Neilson Hays Library is a historic English-language library on Surawong Road in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district. Founded in 1869, it is housed in a neoclassical building completed in 1922, with Corinthian columns and arched windows set among garden greenery. Inside, the collection spans English and Thai books, children’s titles, magazines and local documents. You can browse the shelves, visit exhibitions in the gallery spaces or take a quiet break at the garden café. Saturday storytelling and crafts give families another reason to stop.
A library founded in 1869
Neilson Hays Library began with the Bangkok Ladies’ Library Association, founded in 1869 by a small group of British and North American women. Its members shared books through a network that included private homes and a chapel, at a time when Bangkok’s expatriate community was small. Jennie Neilson Hays was an active member of the association. Her husband, Dr Thomas Heyward Hays, later bought land on Surawong Road in her honour.
The library’s current home was completed in 1922. Designed by Italian architect Mario Tamagno, the neoclassical building has Corinthian columns and arched windows. Its European-style architecture stands within a garden in the Bang Rak district, close to the busy streets of central Bangkok.
Books, exhibitions and quiet corners
The library holds more than 20,000 volumes, with English-language books alongside Thai titles and local documents. The collection includes fiction, nonfiction, young adult novels, biographies, gardening guides, business books and Japanese manga. There is also a children’s book corner, as well as magazines and newspapers.
Two gallery spaces, the Rotunda Gallery and the Garden Café Gallery, host exhibitions. The programme has included paintings and ceramic works, as well as visiting exhibitions. The building and garden are part of the visit too: the grounds offer a quiet place to pause before returning to Surawong Road. A café on the premises gives you somewhere to sit with a book or study.
Events for families and music fans
Saturday sessions combine storytelling in English with a craft activity for children aged 3 to 7. The library also holds other child-friendly events during the year. Check the current programme if you are planning a visit around a particular activity.
Cultural events have included instrumental concerts and classical performances by Virtuosi Thailand. These events give the library a role beyond lending books, bringing music and community activities into its historic setting. Photography rules apply, so ask staff at the counter before taking pictures unless you are attending an event where photography is permitted.
FAQ
When was Neilson Hays Library founded?
The library was founded in 1869 by the Bangkok Ladies’ Library Association. Its current neoclassical building dates to 1922.
What can you see inside Neilson Hays Library?
The collection includes English and Thai books, children’s titles, magazines and local documents. The library also has two gallery spaces for exhibitions.
Are there activities for children?
Saturday sessions include English-language storytelling and a craft for children aged 3 to 7. Other child-friendly events take place during the year.
Can you take photographs inside the library?
Ask at the counter before taking photographs. Photography is allowed at some special events.
