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Open to all, The National Archives is a place to explore 1,000 years of history - from Shakespeare's will to tweets from Downing Street. This impressive building in Kew is set in beautiful grounds and offers visitors a diverse programme of events, activities, research spaces and a Keeper's Gallery that hosts special exhibitions throughout the year. We are a non-ministerial department, and the official archive and publisher for the UK Government, and for England and Wales. We are the guardians of over 1,000 years of iconic national documents. We are expert advisers in information and records management and are a cultural, academic and heritage institution. We fulfil a leadership role for the archive sector and work to secure the future of physical and digital records. We collect and secure the future of the government record, from Shakespeare’s will to tweets from Downing Street, to preserve it for generations to come, making it as accessible and available as possible. Our dedicated exhibition spaces host immersive exhibitions and curated collections of records held at The National Archives. You can discover the past through our series of online talks, webinars and ‘in conversations’, brought to you by our collections experts and special guests. You can delve into our exciting range of on site events, hosted here at The National Archives. Travel through time with our family activities. Our Time Travel Club family events are a great way for you and your children to learn and have fun.

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Overall rating

4.5

(1 review)

Overall rating breakdown

5 0
4 1
3 0
2 0
1 0

Access (avg.)

Parking (avg.)

2.5

Toilets (avg.)

4.5

Staff (avg.)

tinahodgkinson

Jul 2018

4.5

Excellent access and very helpful staff UPDATE Proactive response to my comments better accessible toilet signage coming not followed through

Official archive of the UK government for England and Wales. It's the largest archive in England and it has millions of historical documents/ records. There is something of interest for everyone. The archives in Kew, near Richmond, are open to the public. There are reading rooms where registered readers can view original documents. There is also a free exhibition space with temporary displays, when we visited it was Suffragettes vs. the State. There's also a programme of regular talks and activities, some of which are free. The building is accessible and there is also a café and bookshop. The archives is housed in it's own grounds which has a lake with swans and ducks, and outdoor seating.

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Disabled Access Information for The National Archives

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Arrival and indoor areas Walkway to main entrance • There is level access from the street to the main entrance. • The path is at least 2000mm wide. Main entrance • The main entrance has level access. • The outer door is 1050mm wide, sliding and automatic. • The inner door is revolving and automatic with button-activated accessible access doors at either side. The Welcome Desk • The foyer area is at least 7000mm wide and the door is at least 2000mm wide. • The Welcome Desk has a low section. • Wheelchairs can be provided from here. Lift • We have one public lift which serves the first and second floors. • The lift door is 920mm wide. The lift is 900mm wide and 1350mm deep. • The lift announces and shows the floor number at each floor and the buttons have raised numbers/letters. Shop • The shop is located through the doors to the left of the Welcome Desk. From the main entrance, there is level access and the route is at least 2000mm wide. • The route through the shop is at least 800mm wide. • We have a carer’s ticket policy for visitors attending on-site events. Gallery • There is level access from the main entrance to the Gallery. The route is at least 2000mm wide. The door is 6000mm wide. • Some display information is situated in a low position, for wheelchair users. Some videos have subtitles and there is low lighting to preserve the original documents on display. Open Reading Room • From the main entrance to this area, there is level access and a lift from the ground floor. • From the lift to this area, the route is 970mm wide and the door is 920mm wide. • Some display information is situated in a low position for wheelchair users. • Seating is available in this area. • There is a hearing loop and videos have subtitles. Library • From the main entrance to this area, there is level access from the lift. • From the lift to the library, the route is at least 970mm wide and the narrowest door is 920mm wide. • Some display information is situated in a low position for wheelchair users and there is some seating available. Document Reading Room (First floor) • From the main entrance to the First Floor Document Reading Room, there is level access from the lift. • From the lift to the Reading Room, the route is at least 970mm wide and the narrowest door is 920mm wide. • Some display information is situated in a low position for wheelchair users and there is seating provided. • There is a hearing loop and videos have subtitles. Map and Large Document Reading Room (Second floor) • From the main entrance to the Map and Large Document Reading Room, there is level access from the lift. • From the lift to the Reading Room, the route is at least 970mm wide and the narrowest door is 920mm wide. • Some display information is situated in a low position for wheelchair users and there is seating provided. • There is a hearing loop and videos have subtitles. The Auditorium (First floor) • From the main entrance to The Auditorium, there is level access from the lift. • From the lift to The Auditorium, the route is at least 970mm wide and the narrowest door is 950mm wide. • Removable seating is provided to allow space for wheelchairs. • There is a hearing loop and videos have subtitles. Events Studio (First floor) • From the main entrance to the Events Studio, there is level access from the lift. • From the lift to the Events Studio, the route is at least 970mm wide and the narrowest door is 850mm wide. • Removable seating is provided to allow space for wheelchairs. • There is a hearing loop and videos have subtitles Learning Spaces (First floor) • There are three Learning Spaces, all located on the first floor. One next to The Auditorium, one in the Open Reading Room and one in the First Floor Document Reading Room. • There is level access from the lift to each of the rooms. • The narrowest doors are 880mm wide. • Removable seating is provided to allow space for wheelchairs. • There is a hearing loop and videos have subtitles. Places to eat and drink The Dining Room • Our main dining area is located on the ground floor, opposite the Shop and Gallery. • From the main entrance, there is level access and the route is at least 800mm wide. • To get to a table, there are no steps. • If you need table service, catering staff can assist you. • There is no background music. • The table and plates have high colour contrast. • We cater for sugar-free (diabetic), vegetarian, gluten-free (coeliac), lactose-free, nut-free, low-fat, low-potassium, low-sodium, high-fibre and vegan specific diets. Please do ask a member of staff for dietary information. The Balcony • This is a seating area located on the first floor connected to the Open Reading Room. There is also seating outside on the balcony areas which does not have level access. • There is level access from the lift and the route is at least 920mm wide. • There are no steps to get to a table. • There is no background music. The Terrace • The Terrace seating area is located outside the main entrance. Anyone visiting our grounds may use this area. • There is level access and a permanent ramp. • There are no steps to get to a table. • There is no background music Public toilets • All of our accessible toilets have level access, some from the lift. • The toilet doors are 910mm wide. • There is 1200mm in front of the toilet and the seat is 425mm high, with handrails. The Dining Room toilets – Men and Women • These are public toilets in the Dining Room area on the ground floor with an accessible toilet inside Security Control Room • This is a public toilet for visitors with accessibility needs. This is also a Changing Places toilet. • This toilet is located opposite the Security Control Room and to the right of the main entrance. First floor lift area • This is a public toilet for visitors with accessibility needs. • This toilet has level access and is located next to the lift door on the first floor Library accessible toilets • These are public toilets for visitors with accessibility needs. • They are located in the Library area on the first floor. Second floor lift area • This is a public toilet for visitors with accessibility needs. • This toilet is located next to the lift door on the second floor with level access. Outside areas Pocket park • This is a grassy and pebbled area with picnic benches which is open to all visitors. • Each route from the main entrance and car park is at least 1050mm wide. • Assistance dogs can be walked and toileted here. Please dispose of dog mess in the outdoor bins provided. Smoking area • The smoking area has a shelter and level access and is located through the rear entrance doors. • The entrance is 1050mm wide. Additional details • We provide wheelchairs at no charge which can be requested for at the Welcome Desk. • We have hearing loops in the following places: Readers Registration Desk, Open Reading Room, Research Enquiries Desks, Document Reading Room Information Desk, Map and Large Document Reading Room • The fire alarm is a continuous bell with flashing lights. • We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors. All public staff are trained to assist with evacuating visitors safely and appropriately. • Glass doors have contrast markings. The walls and doors have high colour contrast. • There are power points in public areas on the first and second floors.

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Parking • We have a visitor car park which has level access and the route is at least 3200mm wide. • We have free accessible parking bays at the rear entrance of the building (which are about 60m from the door). • The nearest drop-off point to The National Archives is at the rear of the building, adjacent to the designated accessible parking spaces. For sat navs use the postcode TW9 4AD (Bessant Drive).

Dedicated parking

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