RHS libraries are open to everyone
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Libraries are open to all, with free access to our collections of modern gardening books and journals.
RHS members may borrow books and anyone can register to use our research collections. The Society’s art collections, held in the Lindley Library London, may be consulted by appointment. Tours of our London and Wisley libraries are available upon request.
Borrowing books
RHS Members may borrow up to five books at a time from our libraries at London, Wisley and Harlow Carr. Books are issued for one month and may be renewed by telephone. We have a postal loan system for members who do not live near to our libraries.
Research Collections
A wide variety of research material is available for consultation and study, in London and at Wisley.
You will need to register the first time you use the research collections. RHS members will need to bring their RHS membership card; non-members will need to bring two forms of identification (51kB pdf).
Access to our research collections is by appointment only.
London research collections
If you are planning to visit the Lindley Library London to consult materials from the rare books, archive, research and ephemera collections please contact us in advance on 0207 821 3050 to make an appointment. This will allow us to check on the availability of the material you wish to consult and to ensure that we have study space available.
View dates when appointments may be booked in London.
Wisley research collections
If you are planning to use the rare books, research and archive collections held in the Lindley Library Wisley or in the Wisley Science Library, please contact us in advance on 01483 212 428 to make an appointment.
Reference collections at Hyde Hall and Rosemoor Garden Reading Rooms
Selected titles on practical gardening are available for reference use in the Garden Reading Rooms at RHS Gardens Hyde Hall and Rosemoor.
No registration or appointments are necessary to use these collections, but opening hours for the Garden Reading Rooms are variable. Please ring the Garden in advance of your arrival to make sure the Reading Room will be open.
Art collections
Appointments to consult the Society’s art collections, held in the Lindley Library London, may be made by ringing the Images Curator on 0207 821 3683.
Library Tours
We welcome requests for tours of the Lindley Library London.
Tours can be organised around special interests and themes. To arrange a tour, ring the Lindley Library Outreach Librarian on 0207 821 3051.