3 August 2025 (past event)
- 11:15 to 12:00 Sold out
- 13:30 to 14:15 Sold out
Tour
MI5: Official Secrets Curator tour
Explore the hidden world behind British Intelligence with the curators of this groundbreaking exhibition.
- Date
- 3 August to 6 September 2025
- Location
- The National Archives, Kew
For most of its history, MI5 has worked almost entirely in secret. Operating in the shadows enabled the intelligence agency to deal effectively with covert threats and to protect its agents, people and operations.
But in the 1990s, everything changed. For the first time, MI5 publicly named its Director General. It advertised for recruits in a national newspaper. And it began to release files to The National Archives.
Discover an ever-changing world of subversion and espionage over MI5's 115-year old history on this tour of our MI5: Official Secrets exhibition, taking you behind the scenes of one of Britain’s most iconic institutions.
Event details
- Dates
- 3 August to 6 September 2025
- Price
-
£10
- Location
- Gallery
-
The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, TW9 4DU
This event has sold out.
Dates for this event
6 September 2025 (past event)
- 11:15 to 12:00 Sold out
- 13:30 to 14:15 Sold out
Plan your visit
What is The National Archives?
The National Archives is the official archive of the UK government, and England and Wales. We are the guardians of over 1,000 years of iconic national documents.
Everyone is welcome to visit our headquarters in Kew. We put on exhibitions, events and displays and offer reading rooms giving access to our collections there.
Getting here
The National Archives is located by the River Thames in Kew, 30 minutes from Central London. We offer advice on travelling to us by car, bike, train or bus.
Exhibition opening times
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 this exhibition is one hour before it closes each day.
We recommend checking our full opening times and bank holiday closure dates when planning your visit.
Group visits
Groups of ten people or more must book in advance, at least seven days before your visit.
We unfortunately cannot accept group bookings in the first and last two weeks the exhibition run.
Find out more about booking group visits and our exclusive entry packages for groups.
Audio tour
For an extra intimate experience, visitors to Love Letters can listen to a free audio tour of the exhibition featuring further information on the exhibition themes and records on show.
To listen to the tour, either download the free Smartify app and search for 'The National Archives' or scan the QR codes at the exhibition entrance.
Accessibility
Everyone is welcome to visit this exhibition.
- There is step-free level access throughout all areas
- The exhibition has low lighting levels
- It includes pictures, audio, information boards, televisions/screens and interactive exhibits at a suitable height for a wheelchair user
- Large print guides are available
Children and families
We provide a warm welcome to visitors of all ages, including children and family groups.
- Free activity sheets (for ages 1+) are available from the Time Travel Club trolley in our entrance hall
- Our café is child-friendly and there are picnic benches outside
- Prams and buggies are welcome, and we have a buggy park
- Baby changing facilities are located by our entrance hall, at the top of the main stairs, and in the library
- Emergency supplies of nappies and wipes are available
Eat and drink
We have a café and coffee bar provided by Maids of Honour, a historic local tea room and bakery. It has spacious indoor and outside seating and a soft play area.
On the menu is a variety of high-quality lunchtime meals, sandwiches, snacks, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements are all catered to.
