Following its excellent Secret Maps expo, the BL flies off to fairyland.
Once upon a time, beside the terracotta castle of Pancras, there lived an enchanting kingdom of books known as the British Library. Now this library had a great hall, in which it would share its treasures with the good boys and girls of London…
…well, you get the idea. The British Library’s next exhibition will be a family-friendly bonanza themed around fairy tales.
“Children and their families will travel through mysterious woods and an enchanting palace to discover the brave heroes, fantastical creatures and magical objects that shape fairy tales,” reckon the press office.
In terms of what you’ll see, the exhibition sounds like it will overfloweth like a magic porridge pot, with items that’ll appeal to young and old. Everything you might expect (Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Quentin Blake, Eric Carle, Alice in Wonderland…) is there, including slices of Disney’s enormous contribution. But the show will also explore less familiar aspects of fairy tales, through original manuscripts, pop-up books and even theatre puppets.
This one’s going to be much more than objects in cabinets. The word ‘interactive’ crops up a few times in the early press information, including an ‘interactive troll bridge’, witches’ potions, three-bears’ breakfast table, and a genie lamp.
The Library’s major exhibitions are usually excellent but adult-focussed, so it’ll be interesting to see how they weave their magic for a family audience. We’ll have to wait until March to find out if it all ends happily ever after.
Fairy Tales is at the British Library from 27 March to 23 August 2026. Tickets are £13.50 (peak) and £11.50 (off-peak), with concessions available.
