Bromley residents get library services on summer tour
Bromley Central Library users will find the service spread across the town centre this summer while the main building is closed for its move to a new High Street home.
The temporary Bromley Central Library Summer Tour and Temporary Services programme begins with adult activities from 2 July at Greener and Cleaner’s Hub in The Glades Shopping Centre. Children’s activities follow from 20 July at the Pavilion Leisure Centre, with a wider pop-up library due to open at The Glades from 15 September.
Date: 2 July to 28 September. Time: not specified by the source. Venues: Pavilion Leisure Centre and The Glades Shopping Centre, including Greener and Cleaner’s Hub, High Street, Bromley. Cost: free. The programme is aimed at residents, families, children, adult library users and those taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge.
Temporary services spread across the town centre
The Central Library building next to Churchill Theatre closed on Tuesday 30 June as Bromley Council prepares for the library to reopen later in 2026 at 145 High Street.
During the closure, the library service is being provided through several town centre locations rather than from one main building. Bromley Council said the aim is to keep access convenient during the summer, when children’s activities, reading groups, book borrowing and other library support remain in demand.
Central Library users had been informed at the library about the closure date since May 2026, according to the council.
What opens first, and where to go
Adult activities start first. From 2 July, coffee mornings and device support sessions are available at Greener and Cleaner’s Hub in The Glades Shopping Centre.
Children’s activities begin from 20 July at the Pavilion Leisure Centre for the school holiday period. The temporary offer there includes book browsing, borrowing and returns, including for children taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge.
Central Library reading groups are also being moved to various locations during the closure period. The source did not list each reading group venue or session time.
| Temporary library detail | What the source confirms |
|---|---|
| Adult activities | From 2 July at Greener and Cleaner’s Hub in The Glades |
| Children’s activities | From 20 July at Pavilion Leisure Centre |
| Pop-up library | From 15 September on the restaurant terrace in The Glades near the Pavilion |
| Loan arrangements | Central Library book loans automatically renewed until 28 September |
| Times | Not specified in the source |
Pop-up library arrives in September
From 15 September, the temporary offer expands again with a pop-up library for all ages on the restaurant terrace in The Glades near the Pavilion.
That pop-up library will include book borrowing and browsing, computer use, printing and a range of library activities. It is the most complete temporary service listed in the council’s update, and it arrives before the automatic renewal period for Central Library book loans ends on 28 September.
The rest of Bromley’s library network also remains available during the closure, including eight libraries that have recently been refurbished, along with the Home Library service.
The new High Street library is still being fitted out
Work is continuing at the new Bromley Central Library site at 145 High Street. The council said internal fit-out work is now under way, while the new front facade is being completed and roof works, including the new roof light, have been finished.
When it opens, the new Central Library is planned to include an expanded children’s library, modern study areas, new toilets including accessible and Changing Places toilets, and display space for Bromley Historic Collections.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal Recreation and Housing, said the council had tried to minimise disruption by making provision available during the closure and timing it after school exams.
Rebecca Gediking, Library Services Director at Greenwich Leisure Limited, said she hoped regular users would make use of the temporary town centre provision during the move.
For now, the practical route is clear: adult sessions begin at The Glades from 2 July, children’s school-holiday activities begin at Pavilion Leisure Centre from 20 July, and the all-ages pop-up library opens at The Glades from 15 September.
Source: Bromley Council
Context & actions About this article
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This article is based on Bromley Council’s published update about temporary Central Library services during the relocation period.
- Confirmed the temporary service dates listed for 2 July, 20 July and 15 September.
- Checked the named venues as Pavilion Leisure Centre and The Glades Shopping Centre, includ...
- Kept session times and booking details out where the source did not provide them.
- Included the automatic renewal date for Central Library book loans through 28 September.
- Source
- Bromley Council
- Scope
- Bromley
- Updated
- 2026-07-01 15:58
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