Facilities and important information for school groups

Please note, pupils must be supervised by their teachers and group leaders at all times while on The National Archives site.

Education Room

The education room is designed especially for school visits; it is a comfortable, welcoming space, equipped with the latest technological and practical equipment to help your pupils engage with original documents and enjoy activities that will bring history back to life.

Computers with Internet access allow us to integrate ICT into workshop activities where appropriate.

An interactive whiteboard and projection facilities enable groups to be able to view and interact with original documents and electronic resources.

A new videoconferencing studio has been built and equipped with the latest in videoconference technology.

Resources

All the resources you will need for your workshop are provided in the education room, including paper and pencils. All you need to bring are yourselves and your lunch, and for AS and A2 level students, some official signed personal identification to collect their Reader's Ticket.

Cameras and photography

Don't forget your camera - photography is allowed in the education room so you can take photographs of your pupils and the documents they use during the workshop. We regret photography is not allowed elsewhere inside the building. We would recommend for KS 2, 3 and 4 groups that only the teachers, not individual pupils, bring a camera.

AS and A2 Level groups using the reading rooms are allowed to bring digital cameras to photograph documents for their research if they wish. Please note the camera must be digital, and will need to be registered here before it is used.

Toilets

Toilets are available on site and close to the education room.

Lunch area

There is a public café area where you can make use of the tables to eat your own lunch. KS 2, 3 and 4 groups must bring their own lunches as they will not be able to buy lunch from the cafe - we regret the facility is not large enough to support big groups of pupils. Teachers are welcome to buy their lunch and drink if they wish! Alternatively, if the weather is good, there are large landscaped gardens with two lakes and resident wildlife. Pupils must be closely supervised at all times in this area and The National Archives cannot accept responsibility for accidents.

Shop

We have a small shop which sells books, posters and postcards and a variety of small items of historical interest. Pupils may visit the shop in small groups of not more than six at a time. Please indicate if you would like to visit the shop when booking your workshop.

Disabled access

Disabled access to all parts of the building is good.

Coach parking

A coach parking bay is available free of charge but must be pre-booked when you book your workshop. Minibuses and private cars can use the free public car park