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Festival of Britain: Richard Leaky, plasterer's labourer, 1950. Cat ref: WORK 25/202
In the reading room

In the reading room

Opening times

These are our opening hours and dates when we are closed. See the Virtual tour for our visitors' guide and the opening times of our facilities and bookshop.


The National Archives in Kew

Opening times Document ordering times
Monday 09:00 - 17:00 09:30 - 16:15
Tuesday 09:00 - 19:00 09:30 - 16:45
Wednesday 10:00 - 17:00 10:00 - 16:15
Thursday 09:00 - 19:00 09:30 - 16:45
Friday 09:00 - 17:00 09:30 - 16:15
Saturday 09:30 - 17:00 09:30 - 15:15
Sunday Closed Closed

Dates of public closure in 2008 are as follows (all dates are inclusive):

August bank holiday: Saturday 23 August to Monday 25 August
Annual stocktaking: Friday 5 December to Monday 8 December
Christmas: Wednesday 24 December to Saturday 27 December
New Years Day 2009:   Thursday 1 January