Visitor Information

RHS Libraries are open to everyone.  Typical users include amateur and professional gardeners, horticultural, garden history and garden design students, researchers, and others with a wider interest in the natural world - photographers, artists and flower arrangers.

There is no need to make an appointment to visit the libraries, and most material is easily accessible on the shelves.

Contact information and addresses can be found here

Lending Libraries

RHS Members may borrow from main libraries at London and Wisley, and also from Harlow Carr Garden Library.

Reference Libraries

Wisley Science Library and the smaller Garden libraries at Hyde Hall and Rosemoor are reference libraries.

Special Collections

If you would like to consult items from our Rare Books Collection please contact the ­ Enquiry Team in London before visiting to arrange for these to be available.
Items from the Drawings Collection may be viewed by appointment only.
To consult material held in the Science Library, please contact the Enquiry Team at Wisley to make an appointment before you visit.

Study Space

Lindley Library, London and Wisley Garden Library have ample study space.  Smaller Garden Libraries have study space for up to six people.

Computer Facilities at London and Wisley

Free internet access to plant and horticultural information is available.  Web-based email is not accessible.  Adults are requested to supervise  children’s use of the internet.

The Library’s online catalogue is available on library PCs.  Records may be printed free of charge.  Printouts from other databases or the internet cost 10p per sheet.  Wordprocessing and spreadsheet packages are not available.

Readers may use their own laptops in the library.  Wireless network access is not available, but laptops may be plugged into a mains socket.  No other equipment may be plugged into the library power supply.