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The Library at London Transport Museum is open by appointment to anyone interested in finding out more about London's public transport - past present and future.
Our complete catalogue is not yet available online, but you can now search nearly 4000 of our books via LibraryThing.com. Browse through our online library or use the search options at the top of the page to find specific titles.
Our unique collection of over 12,000 books, journals and special collections covers:
- History of London and its public transport
- Buses, trams, trolleybuses, the Underground, railways, taxis and water transport
- Art, design, architecture and London's transport
- Transport for London, London Transport and their predecessors
- Public transport operation, policy and legislation
- Transport in other UK and world cities.
Use our reading lists to see recommended books on these topics:
London's transport history
London buses and coaches
London trams and trolleybuses
London's Underground
Use our journals and magazines for up to date news and articles, or find out what people were saying about transport in the past. Look at our Journals and magazines list for the titles and dates we hold.
If you need further advice about what's in the Library, please ask us.
Special collections
Frank Pick collection
Material owned and written by Frank Pick (1878-1941), first Chief Executive of London Transport. Pick had an enormous influence on the look and development of London Transport and was particularly interested in art, architecture and design.
Frank Pick collection list
Reinohl collection
Brothers Herbert and Albert Reinohl compiled 180 transport albums throughout their lives. The material is mainly about buses but also covers other public transport from the 19th century to the 1950s. Largely a ticket collection, it also includes illustrations, press cuttings and journal articles.
Reinohl album list
Online resources
If you cannot visit or want to plan your research in advance, a large amount of information is now available online:
- Online Museum
- Poster collection
- Photograph collection
- Vehicles collection
- Exploring Twentieth-century London
Family history & archives
Transport for London Group Archives administers the official records for Transport for London, London Transport and their predecessor companies, including some personnel records. On their website are a series of information sheets, which identify records available for historical research at locations including the Museum. One of the information sheets is about Staff records and family history.
At London Transport Museum, the principal source for information on individual employees is our unique series of staff magazines dating back to 1913. These have been partially indexed. They provide insight into the social and working lives of people across the organisation at different times.
Make an enquiry
If you are interested in doing research at the Museum Visit the Library tells you what you need to know about making an appointment.
Please note that due to refurbishment work taking place in our building the Library will be closed for a period during July-August 2008. As soon as we know more specific dates we will publish them here.
Can't find what you want on our website or unable to visit? Ask us a question. Enquiries are answered as quickly as possible, but may take up to 20 working days.