The Earl of Clarendon was London Library’s first president and its past members included Dickens and George Eliot. Today’s president is Tom Stoppard. The library was one of the first steel-framed buildings in London, and was reconstructed in 1896–98. In 1995, the Anstruther Wing was equipped with five floors of book storage, which houses 25,000 units of the rarest volumes of the library’s collection. In 2004, the library’s premises were extended along Mason’s Yard.

The London Library boasts some 8,000 members, of which are mostly private members, and some 250 corporate members. The library houses over one million books, which can be checked out or viewed in stacks. For members, resident outside London and overseas, a book mailing service is also available. The London Library collects books in all subject areas, with special emphasis on the Arts and Humanities, and extensive collections in Biography and History. The Fiction department includes a diverse collection of novels and short stories; the Literature section consists of a wide range of poetry, essays, plays, literary criticism and causeries; the Science section contains material for both the specialist and general reader; and the Art Room houses an essential collection of books on the Visual Arts and architecture. The library also offers a substantial collection of books and treatises on travel, topography and exploration. The Religion department has a wide range of theological works, biblical and non-biblical texts, studies in Comparative Religion and collections of sermons. Philology, Philosophy and Bibliography fields are also well represented.

The library has various membership options, but two main types are popular: a Personal, annual membership, with a cost of £210,00 per year; and a m, with various costs according to age. Institutions, organisations, associations and commercial organisations can take an annual Representative membership for £550,. Visitors from overseas can take a four-month, Temporary membership for £110,. Membership is open to all.