Westminster City Archives offers access to extensive collections of local, family and community history sources. You must be a member of Westminster libraries to visit. You can apply for a library card online, or sign up at the Archives Centre or any branch library. Details can be found on the Westminster libraries pages.
You do not need an appointment to visit, however, once you have joined, please bring your library card each time you visit as it will enable you to access our PCs at the Centre.
Please call ahead on 020 7641 5180 on the day of your visit as there may short-notice access restrictions on archive material. Lines open at 9.30am.
1. Visiting us
Opening hours
You do not need an appointment, however you might like to telephone first to check we have the materials you want. Last admission is 10 minutes before closing and last production of archives is 30 minutes before closing.
We don't take advance orders for documents but can usually produce items from the strong rooms without a long delay.
Find us
- Address: City of Westminster Archives Centre, 10 St Ann's Street, London SW1P 2DE
- Nearest railway station: Victoria
- Nearby tube stations: St James's Park (District and Circle lines), Victoria (Victoria line), Westminster (Jubilee line)
- Buses: 11, 24, 211 along Victoria Street; 88 along Great Smith Street; 507 along Horseferry Road
Contact us
- Telephone: 020 7641 6200
- archives@westminster.gov.uk
2. Using the searchroom
The searchroom is located on the 5th floor of the Archives Centre.
Visitors are asked to leave coats and bags at the ground floor reception where secure lockers and coat stands are provided.
We ask visitors to use only pencils in the searchroom. Mobile phones are not permitted in the searchroom.
Photography of archive material is permitted in most cases. Please speak to a member of staff about what you would like to make copies of. Prices and further information on our reproduction options can be found here.
View the searchroom rules (PDF, 136KB).
Access for people with disabilities
For wheelchair users there is a steep downward gradient leading to a level entrance. The searchroom on the 5th floor can be accessed via a lift, which is suitable for use by wheelchair users and others with impaired mobility. There is level access on the ground floor to a wheelchair-accessible toilet as well as level access to the meeting room on the ground floor.
There is an induction loop in the meeting room and registered assistance dogs are welcome.
3. Services for schools
City of Westminster Archives run a number of cross-curricular history projects throughout the course of the academic year normally undertaken as an outreach service.
For more information on our education service, please contact our Archives Education and Interpretation Officer, Peter Daniel, on:
- telephone: 020 7641 6200
- pdaniel@westminster.gov.uk
- address: City of Westminster Archives Centre, 10 St Ann's Street, London SW1P 2DE
4. Policy documents
The Archives and Local Studies service exists to support 'Read Learn Connect' by:
- preserving and sharing the unique written and visual heritage of Westminster
- fostering community identity and pride for current and future generations
Please read and download our policy documents: