Canada Water Library
an upside-down pyramid of books
A striking upside-down pyramid of a library on the dock at Canada Water, free, with a spiralling interior, waterside views and a little theatre tucked in the basement.
Free to visit · Rotherhithe · Canada Water · SE16 7AR
Opening: Daily · check times
Canada Water Library is one of London's most striking modern public buildings, a glittering inverted pyramid clad in metal that leans out over the old dock. Opened in 2011, it is free to use and a genuine piece of architecture you can simply walk into.
Inside, the space spirals upward around a sculptural staircase, with reading areas looking out over the water and the busy interchange below. It is a working local library, full of people reading, studying and bringing their kids, and it doubles as a community hub for the fast-growing neighbourhood around it.
Down in the basement is a small theatre and event space, the Culture Space, which hosts free and low-cost performances and talks. For a free, warm, beautiful room with a waterside view, it is well worth the short hop on the Jubilee line.
Getting there: Right by Canada Water station on the dockside, on the Jubilee line and the Overground.
Best time to go: A weekday for the calm, or whenever something is on in the little Culture Space theatre downstairs.
Insider tip: Climb the spiral staircase to the upper reading levels for the best of the architecture and the views over the dock. Check the listings for the Culture Space theatre in the basement, which often has free events on.
Official site: https://www.southwark.gov.uk
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide