Researching online

Access

The National Archives strives to make access to our collection - online and on site - as easy as possible for as many people as we can.

Our archival records are available in two ways: online or on site. We recommend you try our extensive online services first, where you can search several databases and download some of the more popular records which we have made available digitally. If you are unable to find what you are looking for online, you can visit us to see the original records.

Find out what's available online in our help pages

The National Archives Catalogue allows you to find details about the records we hold. When you find the document you are looking for, you have two choices:

A growing collection of born digital government records is available from Electronic Records Online.

Our busy education department makes sure that schools and colleges get hands-on experience of historic documents. We have used innovative methods, from open days and behind-the-scenes tours, to the widely admired Moving Here website, to involve the whole community in our work.

We also offer a wealth of information about records held elsewhere. The Access to Archives database contains catalogues describing archives held locally in England and Wales; and the National Register of Archives is the online resource for historical records created by individuals, families, businesses and organisations.