Reading Room opening times
- Monday to Friday, 10am–5pm.
Genealogy Advisory Service opening times
The National Archives provides a free Genealogy Advisory Service. The service is staffed by professional genealogists and operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Monday to Friday, 10am–5pm, closed 1pm–2pm.
Closure dates in 2026
We are closed on public holidays as well as the following dates:
- Thursday 1 January
- Monday 2 February
- Tuesday 17 March
- Friday 3 April
- Monday 6 April
- Monday 4 May
- Monday 1 June
- Monday 3 August
- Monday 26 October
- Monday 30 November to Friday 4 December for the annual Media Preview
- Thursday 24 December closure at 12 noon
- Friday 25 December to Thursday 31 December