Peter Munro

Review of Greater London Record Office (...

The archives are an excellent resource for finding...

The archives are an excellent resource for finding out about the history of London so it's a pity that it feels so difficult to get to. It's poorly signposted and approaching from Bowling Green Lane, there was one sign that pointed in the wrong direction and no further signs. The entrance to the archive isn't obvious, either. To use the archive, you need to register and go there personally to get your pass (their History Card) before you can order resources, which effectively prevents new users from requesting research materials online. When I went to get my History Card, I had to wait 20 minutes to be seen in spite of there being 2 registrars available - one seemed to be doing nothing. Getting resources takes a minimum of 25 minutes from the order being placed. Free lockers. Clean toilets. Space to eat sandwiches. There's free access to worldwide Ancestry. There was an interesting exhibition about Londoners when i was there, on till 5th July 2017.