📚 John Rylands Library: A Tunnel Into Time

#mytraveldiary Walking into the John Rylands Library isn’t just entering a building — it’s stepping into a time machine. The moment you pass through the tunnel-like corridor from the entrance to the main collection, the atmosphere shifts. The city noise fades. The lighting softens. And suddenly, you’re surrounded by Gothic arches, stone walls, and a sense of reverence. The transition is cinematic — from modern glass and reception desks to a vaulted passage that feels carved from history. The walls are lined with textured stone, dimly lit to evoke mystery and memory. It’s not just a hallway — it’s a threshold. A quiet ritual of arrival. As you walk deeper, the tunnel opens into the historic reading room, where stained glass windows cast coloured light onto polished wood and leather-bound books. The air smells of parchment and silence. You’re not just in a library — you’re in a sanctuary of thought.