About us

The National Archives of England, Wales and the United Kingdom has one of the largest archival collections in the world, spanning 1000 years of British history, from Domesday Book of 1086 to government papers recently released to the public.

You can see this collection at The National Archives in Kew, West London, or view certain documents online. Records are open on transfer unless they contain information covered by an exemption. If you want to see a record that has not been released, you can submit a Freedom of Information request. We will review the record, in consultation with the government department, which transferred it to us. If it is no longer subject to a Freedom of Information exemption, the information will be released to you. Under the Freedom of Information Act, anyone in the world can request information held at The National Archives.

The National Archives also acts as a clearing-house for information about the location of non-public records and manuscripts relating to British history kept elsewhere in the UK and overseas.

We give detailed guidance to government departments and the public sector on best practice in records management, as well as selecting public records of enduring historical value which will be kept for ever. We also advise custodians throughout the public and private sectors about the care of historical archives.