the literary & philosophical society

Easy to walk past this as it doesn't seem obvious you can walk in, look like a (fancy) office building near the station. Quiet and calm old-fashioned library, you can join as a member or just browse and read with a coffee.

One of Newcastles best kept secretes, it is truly a gem, you dont have to be amember to go in, the atmosphere is great.Go in and read the daily papers, buy a cup of coffee and a bun.

The Lit and Phil is a hidden treasure. Full of historical importance to the region. Joseph Swan demonstrated the light bulb there in 1879, before the American Edison, who sadly gets the credit for inventing it. If any Americans want the truth try reading the facts and not the fiction the Yanks make up

went here with my son for a family event, was a bit worried it was going to be stuffy but couldn't of been more wrong, the staff are all down to earth & friendly & happy to help, fantastic historical building,filled with original features. & you can even get a cuppa & biscuit for when your reading or juice for kids in the childrens section

The only library that you can take your packed lunch to and not get evicted. The staff are very helpful and the beauty of this building and its history is not to be missed. More to the point it is free for visitors which makes it even more valuable to tourists travelling on a budget and want to find out about the founding Fathers of Newcastle.

Just down the road from central station, a must visit for any newcastle explores in search of a little history and culture

nuff said.I need to say more though to make it more characters. When you enter this place for the first time it's hard to not have your mouth agape, craning your head as you marvel at the awesome history and architecture of the place. And all those books. What's great about this place is that not too many people are aware of it despite being right next to central station, which means it's never too busy. What a library should be.

This building is tucked away close to the train station but it is a hidden gem . The paintings and books are great to look at and the building itself is a hidden gem in the middle of a busy city .

Everyone welcome. Fantastic place; always impresses me when I visit and to think of the history of the place....Visit and enjoy!

A beautiful private member's library that also hosts a range of events, from lectures on philosophy to jazz gigs. Well worth a visit, and conveniently located right next to the train station in the centre of town.

I joined thos lovely place last year and I am in love with the place. Chilled out atosphere, great choice of books and events to go to. Friendly and helpful staff. Worth every penny.

As soon as you arrive you know you are somewhere special .It is a library as it should be with walls and walls of books of all shape and size , smelling heavenly and shouting out read me whatever you do or want, just pick me pick me. So Harold Robbins fights for space with Tolstoy, little old ladies read periodicals and older gentlemen doff their hats and settle down for a banter with their friends.The staff are incredibly friendly admitting with alarming candour and charm that a specific essay by Dickens I am looking for could " be in a number of different places". But they find it, I sink into a leather back chair and read it at my leisure catching little snatched conversations between the be-whiskered groupies of the lit and phil. No one is in a hurry. Wonderful. British, Bonkers.

As soon as you walk in you can hear the great echos of it's history! Fantastic collection of first editions and some great surprises which were unexpected. Marvelous views and a friendly crowd offering you a nice cup of tea/coffee to sit down and absorb your surroundings.

I've lived and worked in Newcastle for many years but I had to move to London to discover the joys of this hidden gem. While undertaking research for an MA in modern war studies a friend recommended the Lit & Phil as it's affectionately known. There's an amazing library and bags of room to sit down and envelope yourself in peace and quiet for whatever it is your studying. The staff are incredibly helpful, and they are enthusiastic even if your subject might not be theirs. There's an industrious section where laptop owners plug in and work but there's several other reading rooms and quiet rooms. I returned recently for research on my latest book. The Lit & Phil's proximity to the train station makes it ideally located but car parking is a nightmare and meter feeding can be a very costly affair. I signed up for membership and hope to utilise this wonderful piece of Newcastle more often. Even if you're not a bookworm it is a sheer delight and there's also a room downstairs for lectures on a whole variety of subjects.

My husband was joined as a gift - he invariably goes once a week. Taking/collecting books for a less able neighbour too. He enjoys the friendly atmosphere and very knowledgeable staff. Although there are regular events, we have not yet attended sadly and should make it our New Year's resolution!