The Lit and Phil Library, Newcastle – Visit A Stunning Secret Library (2026)!

Did you know that there is a secret library that you can visit in Newcastle? It’s called The Lit and Phil Library and it’s a dream for reading lovers. 

It’s been open since 1825 and has over 160,000 volumes in its collection.

Nowadays, it’s free and open to all and you must go as it’s a bookish paradise set in a fairytale historic building.  

Although it’s a stone’s throw away from Newcastle Train Station, it’s often called a secret library as it’s quite hidden away and even locals don’t know about it.

As soon as I saw it featured in Vera a few years ago I added this book trove to my literary bucket list.

I was so happy to finally visit on a recent girl’s trip with Tilly from Travel Junkie Girl. 

Here is a complete guide for The Lit and Phil Library in Newcastle upon Tyne and all the reasons why you must visit! 

The Literary and Philosophical Society

The name ‘Lit and Phil’ stems from the Literary and Philosophical Society that was originally founded in 1793.

It was established to discuss matters of the day and the members used to gather for lectures, hold discussions and run scientific experiments. 

The founding members were inventors, philosophers and visionaries who were leaders in progress during the Industrial Revolution.

The first President of the society was John Widderington in 1793 and it is still led by a President today.

The current President is the English actor and presenter, Alexander Armstrong. You may recognise him from BBC’s Pointless! 

Before the library was opened, the society would gather at various locations around the city until they created a permanent home. 

The Lit and Phil Library 

Eventually, their society book collection grew and so they moved over 8,000 volumes to its current location on Westgate Road in 1825. 

Back then, all of the books were scientific in nature in line with the founding member’s interests but the collection has diversified over time. 

The gorgeous building was designed by John Green and it has remained in this location ever since.

It still has many of its original features like the domed skylights and stunning iron-work used to create second-floor galleries. 

Over the years, the library has invited many famous guests to its Neoclassical home including famous figures such as Oscar Wilde, E.M. Forster and Gertrude Bell. 

Today, The Lit & Phil is the largest independent library in the United Kingdom outside of London with over 160,000 books and it grows every year.

The library is primarily funded by its membership and is also a registered charity that relies on donations.

It’s a sanctuary for book lovers and is filled with all sorts of magical and interesting things that will amaze you. 

Can you visit the Lit & Phil Library in Newcastle? 

Yes, the great thing about The Lit & Phil is that this historic library is open to all and they welcome anyone who would like to take a look inside. 

It’s set in a fabulous historic building which is perfect for lovers of architecture and they have thousands of books to browse which is a dream for those who like to read.

You do have to be a member to borrow books from the library but, if you are just visiting the city, it’s also worth visiting as the entire building is a bibliophile’s haven. 

They welcome people of all ages who have curious minds and are open to exploring! 

Things to do in the library

The Lit & Phil is open to all in and it’s well worth checking out during a visit to Newcastle. 

There are plenty of things that you can do inside like admiring the architecture, browsing their vast book collection, listening to music, checking out their curiosities, attending events or taking a guided tour! 

Here are all the amazing things that you can do on a visit. 

1. Admire the historic building 

As soon as you walk inside The Lit & Phil you will be blown away by the ornate architecture. It’s set in a marvellous Grade II listed building.

The grand entrance hall and staircase give an amazing first impression and make you excited for what’s to come!

When you enter the library halls, you will be astounded by the design with its large concave ceiling, natural skylights and shelves upon shelves of books!

It was designed in a Neoclassical style and almost looks like a manor house, so you can expect lots of busts, portraits and curiosities dotted around (more on that later). 

The building is constructed in an ‘L’ shape with the main library hall as you enter and the Sir James Knott Room attached.

2. The Lit & Phil book collection

When the library first opened, the society had amassed around 8,000 books which was impressive for the era.

Nowadays, the library has over 160,000 books, maps, and CDs for its members and the public to browse.

You can only borrow the books if you’re a member but they are a free reference library and they have plenty of desks to work and study from.

Why not pick out a book and take a seat on their comfy sofas? They even have a counter where you can get a brew! 

3. The Member’s area 

If you’re a member, you can get exclusive access to their mezzanine floor with plenty more precious volumes. 

There’s even a quiet study space which has a long table for discussions. It’s perfect if you prefer solitude. 

The library was very kind to let us take some photos from the upper floor of the library and it does give you the best views!

From here, you can truly admire the architecture and see the bookshelves beautifully lit from their skylight windows. 

I loved climbing up and down their gorgeous spiral steel staircase. The entire place felt like a fairytale!

If you want to gain access to this area all the time, why not consider becoming a member of the library?

4. Curiosities between the bookshelves 

As well as admiring all the volumes that The Lit & Phil have on the shelves, you can also find some curios dotted about.

The first thing that caught my eye was the dog taxidermy that will be watching you from the shelves. 

She’s called Cybil (who was a real dog once upon a time) and was brought to the library during their Great Exhibition of the North. 

They also have some stuffed toys to find and all of them have interesting stories to tell.

I saw a duck-billed platypus on my visit and, according to one of the members we chatted to, the society was one of the first cities to receive a platypus and a wombat from New South Wales in Australia and people didn’t believe the animals were real! 

Some sketches have been blown up from their collections which you can see on the walls like an Ancient Egyptian Mummy and a creepy skeleton.

There is even a stuffed baboon which is not real but very sweet. 

5. Why not take a ‘Behind the Books’ Guided tour?

If you are interested, you can take a guided tour of the Lit and Phil called ‘Behind the Books’ and you’ll be shown around the library by one of their award-winning guides.

It’s completely free to book and work on a ‘pay what you wish system’ so remember to bring some money as a tip. 

6. Literary & Musical Events

One of the great things about The Lit & Phil is that they have a calendar packed full of amazing literary events throughout the year so there’s always a reason to go back!

There are all sorts of workshops like art classes and creative writing courses.

You can also attend university talks and book discussions. Make sure to book early as these events do tend to sell out. 

They also have live music concerts, book launches and spooky ghost tours at Halloween. There is even a book festival that take place!

Tilly and I were quite sad to miss the ‘Books on the Tyne’ festival in November.

It looked so good as there were plenty of discussions, performances and book readings.

How to visit The Lit and Phil Library in Newcastle

The Lit and Phil is located in the heart of Newcastle, just a few metres away from Newcastle Castle, Newcastle Cathedral and Newcastle Central Train Station. 

You can find it in a gorgeous building on Westgate Road and you’ll see the welcome signs for the Literary and Philosophical Society before you head inside. 

Although it can be quite a challenge to navigate some of the hills of Newcastle if you’re approaching from the Tyne River, it’s a relatively easy city to walk around otherwise.

It’s best to approach the library on foot as it’s close to most of the main attractions, Gray Street and Grainger Town. 

But, the city also has a wide range of public transport to use if you’re visiting from the outskirts or beyond.

The closest train and bus stops would be the Central Train Station as it’s right next door. 

Opening times & entry prices 

The Lit and Phil Library is open from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 am but has different closure times throughout the week.

On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, they close at 7 pm, on Tuesday they close at 8 pm, on Fridays at 5 pm and on Saturdays at 1 pm. 

The library is completely FREE to visit and open to all so make sure to pop along if you have time on your Newcastle itinerary. 

Donations are always appreciated though as they are a registered charity and your donation helps to keep the library independent.

They have some great souvenirs to purchase near the front of the library at their reception desk.

My top tips for visiting the library 

• Get here early – if you wanted a quieter visit, I would get here around opening time as the library is quite popular.

• Grab a brew – the library has a café counter where you can purchase tea or coffee. You can relax on one of their comfy seats with your drink. 

• Leave lots of time – you could spend ages in here checking out their volume collections and curiosities.

• Check out their events – they often have classes, literary events, talks and festivals in the library.

Is The Lit and Phil Library worth visiting?

Yes, if you’re ever in Newcastle, you must visit this incredible secret library! It’s perfect for those who love architecture, reading or music.  

Stepping inside allows you to escape the world for a few hours to a labyrinth of books, magic and curios. It’s a literary sanctuary.

It was very busy on our visit and it’s easy to see why. It’s a fabulous local resrouce and I wish I had something like this in my hometown.

I honestly would be here all the time to work in these gorgeous environs and escape into a world of the written word!

The staff are always on hand to help you or tell you about the amazing place they work in and there is so much to see and do.

Don’t skip the Lit and Phil Library. It’s one of the most magical libraries in all of the UK and you won’t regret your visit!

Are you looking for more things to do in Newcastle upon Tyne? 

After your visit to The Lit and Phil, there are plenty of amazing historical attractions to visit in Newcastle.

I loved my visit to the Black Gate and Newcastle Castle (yes, there is a castle in Newcastle!). 

It’s the structure that gave the city its name and you can climb to their rooftop to see panoramic views or head down to their well-preserved dungeons.

The historic Newcastle Cathedral is also worth stopping by as the interiors are spectacular.

You can visit their stunning Quire to see the ornate wooden carvings painted.

Just outside, you can see the Vampire Rabbit with its demonic red eyes!

I absolutely loved him and wished there was a shop that sold some souvenirs. He’s so adorable and I wanted to take him home with me.

No visit to Newcastle would be complete without a visit to the bridges that span the mighty Tyne River.

The Tyne Bridge and High Level Bridge were my favourites for amazing views. 

They are lovely during the day but at night time they really come alive as they are lit up in all different colours!

If you head along Gray Street, you can visit Grainger Town with its market hall and historic buildings.

Make sure to stop by the Central Arcade for some independent shopping. It also makes a great photo opportunity. 

There are also some interesting art galleries to visit like The Baltic with its contemporary exhibitions and a panoramic viewing terrace.

The Laing Art Gallery was definitely my favourite as I love Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood paintings!

You could find William Holman-Hunt’s Isabella and the Pot of Basil andLaus Veneris (In Praise of Venus) by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones to name a few.

You’re also in the perfect place for some day trips around Northumberland.

You can visit Beamish Living Museum wander around the impressive Prudhoe Castle if you want to take in some local history.

One of the best things to do would be a road trip along the historic Hadrian’s Wall! 

It’s a long wall built by the Romans in 122 AD to mark the Roman Empire’s lands and protect it from invasions by the Celtic people.

You can visit Roman Fort ruins like Housesteads, Birdoswald and Chesters and explore the remains of Corbridge Roman Town. 

There are also some fabulous scenic walks like the Sycamore Gap trail, Walltown Crags or the Temple of Mithras!

Places to eat near The Lit and Phil

The Lit & Phil is right in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne and there are some fabulous places to eat and drink nearby.

On our first day, we visited Newcastle Cathedral which has the wonderful Café 16 inside.

This had a lovely tea room with homemade cakes and hot drinks. 

I particularly loved their painted ceiling which looked like you were dining in a medieval palace!

If you’re looking for a more hearty lunch, you should pop along to The Old George Inn which is the oldest pub in Newcastle.

They have a menu of affordable pub classics plus pizzas and tapas to wash down with a pint.

During the Civil War, King Charles I visited this inn many times so they have lots of portraits of him around the place and even the old chair he used to sit on.

If you were looking for cocktails, why not go next door to visit The Vampire Rabbit?

They have an amazing range of artisan drinks served in all sorts of fun glasses like skulls and flamingos! 

The French Quarter is also close by which serves up incredible French Cuisine. Just make sure to pre-book a table as it’s very popular. 

Where to stay in Newcastle

On our visit to Newcastle, we rented a fabulous apartment next to the Tyne River which had sweeping overs over the water and Millennium Bridge.

I couldn’t believe the panoramic views we got from the apartment and I could have honestly spent an age admiring the vista we got from here. 

It was a modern, two-storey property which had two double rooms, two bathrooms, a well-stocked kitchen and a lounge.

The mattresses were a little firm (for my taste) but I would happily stay here again as it’s in an ideal location! 

It’s just a short walk to the centre and you’re right on the edge of the creative district of Ouseburn with amazing restaurants like Kiln Café. 

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Save The Lit and Phil Library in Newcastle for later!