London School of Economics and Political Science

The London School of Economics and Political Science stands in the heart of Central London, close to Covent Garden and Holborn. Its buildings occupy the area once known as Clare Market, a historic part of the city. The university specialises in social sciences and has grown from modest beginnings in 1895. Sidney Webb, Beatrice Webb, Graham Wallas and George Bernard Shaw founded it with a bequest from Henry Hunt Hutchinson. In 1900 it joined the University of London and began offering degrees in 1901. By 2022 it became a university in its own right within the federal structure. The school has educated 24 prime ministers or presidents, the second highest number of any UK university. Over 40 world leaders and 21 Nobel laureates have taught or studied there. It belongs to the Russell Group and the “golden triangle” of research universities. The British Library of Political and Economic Science, one of the largest libraries devoted to these fields, serves its students and scholars. Its endowment ranks sixth among UK universities, and its annual income exceeds £500 million. Visitors find a campus of red-brick buildings arranged around courtyards and squares. The Old Building, opened in 1922, carries the university’s Latin motto “to Know the Causes of Things.” The beaver mascot reflects foresight and industriousness. The library holds vast collections in economics and social sciences. Nearby streets still bear names from the old Clare Market days. The area buzzes with bookshops, cafés and theatres, linking the university to London’s cultural life.