Genealogy Chat

We are planing a visit as it will be the first time, can anyone give me information on what we need to do, i know that i can pre order a ticket, but how long is a ticket valid for ? How long can we stay there? There is a tour that we can take before searching how long will that take? any help will be greatly appreciated. in plain English please! Ann

Go to this website and it should tell you most of what you want to know: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/visit/plan.htm?source=ddmenu_visit1 Tickets are free and valid ( I think!) for three years. The doors open at least half an hour before the reading rooms do, and then you can stay as long as the place is open that day (though they do start to get agitated about fifteen minutes before the place closes.) Enjoy.

and yes, there is a tour, though not necessarily every day. It takes about two hours, goes behind the scenes and shows you the sorts of documents they hold and a bit about conservation.

Thanks Phoenix Would the tour be helpful to a beginer? and another stupid question if there are two of you will you both need tickets? I did look on the web site but didn't see anything about how long the tickets were valid for. Ann

You need a ticket to: visit the reading rooms look at their library look at microfilm order docuemnts you don't need your ticket to Have a cup of coffee Look at the book shop Use their internet cafe Your ticket is unique to you and makes you responsible for anything you look at. If you both want to look at microfilms (say) you both need tickets. Obtaining tickets is a quick and easy process, but you do need to make sure that you have the right proofs of identity. Others may disagree, I feel the tour is interesting, but not essential. It doesn't tell you how to order documents, or what you will find most useful in your research. If you are looking at army or navy records, the microform room on the first floor has some displays facing you as you go in and they have simple, straight foward leaflets that help you to find the documents you want. Once the weather improves, I will arrange another trip to Kew for anyone who just needs a bit of moral support to get started.

Anyone who wants to look at records needs a ticket. If that's two of you you will need a ticket each. You can pre-register and also pre-order up to 3 documents in advance. Do this. You will be allocated a seat which is linked to the locker where you collect your documents from. As soon as you get to Kew order another 3 documents and keep doing this - ie as soon as your ordered documents arrive order the next lot to save time. Kew - downstairs is cafe/toilets/cloakroom/exhibition area/bookshop/internet area. 1st floor has the main reading room, the research aids room and the room with microfilm/fiche readers. 2nd floor is reading room for very old documents and large items like maps. You can use your ticket at machines throughout the site including the cafe to see when your documents are ready for collection. Lots of research leafets and helpful staff about. nell

Thank you all for the information, i feel such an idiot at times, i downloaded the rules from the web and got absolutely lost as to what and what not to do , it would be easier if they just told you what you could do,would save on paper! Thanks again Ann

Ann New places are often daunting, but I guarantee you will soon get the hang of it. You should take a see-through bag or file to the search room - Kew provides thin ones, but I prefer my more robust one from WH Smith. You can only use pencils and not the ones with rubbers on the tip. I think there's a rule about sheets of paper, but I take a notebook. nell

Thanks Nell, As will be travelling from Switzerland want to make the most of our time. i will have to see if i can find a see through bag over here. Ann

You can take you up to 20 lose sheets of paper (including documents you want to take) and a notebook/pad. this link will take you straight to the what to take page: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/visit/whattobring.htm

nudge