Search the archives

The National Archives has a number of searchable databases to help you find the records you need. We also have several searchable databases to help you find out about records held by other archives.

Accessions to repositories	This is an annual survey that collects information from throughout the British Isles about manuscript accessions in the course of the year.
Access to Archives (A2A)	Access to Archives (A2A) contains catalogues describing archives held throughout England and dating from the 900s to the present day.
Archon (Archive contact details)	Provides contact details for repositories that feature in the National Register of Archives.
The Catalogue	Whatever your area of research, you should be able to quickly track down the records you need. You can even order them in advance ready for you when you visit us.
Census records	Census records from 1851 to 1901
DocumentsOnline	DocumentsOnline is ideal for family, local historians and schools. You can see more than one million wills, including Shakespeare's will, World War One medal index cards or new government releases.
E 179	This database contains details of over 27,000 documents relating to lay taxation in England and Wales, including medieval and early-modern taxation records
Electronic Records Online	Access our born digital records online in an easy to view presentation format
Equity Pleadings	These legal papers from relate to domestic and trade disputes, the slave trade, women's rights under the law, piracy, mining and pay disputes
Location of hospital records	This database gives details about hospital records in the United Kingdom. Some records held by hospitals have also been included.
Macmillan online	This site gives access to documents from the Macmillan government of 1957-1963
Manorial Documents Register	Lists the location of manorial records, surviving in many local and national record offices or in private hands. Title deeds are not included
Moving Here	The Moving Here website looks at immigration to England over the last 200 years. The site currently focuses on Caribbean, Irish, South Asian and Jewish communities.
National Digital Archive of Datasets (NDAD)	These are electronic records generated by the government including crime figures, the census of schools, birth statistics and information on beer duty.
National Register of Archives	The National Register of Archives contains information on British manuscripts and historical records.
Trafalgar Ancestors database	Records of those who served in the Battle of Trafalgar (on the British side!) along with their service histories and any biographical details found.
Reference Library Catalogue	This catalogue contains 65,000 books, pamphlets, yearbooks and journals. We also have a growing collection of CD-ROMS and online resources.
UK Government Web Archive	Allows you to browse through government based websites under a number of categories.