Bishopsgate Institute

A cultural institution started in 1895 and which now holds a substantial collection of LGBTQ-related materials including erotic and pornographic literature, books, magazines, pulp fiction, DVDs and VHS videos. In 2011 the Institute acquired the Lesbian and Gay Newsmedia Archive, then expanded its collection with donations from individuals and organisations, from 1950s physique magazines to 21st-century pornographic DVDs and archives from Stonewall, Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, Stonewall, Outrage!, The Backstreet (1985–2022 London leather/rubber bar), London Pride (going back to the 1970s), Rebel Dykes, Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, ACT UP London, QX Magazine and more, including personal collections. Plus adult material relating to gay and straight fetish, leather and rubber sexuality, BDSM, body modification, transvestism and other alternative sexualities. The library is open weekdays from 10am until 5pm. Located a minute's walk from Liverpool Street Tube/Overground station and within spitting distance of both Spitalfields and the City (and all the riches withinl).