Past exhibition
Love Letters
A free exhibition showcasing 500 years of devotion, longing, sacrifice and passion. Open 24 January to 12 April 2026.
Opening times
We are open from Tuesday to Sunday. Opening hours for our reading rooms, exhibitions, and other facilities vary. Please check our opening times and closure dates before planning your visit.
Building
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:00 – 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 – 19:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 – 18:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 – 16:00 |
Our building opens before our reading rooms. You are welcome to come in and use our café while you wait.
Love Letters exhibition
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 – 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 – 19:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Sunday | 11:00 – 16:00 |
Last entry to our Love Letters exhibition is one hour before it closes each day.
Document reading rooms
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:30 – 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:30 – 17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:30 – 19:00 |
| Friday | 09:30 – 17:00 |
| Saturday | 09:30 – 17:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Our document reading rooms are also closed on the Saturday prior to each bank holiday Monday.
Onsite document ordering closes before the reading rooms do each day. The current day's document ordering times are listed on our visitor computers on the 'Order documents' screen.
Visitors need to return any documents they are using at least ten minutes before the stated reading room closure time.
Displays, Library, and Research and Enquiries Room
On the first floor of our building you will find our Research and Enquiries Room (including visitor computers), Library, a number of displays and parts of our Happy and Glorious exhibition.
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:30 – 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:30 – 17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:30 – 19:00 |
| Friday | 09:30 – 17:00 |
| Saturday | 09:30 – 17:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 – 16:00 |
Research and Enquiries Room and Library
Drop in and use our free resources, including computers with access to digitised records, help desks for expert advice, and a reference library.
Café and coffee bar
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 – 16:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 – 16:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 – 16:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 – 15:00 |
Shop
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Sunday | 11:00 – 16:00 |
Eat, drink and shop
When visiting us in Kew, why not pop into our café or browse our shop?
Car park
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 08:00 – 19:30 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 – 17:30 |
| Thursday | 08:00 – 19:30 |
| Friday | 08:00 – 17:30 |
| Saturday | 08:00 – 18:30 |
| Sunday | 09:30 – 16:30 |
Getting here
The National Archives is located in Kew, southwest London. Find out how to reach us by car, bike, coach and public transport, including accessible routes.
Bank holidays and other closure dates
We are closed every Monday.
We are closed on all English bank holidays.
Confirmed 2026 closure dates
| Date | Building and exhibition | Reading rooms |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May | Closed | Closed |
| 3 May | Closed | Closed |
| 4 May | Closed | Closed |
| 23 May | Closed | Closed |
| 24 May | Closed | Closed |
| 25 May | Closed | Closed |
| 29 August | Open | Closed |
| 30 August | Open | Closed |
| 31 August | Closed | Closed |
We will confirm our Christmas 2026 closure dates later in the year.