Opening times

Please note that our reading rooms open and close at different times to our building, as shown below.

Building and facilities

Building and exhibitionCaféShopCar park
MondayCLOSED---
Tuesday09:00 to 19:0009:00 to 17:0010:00 to 17:0008:00 to 19:30
Wednesday09:00 to 17:0009:00 to 16:0010:00 to 17:0008:00 to 17:30
Thursday09:00 to 19:0009:00 to 17:0010:00 to 17:0008:00 to 19:30
Friday09:00 to 17:0009:00 to 16:0010:00 to 17:0008:00 to 17:30
Saturday09:00 to 17:0009:00 to 16:0010:00 to 17:0008:00 to 17:30
SundayCLOSED---

Reading rooms and document ordering

Reading roomsDocuments can be ordered between
MondayCLOSED-
Tuesday09:30 to 19:0009:30 to 16:00
Wednesday09:30 to 17:0009:30 to 15:30
Thursday09:30 to 19:0009:30 to 16:00
Friday09:30 to 17:0009:30 to 15:30
Saturday09:30 to 17:0009:30 to 15:30
SundayCLOSED-

Our reading rooms are usually closed throughout bank holiday weekends.

Closure dates

We will be closed on the following dates (inclusive). Some dates may be subject to change.

  • Summer Bank Holiday: Saturday 24 August to Monday 26 August
  • Staff Training: On 11 December our reading rooms will be closed. The café, shop, and library will remain open
  • Christmas 2024: Wednesday 25 December to Friday 27 December (closing at 17:00 on Tuesday 24 December)
  • New Year’s Eve 2024: Closing at 17:00 on Tuesday 31 December
  • New Year’s Day 2025: Wednesday 1 January
  • Easter: Friday 18th to Monday 21 April (closing at 5 pm on Thursday 17th April)
  • Early May Bank Holiday: Saturday 3 May to Monday 5 May
  • Spring Bank Holiday: Saturday 24 May to Monday 26 May
  • Summer Bank Holiday: Saturday 23 August to Monday 25 August
  • Christmas 2025: Wednesday 24 to Friday 26 December (closing at 5pm on Tuesday 23 December)
  • New Year’s Day 2026: Thursday 1 January