archives are also displayed online to view at your leisure.

Walworth Library and Southwark Heritage Centre is located at 145–147 Walworth Road, only 3 minutes from Elephant Park, and a 5 minute walk from Elephant & Castle train and tube station. Some services are on hold due to covid, so if you’re visiting a specific exhibition or want to hire a particular room, please get in touch with the library beforehand.

The opening times are as follows:

Monday 10am to 8pm

Tuesday 10am to 8pm

Wednesday 10am to 8pm

Thursday 10am to 8pm

Friday 10am to 8pm

Saturday 10am to 5pm

Sunday closed