MI5: Official Secrets

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.

Find out more about who we are

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.

Read our advice on getting here

MI5: Official Secrets is open at the following times:

• Monday: CLOSED
• Tuesday: 09:00 to 19:00
• Wednesday: 09:00 to 17:00
• Thursday: 09:00 to 19:00
• Friday: 09:00 to 17:00
• Saturday: 09:00 to 18:00
• Sunday: 10:00 to 16:00

The exhibition will be open for shorter hours on some bank holiday weekend dates. Check our full Opening times for details.

To allow the best possible experience for visitors to this free exhibition, we are operating an onsite virtual queue.

Once you arrive at our site, you will be invited to join the virtual queue by a member of our Welcome Team.

To do this you will need a smartphone, but you will not need to download any apps or create any accounts. If you do not have a smartphone our Welcome Team will be able to assist you with an alternate option.

Due to limited space and high demand, we are currently unable to accept any further group bookings.

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

Find out more about accessibility in our exhibition space

We provide a warm welcome to visitors of all ages, including children and family groups.

• Explore the exhibition together with our MI5: Official Secrets family trail, for ages 8+, and decode a secret message
• 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

Find out more about visiting with children

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.

Find out more about our café