The study of the expansion of a laser produced lithium plasma using spatially and temporally resolved imaging and spectroscopic diagnostic techniques is described. The diagnostic system consists of three separate components: a 2.2m grazing incidence spectrometer (coupled to an Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV) sensitive photodiode array), a recently developed fast-frame photography apparatus comprising a CCD camera coupled to a gated image intensifier, and a newly developed shadowgraphy apparatus consisting of a combination of a Nd:YAG pumped dye laser and a CCD camera. The development and capabilities of the diagnostic techniques used to characterise the plasma expansion are outlined. Furthermore, the characterisation of new or additional instrumental parameters pertinent to the quantitative interpretation of the experimental data is explored. Using the 2.2m grazing incidence spectrometer, temperature and density profile estimates for a laser produced lithium plasma are inferred. Photoabsorption spectra using this instrument and a newly developed model, for the 1s2 -> 1snp (n = 4,5,6 and 7) in Li+, are synthesised for the first time. Employing the fast-frame photography technique, species velocities and corresponding temperature estimates are obtained. Additionally, excited state density distributions are extracted by application of the Abel transform. Finally, the shadowgraph technique is used to furnish electron density distribution information. In all cases plasma parameters, determined using the diagnostic techniques proposed, are correlated with novel computer codes developed, based on established plasma expansion models. The thesis concludes with a description of future work with an emphasis on prospective extensions to the diagnostic techniques developed.