Opening hours
Christmas Opening Hours
Idea Store Bow, Chrisp Street, Watney Market and Whitechapel:
Wednesday 24 December: 9am – 1pm
Bethnal Green, Cubitt Town Library and Idea Store Canary Wharf Pop-Up Library:
Wednesday 24 December: 10am - 2pm
All Idea Stores and Libraries:
Thursday 25 December: CLOSED
Friday 26 December: CLOSED
Idea Store Whitechapel and Idea Store Chrisp Street only:
Saturday 27 December: 9am-5pm
Sunday 28 December: 11am-3pm
Monday 29 December: 10am-4pm
Tuesday 30 December: 10am-4pm
Wednesday 31 December: 10am-4pm
Thursday 1 January: CLOSED
Idea Store Bow, Idea Store Canary Wharf, Idea Store Watney Market, Bethnal Green Library and Cubitt Town Library CLOSED from Thursday 25 December to Thursday 1 January 2026 included.
View Local History Library and Archives Christmas opening hours.
Normal opening hours will resume from Friday 2 January.
Regular Opening Hours
Idea Store Bow, Idea Store Chrisp Street, Idea Store Whitechapel and Idea Store Watney Market are open the following hours:
| Monday | 9am - 9pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9am - 9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 9pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 9pm |
| Friday | 9am - 6pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 5pm |
| Sunday | 11am - 3pm |
Bethnal Green Library is open the following hours:
| Monday | 10am - 6pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 8pm |
| Friday | CLOSED |
| Saturday | 9am - 5pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Refurbishment of Idea Store Canary Wharf
Please note that the main Idea Store Canary Wharf is closed for refurbishment but an interim pop-up library is now open in the old post office next door.
See refurbishment information.
During this time, Cubitt Town Library will be extending its opening hours and be open on Fridays, 10 am-6 pm (closed between 1 and 2 pm), until the main Idea Store Canary Wharf reopens fully.
Idea Store Canary Wharf pop-up temporary library is open the following hours:
| Monday | 10am - 6pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10am - 6pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm) |
| Wednesday | 10am - 6pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm) |
| Thursday | 10am - 6pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm) |
| Friday | 10am - 6pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm) |
| Saturday | 9am - 5pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm) |
| Sunday | 11am - 3pm |
Cubitt Town Library is open the following hours:
| Monday | 10am - 6pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 8pm |
| Friday | 10am - 6pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm) |
| Saturday | 9am - 5pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |