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.
| Day | Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday and Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday to Thursday | 10am to 7pm |
| Friday and Saturday | 10am to 5pm |
Last admission is 10 minutes before closing and last production of archives is 30 minutes before closing.
You do not need an appointment, however you might like to telephone first to check we have the materials you want.
We don't take advance orders for documents but can usually produce items from the strong rooms without a long delay.
Please note Easter opening hours for 2019 are:
Thursday 18 April - Open 10am to 7pm
Friday 19 April - Monday 22 April - Closed
Tuesday 23 April - Open 10am to 7pm
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.
View the searchroom rules (PDF, 136KB).
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.
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:
The Archives and Local Studies service exists to support 'Read Learn Connect' by:
Please read and download our policy documents: