Organising a group or school visit

Groups of adults and coach parties

Coach parties

Pre-booking is not required for coach parties, but it will help us if you let us know when you intend to visit.

We publish a schedule of planned visits on our website and on site at Kew, so that other group organisers can avoid the busiest days.

To let us know about your visit, please telephone 020 8392 5366 or email: enquiry services team

New to Kew?

At 11:30 every day we hold a drop-in session aimed at introducing first-time visitors to the range of services available at The National Archives. The session lasts roughly 30 minutes and there's no need to book - just come along to the Talks Room on the first floor.

Parking

We have one coach bay which can only be pre-booked by junior education groups or special needs groups. For other groups the coach bay is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

If the coach bay is in use, coaches will need to drop their passengers and collect them again at a pre-arranged time. Limited free coach parking is available on the A307 Kew Road (the stretch between Lion Gate and Victoria Gate) after 10:00 each day.

Half-term

Please note that half-term weeks are particularly busy:

• 27 - 31 October 2008
• 16 - 20 February 2009
• 25 - 29 May 2009
• 26 - 30 October 2009

Reader's Tickets

Visitors only need a Reader's Ticket if they want to look at original documents. Many of our most popular records, particularly those of interest to family historians, are available on microfilm or online.

If members of your party are likely to need Reader's Tickets, please ask them to register in advance and bring proof of their identity and address with them on the day.

Schedule of planned visits

• Trip scheduler for 2008 (PDF, 48.70kb)

• Trip scheduler for 2009 (PDF, 78.39kb)

Academic groups

Content: Research-focused talk and tour of reading rooms designed for groups of postgraduate academic research students.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Availability: University term time only. Pre-booking required, two to three months in advance.
Contact: enquiry services team

Library and information service professionals

Content: Reference-focused tour of reading rooms and behind the scenes service areas for librarians and information professionals.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Availability: Monday to Friday. Pre-booking required, two to three months in advance.
Contact: enquiry services team