Series
MI5: Official Secrets season
Explore the history of spycraft and espionage with a range of in-person and online events.
Family activity
Ministry of Time Travel: Spies in Time
Take on playful challenges in this spy-themed group adventure round our MI5: Official Secrets exhibition.
- Date
- 25 October to 1 November 2025
- Location
- The National Archives, Kew
Step into the thrilling world of the Ministry of Time Travel − a secret organisation based at the heart of The National Archives.
The Head of the Ministry of Time Travel, Beatrix, urgently needs your help to crack a case. Her personal assistant Kevin has been awfully interested in The National Archives’ new exhibition, MI5: Official Secrets, and she thinks it might be because he’s a double agent – compromising the safety of time itself!
Take on a series of short challenges to uncover Kevin’s secret and help protect the past, present and future.
Things to note
- This is an interactive, self-led experience best played in a small group
- Each group needs an adult in it throughout
- You'll need an adult’s smartphone, with a data plan or connected to our WiFi
- You'll interact with some friendly staff as you go, who can help if you get stuck
- On average, it takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Find out more
If you'd like to know more about what happens in the mission before you book, please email us. We'd love to hear from you!
Event details
This event has 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.
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.
Sneak preview
Image gallery
Get a sense of what your adventure will involve. But shhh – better keep it a secret!
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Welcome staff will get you set up to watch your mission briefing.
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We'll lend you some special Time Agent equipment.
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You'll head into the MI5: Official Secrets exhibition to examine records, photographs and stories to solve the mystery.
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You might even find hidden secrets on the way...
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The mission ends close by outside the exhibition.