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Introducing our new ‘Book a visit to view our documents’ service

Thursday 15 April 2021 | Sarah Leggett | Behind the scenes , Technology and innovation | 31 comments

With seat reservations and advance document ordering remaining in place for now to help us manage our reading room services in line with government and public health guidance, we have spent the last few months developing a new ‘Book a visit to view our documents’ service.

Created in response to visitor feedback, the new service provides a streamlined way for visitors to book a visit. In advance of the service going live at midday (BST) Monday 19 April, we thought we’d share screenshots of some of the steps in the process to help you prepare to make a booking, and tell you about some of the main benefits that we hope it will bring.

More seats will always be available, and will be updated regularly 

The new service will offer four weeks’ availability on a rolling basis, with new dates added daily. This means that, when it goes live on 19 April, you will be able to reserve a seat for dates between 27 April and 22 May (inclusive). 

We’ve made this change in response to visitors expressing a preference for choosing slots from a larger range of available dates.  

Seat booking and document ordering now combined into one process on our website 

Fewer clicks and steps in the booking process make it simpler and easier for visitors – it’s also all on our website, which means that document references and reader ticket numbers will be checked and validated immediately, meaning that any errors will be flagged and can be rectified on the spot. 

This makes it easier for visitors to ensure that they’re getting the document that they want, without the risk of disappointment on the day of their visit.  

Visitors can manage their own bookings 

We’ve introduced the ability for visitors to manage their own bookings and make changes to their document order up to five working days before their visit. This removes the need for visitors to contact us if they want to make any changes.  

Tell us what you think

We’ve carried out extensive user testing in the development of this new service, and we’d like to hear what you think. We’ve included a feedback survey in the service itself – please do use it to tell us what you think. 

If you’re interested in helping to shape our future digital services by taking part in our user research programme, get in touch with our digital user experience team:  [email protected] .  

31 comments

What time will booking begin on 19 April? This is essential information.

The service will open at midday on 19 April.

Thanks, Piriya

I am an infrequent visitor. My curreent research requirements are split between documents in WO 95 and WO 153. The latter are maps. Will I be able to order across these 2 areas for the same day.

Hi Keith, If part of your order contains large documents please choose a Map and large document reading room seat when you reserve your visit – this should ensure that all of your documents are sent to the Map and large document reading room. Thanks, Piriya

Firstly I hope I do not see again TNA staff in the building not wearing masks without a medical or other reason. The issue of documents being ordered and then turning up to be told that they are not available because the departments (including TNA) are still sitting on them needs to be addressed. Have you built in enough capacity into the booking system so that it doesn’t crash when researchers log on on Monday lunchtime.

Hi David, In accordance with national regulations, everyone in the building must wear a face covering unless they are exempt, eating and drinking, or conversing with a person who lip reads. We strongly encourage anyone who is exempt to wear an exemption lanyard. We cannot guarantee that all documents will be available for someone’s visit. If a large number of their order isn’t available we would contact the reader. We have provided 3 reserve documents so we can order those up if we need to. If there is a particular document the reader would like to be notified about they can add this to their additional comments. We’ve carried out a reasonable level of testing to make sure the booking system can handle some demand spikes. Thanks, Piriya

Will the Invigilation Room be open? If not, is there a date in mind? The underlying question, will WO 416 be available?

Hi Alon, The Invigilation room will be accessible with limited spaces to maintain social distancing. We will allocate these spaces before your visit, so if we can’t give you a space we will let you know. thanks, Piriya

Is the Map Room and large document available from 19th April?

Hi Sue, The Map and large document reading room will be open from 27 April. Thanks, Piriya

Looking forward to the reopening! To confirm though that you will be closed Saturday 1 May, with the first available weekend booking being Saturday 8 May? (i.e. normal BH long weekend rules apply).

Hi Neil, We will be closed from Saturday 1 May to Monday 3 May for the May Bank holiday. Thanks, Piriya

Where will ‘Book a visit’ be on the website?

Hi Dorian, The link will be available from midday today. Keep an eye out for the booking link on our homepage https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ as we will update it at midday. Thanks, Piriya

Where do we find the “book a visit” portal on the website?

Hi Daniel, The booking link will be available from midday today. Keep an eye out for it on our homepage https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ as we will update this at midday. Thanks, Piriya

Can you confirm when the building will open going forward? I appreciate that the reading rooms will be open from 10am, will the building be open earlier to allow entry to lockers and maximum productivity when the room are open?

Doors will open from Tuesday to Saturday at 09:30.

Best wishes,

Matthew De Ville

All I’m getting is an error message (at 12.13). Is it just me, or is there a wider problem? And if the latter, will there be a revised starting time?

Just booked a visit with no problems and looking forward to it.

Could you advise of a number to contact on the day should there be travel delays?

Thank you in advance.

I have booked documents to view on Saturday 8 May, received a booking reference and confirmation email.

Could you advise me of the opening times – doors open to the public as well as Reading Room times please – on that day as the opening times shown online ( https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/visit-us/opening-times/ ) state that the site is closed Saturdays?

I wish to research Army Lists in the bookcase. Am I able to do so and where do I sit? I asked this question yesterday but did not receive a reply.

Dear Martin

Apologies for the slow response. You’ll need to order the documents you’d like to see in advance of your visit, i.e. they will be retrieved from the archives before you arrive. To find the document references, you’ll need to search on Discovery , our catalogue. There’s more information about how to book a visit and what you’ll need to do on this page .

I see that today (Tuesday 20 April) the information I requested regarding Saturday hours and general door open has now been added to the opening hours page.

It would have been nice to be told of this and even have had a thanks for pointing out that it was omitted when I looked for it.

Apologies Richard – we’ve had problems accessing the comments today, and have only just managed to start responding. Many thanks for pointing out the incorrect opening hours – we made the correction following your message.

Thank you Mathew.

Hopefully all your IT access problems have (or will soon be) resolved as there is clearly an appetite to view documents in person.

I asked the other day about access to Library items – specifically Navy Lists – when you reopen but my question seems to have disappeared. Could you clarify what the system will be as regards ordering these – on the day? In advance? Any limit on number that can be ordered? Thanks.

Apologies for the slow response. You’ll need to order the documents you’d like to see in advance, and before you confirm your visit. You can either book a ‘standard’ 1-day visit, which enables you to see up to 12 documents, or a ‘bulk order’ 2-day visit, for which you’ll have access to between 20 and 40 documents. You’ll need to have researched the documents and gathered the reference numbers ahead of making your booking. More information on the booking service can be found on this page .

I realise I didn’t quite answer your question properly before, so I’ll have another go.

Because we are only available to offer a pre-booked service at the moment, you must have a confirmed booking to visit the archives. So you won’t be able to visit just to see library items (which might not have a catalogue reference) – you’ll need to enter the catalogue reference of at least one document on the booking form.

When making your booking, Navy Lists (and all library items) must be ordered in advance using the comments box on the document order form. There isn’t a fixed limit on the quantity, but it will normally be limited to what will fit on a trolley, which will be brought to you in the reading room.

I hope that helps.

Dear Mathew, I don’t think you understood my request on Army Lists. Before Lock Down, there was an excellent collection of red Army Lists of Officers from the 1800s to 2010, plus RN officers and RAF officers on the first floor outside the secure controlled reading rooms. I don’t believe they are held under Record Numbers but are stored in year sequence in bookshelves which one could pull out oneself and research at a local table. Does that service still exist and can I book in to make use of it.

Regards Martin Roberts

My mistake – I see what you mean now. That service doesn’t quite exist as it did before.

Because we are only available to offer a pre-booked service at the moment, you must have a confirmed booking to visit the archives. So you won’t be able to visit just to see library items in the place they were before – and you must enter at least one document reference on the booking form.

When making your booking, you can order Army Lists using the comments box on the document order form. There isn’t a fixed limit on the quantity, but it will normally be limited to what will fit on a trolley, which will be brought to you in the reading room.

I hope that gives you the information you need.

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Encounter the original founding documents of the United States in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom , the permanent home of the Declaration of Independence , Constitution of the United States , and Bill of Rights . These three documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, are instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States.

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Why is the declaration so faded.

This parchment has been proudly displayed over many decades, including 35 years of exposure to sunlight opposite a window in the Patent Office Building. Today, it is sealed in the most scientifically advanced housing that preservation technology can provide.

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Cooler temperatures prolong the life of documents. Light fades ink and destroys parchment and paper, so light levels in the Rotunda are deliberately kept low.

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This historic museum near dc's national mall is where you can see america’s founding documents..

The Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, have opened for viewing of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights with limited capacity from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Reserve timed entry tickets on Recreation.gov. The reopening of the Rotunda and its continued operation will be contingent on local public health metrics remaining below targets for safe reopening.

What and where is the National Archives Building & Museum?

The National Archives & Records Administration Building and Museum is located on Constitution Avenue NW, between 7th and 9th Streets, just north of the National Mall . The building houses both a museum and the National Archives and Records Administration, which is responsible for federal records deemed to be of historical importance.

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The National Archives Building is home to more than three billion records in total, including the three most important documents in American history: the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These can be viewed in the building’s Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.

The museum is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Its hours are 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., seven days a week. Admission is always free.

The easiest way to reach the National Archives is via Metrorail  or the DC Circulator . The closest Metro stop is Archives – Navy Memorial – Penn Quarter on the Green and Yellow lines. The DC Circulator’s National Mall route will take you near the building, making it easy to continue your exploration of the National Mall afterwards. The facility is handicap accessible.

What’s inside the National Archives?

The National Archives features distinct areas that all serve a different purpose in illuminating American history through vital documents.

The aforementioned Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom enjoys the most attention, and for good reason. The semicircular room contains the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The exhibition surrounding the charters highlights the composition and continuing significance of each document.

The David M. Rubenstein Gallery is home to Records of Rights , which features numerous Archives documents and a 17-foot touch screen to summarize American debate around essential issues such as citizenship, voting rights, equal opportunity, free speech and more. The highlight of the gallery is one of four surviving originals of the 1297 Magna Carta.

The Public Vaults take you deeper into the Archives’ records. At any given time, more than 1,000 documents are on display, indicating the incredible breadth of American democracy. Each vault is themed based on words from the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, which is only fitting. The exhibit has also added an interactive element to take you even closer to the country’s history.

Beyond its myriad exhibits and historical documents, the National Archives Museum also features the William G. McGowan Theater , a 290-seat venue that often hosts documentary films and forum discussions. You can also educate and entertain the next generation in the Boeing Learning Center , which offers hands-on activities relating to Archive materials. Last but not least, the National Archives Store is a great spot to pick up American memorabilia and souvenirs to take home with you.

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Group visits

Large groups are welcome at The National Archives. Pre-booking is required for groups of 16 or more.

We have one coach bay on site that can be booked each day that we are open to visitors (Tuesday to Saturday). Advance booking is essential and free of charge.

To check availability and book the bay, select the month of your visit and then the date. If available, you will be able to proceed with your booking. Book a coach bay [external link] .

Further information (including directions and what to do when you arrive) will be provided in the confirmation email that you receive after completing your booking.

Please do not make any travel arrangements until we have confirmed your booking.

If you are planning a group visit and do not require use of a coach bay, please contact us with the following information:

• date of visit
• your email address or a contact phone number
• the expected number of people in your group
• the expected number of people who will require readers’ tickets

Readers’ tickets

Visitors only need a reader’s ticket if they want to consult original documents. Many of our most popular records, particularly those of interest to family historians, are available online using the computers in our reading rooms, which can be accessed without the need for a reader’s ticket.

If members of your party are likely to need readers’ tickets, please ask them to register in advance and bring proof of their identity and address with them on the day.

Specialist interests

Academic researchers.

Bringing a group of university students to The National Archives is a great way to introduce them to using archival collections and original source material as part of their research.

Visits can be arranged for a wide range of disciplines from history, politics, and archaeology to literature, art and media.

We offer a number of different options for groups of students, from those who are using archives for the first time to the more advanced researchers looking to develop their skills and knowledge in specific areas of our collections. Find out more about academic visits .

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For more information about workshops, videoconferences and undergraduate visits, go to our Education website.

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