The National Archives, UK Review

The first time at the National Archives for me. I was in a Coach trip, I ditched the shopping trip and had a great and relaxing time at the National Archives.

I'd given myself permission to look up in document and to learn how to use the National Archives with the support of the Archivists and it worked. I can go back when I know what other documents I want to view.

Preparing - go on line and start registration for a reader's ticket and watch the video on how to protect any documents you handle. You don't need a Reader's Ticket for the main Computer Room, but you do for the Readers Room.

Accessibility - good, level floors and lifts.

Document Protection - bags searched, leave coats and bags in the free lockers provided. Use the free clear plastic bags for phone, cameras, pencil (no eraser) and any papers you want to take in. The bag is searched after leaving the Reading Room to make sure no documents are taken out.

Main Room 1st Floor (2nd for Americans) - lift and stairs. Computers with access to the Archive Collections accessed via the Menu Button, also the Ancestry, Find my Past and free BMI search engines. You can also log onto your own sites via the Google Page.
* Pencil sharpener also available!

Readers Ticket - allows you into the Readers Room to view actual documents. Pre-order in line, saves time.

Photocopying Service - order on line or whilst there (14 days turn around), charge for copying plus postage if not collecting.

Toilets - plenty plus loos for the disabled.

Travel - I was staying near Heathrow and I took two buses arriving at Kew Bridge. I walked across the Bridge, went down the steps and walked along the Thames Footpath, having downloaded a map.
* Car - small/medium car park with reasonable charges (see photo).
* Bus - plenty in the area, including one that stops near the gate R68.
* Train - Kew Station about 15 - 20 minutes walk, bus or taxi
* Walk - through the village or the Thames Path

Extras:

Bookstore - excellent, I bought!
Exhibition - small but interesting with interactive workshops.
Restaurant and Cafe - excellent including vegan.
Shop - mainly National Archive.

An extremely interesting place to visit. Really very helpful, pleasant staff. I have just requested a non-naturalisation letter regarding my deceased relative and this has promptly been mailed to me. A wonderful service. Thank you so much for all your help!

Great day out, they have a canteen with great food which is reasonably priced. You can learn alot and this place is addictive so you will come back time and time again.

Excellent service for the entire country to enjoy mostly for free!

Unexpected large and 60s Architecture well worth going but not on a Sunday as it doesn't open until 11:00

New booking system is fine but not many slots. Had to rush to sort out my documents. Once there it was well organized.

A national treasure- not what you would expect. Modernised, digital & historic, professional staff and service- drop-in welcome. Great coffee and surprisingly wine! Book shop and great exhibitions. Just attended Dame Stella Rimmington evening lecture, ex head MI5- riveting, one-off my heroines. Check it out.

TNA is what it says on the tin. If you are looking to do serious research or simply check on your grandfather's war record then this is the place. Staff members are friendly, helpful and knowlegible. Apart from researching you can enjoy a decent lunch or snacks and there is a wonderful book shop plus various exhibits.

Very popular government building, with literally hundreds of guests visiting every day.
Two parts to the building, good looking new section and a huge concrete structure. Out the front is a nice water feature with fountains and swans, and next to that is a grassy area with a large pond with ducks in.
There is a big car park for those that want to drive but there is a charge and it is quite expensive, so take the R68 bus to Kew Retail Park or the tube/train to Kew Gardens station.
There is a nice cafe inside and seating outside.
Examples of famous items include Doomsday book, Shakespeare s will and Magna Carta I believe amongst many millions of other documents.

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Visited a few years back as part of a school trip. We were studying about USA. Really enjoyed it.

A great place to access factual information about the past and an excellent place for me to begin research for my forthcoming book following the escape trails of WW2 prisoners of war who ran the gauntlet of the alps to freedom

If there is a belief in what is touched, looking through and about the natural things that the device

Has fish in lake but not allowed to fish they should alow it due to more visits and more money

Fabulous building and surrounds with cafes, bookshop and extensive records

Nice pond very clean quite sad to watch in summer though seeing the swans kill goslings.

Absolutely amazing experience to work in such an institution as National archives. Here I finally found necessary information I needed for my research! Very convenient workspace, helpful and friendly staff, well-thought-out system of work in archive. Bonus: nice canteen :)

I had a search performed by the National Archives via an online request and experienced top service - the team was responsive to emails, polite and helpful. Thank you

I am always amazed by the amount of information that is held at The National Archives. The staff are very knowledgeable and can be extremely helpful.

Map room is brilliant, first floor is horrible with tiny desks and poor lighting. It is like they are expecting hundreds of people, but there are only 50 but you are in each others personal space as you are stacked on top of each other.

I attended a talk by Dame Stella Rimington about her time in MI5 during the Cold War

Repository for UK historical documents, photos, maps. Lovely place just to drop in with library, cafe etc. Study the rules for obtaining and handling documents first. You should also understand how searching the catalogue works. There are Research Guides online for most areas of study. Marvelous resource if you have prepared first.

I went to The National Archives yesterday with my sister, was really looking forward to researching the history of my childhood home built 1865 ie. Deeds plans etc. But was very disappointed as the staff said there's no records for this here.( I have looked on this site and I did see there was).The staff wasn't very helpful.

TOP TIP: Bring identification as otherwise you do not have full access to the archives.

The National Archives holds documents and photos and other information dating back over 1000 years.

Access is entirely free and it is extremely intriguing so I suggest that you arrive early to take real advantage of everything available.

Staff are on hand to provide support.

Visited today as a parent, part of Yr2 history school trip- learning about the Great Fire of London. Many thanks to Hannah (staff) who did a brillant fun workshop with the children. She was super friendly and engaging. She showed us 'special' original documents such as the London Gazette, maps and lists, that are over 300 years old!! Plus the 3D rat lol Just amazing, everyone loved it!

Always an interesting place to visit. You never know what you will find out. The only downside is the fact that a lot of the lockers in the cloakroom do not work. Always check a locker locks before using it.

Could do with more (lead) weights my parchment was snapping back and I was unable to restrain it which means I was unable to comply entirely with the handling of ancient documents as well as I would have wanted

Very helpful staff, the cafeteria there has amazing breakfast and Lunch Buffets.

Great research resource. Shame they've started charging for car parking. If you're a regular visitor, it's completely prohibitive.
However, there's 4 hours free parking in the adjacent Retail Park, and free parking in surrounding streets outside of 10am- midday.

Once to find the place and get used to the protocol it is a great experience. However, the place should never have been built here. It is one of the most difficult places to find and you have to drive through heavy traffic. Train More

A fantastic national and international facility for academic historians, with an excellent education service for history students of all ages.

My only grievance is its location at Kew. Those of us living in "the provinces" not only have to get into London by train but then out again to Kew. The National Archive should have been located in the centre of the country or somewhere easier to access.

The UK's repository for historic documents. You'll need to become a member and pass a test regarding the handling of documents, before you can use the service (check their website for details).

I've used the archive for family history research, and found that they've made a lot of effort to put material on line, and digitise their holdings. But, for more obscure documents, a visit to the site is necessary.

Before you go, make sure that you check their catalogue, and reserve the documents that you need in advance, so you can avoid waiting about, and make the most of your time there.

However, I've always found the staff to be extremely helpful if you're not sure what you're looking for, or aren't sure how to use a particular resource.

The National Archives are indeed a great resource to use for any historical research but do plan ahead. If you can request documents in advance do so and do ensure you have all identification to ensure a smooth member joining process. A very pleasant place to do research.

Great place for historic documents and items of national history. Staff helpful and great cafeteria! Make sure if you attend for the first time you take ID to get your readers ticket. Also allow time to do the online training and tests on how to handle documents and behave whilst in this hallowed place.

If you're coming only for the museum then I wouldn't bother. There's very little to it and most documents are facsimiles.

An exceptional and unique place. Use as day out or for research. Just amazing....dig the swans. Like a park with tons of absorbing literature.

I m a local so often pop in for lunch on a Saturday but I m disappointed every time as the food is dried out and stone cold - I was served what can only be described as vegetarian slop it was like baby food yuk!

Lovely place with excellent staff. Relaxed atmosphere, even though it's full of amazing historical treasures. Great place to visit, set in nice grounds with a lake and picnic tables. I took my children (10 and 8) there, unsure as to what it would be like, and we all really enjoyed it. Interesting, educational day out for all the family.

Beautiful gardens but today 3rd August at around 5 pm had to use public toilets and was challenged by very aggressive and disrespectful lady receptionist who kept screaming whether I was staff.
I'm a 78 year old neighbour who frequently visits and this is first time this happens. Other staff are gentle and understanding not only with elders but with families and small kids.
Bad experience.

ON SITE MOST HELPFULL, LIMITED ON WW1 RECORDS, BUT INTERNET ACCESS OF THIS COUNTRIES HERETAGE AND HISTORY HAVE BEEN SOLD TO A COMMERCIAL COMPANY NOW MAKING MONEY FROM SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE FREELY AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES OF PEOPLE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE COUNTRY. NOW HELD AT RANSOME , WE GAVE MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY AND NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FACTS OF THEIR SACRIFICE. DISGUSTING !

I'm always here. Friendly desk staff, knowledgable advisers. Watch out for the security guards though. It's fun playing games on them but they are a bit jobs-worth like.

TNA has adminstrative records dating back a thousand years.

Helpful staff. Straightforward to view and order records, though some of the tech could be improved (e.g. introducing a way of notifying you when an order's ready).

Conference there for DWP very clean and tidy friendly staff...good food...a great day out.