Record offices are the official place of storage for most historical records in the United Kingdom. This includes parish marriage registers, which are usually sent to the nearest county record office once they are full. Each record office has an enormous range of historical material, some of which will date back over 800 years. Always contact the record office before you visit, as you may need to book in advance.
Deciding which one to call or visit
Some counties have one record office, some have several. If you’re not sure which office to contact, start with the one physically closest to the location of the event you are trying to find out about, then work outwards. A quick phone call will give you an idea of whether an office might have the information you require. The list is ordered by modern (not historical) county.
View the record offices on a map
County | Record Office | Address | Phone Number |
---|---|---|---|
UK | The National Archives | The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU | +44 (0)20 8876 3444 |
UK | Society of Genealogists | Society of Genealogists, 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London, EC1M 7BA | +44 (0)20 7251 8799 |
Bedfordshire | Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Record Service | Beds & Luton Archives & Records Service, Riverside Building, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AP | +44 (0)1234 228833 |
Berkshire | Berkshire Record Office | Berkshire Record Office, 9 Coley Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 6AF | +44 (0)118 937 5132 |
Buckinghamshire | Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies | Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies, County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 1UU | +44 (0)1296 382587 |
Cambridgeshire | Cambridgeshire Archives | Cambridgeshire Archives, Box RES 1009, Shire Hall, Castle Hill, Cambridge, CB3 0AP | +44 (0)1223 699399 |
Cambridgeshire | Huntingdonshire Archives and Local Studies | Huntingdonshire Archives and Local Studies, Huntingdon Library and Archives, Princes Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3PA | +44 (0)1480 372738 |
Cambridgeshire | Cambridge University Library – Department of Manuscripts and University Archives | Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, Cambridge University Library, West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DR | +44 (0)1223 333143 |
Cambridgeshire | Wisbech & Fenland Museum | Wisbech & Fenland Museum, Museum Square, Wisbech, Cambs, PE13 1ES | +44 (0)1945 583817 |
Cheshire | Cheshire Archives and Local Studies | Cheshire Archives and Local Studies Service, Cheshire Record Office, Duke Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1RL | +44 (0)1244 972574 |
Cornwall | Cornwall Record Office | Cornwall Record Office, Old County Hall, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3AY | +44 (0)1872 323127 |
Cumbria (some Lancashire, North Yorkshire & Isle of Man records) | Barrow Archive and Local Studies Centre | Cumbria Archive and Local Studies Centre, Barrow, 140 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 1XW | +44 (0)1229 407377 |
Cumbria (some Isle of Man records) | Carlisle Archive Centre | Cumbria Archive Centre, Carlisle, Lady Gillford`s House, Petteril Bank Road, Carlisle, CA1 3AJ | +44 (0)1228 227285 |
Cumbria (some Lancashire & North Yorkshire records) | Kendal Archive Centre | Cumbria Archive Centre, Kendal, Kendal County Offices, Kendal, LA9 4RQ | +44 (0)1539 713540 |
Cumbria | Whitehaven Archive and Local Studies Centre | Cumbria Archive and Local Studies Centre, Whitehaven, Scotch Street, Whitehaven, CA28 7NL | +44 (0)1946 506420 |
Derbyshire | Derbyshire Record Office | Derbyshire Record Office, County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AG | +44 (0)1629 539202 |
Devon | Devon Heritage Services | Devon Record Office, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter, Devon, EX2 7NL | +44 (0)1392 384253 |
Devon (some records from eastern parishes of Cornwall) | Plymouth and West Devon Record Office | Plymouth and West Devon Record Office, Unit 3, Clare Place, Plymouth, PL4 0JW | +44 (0)1752 305940 |
Dorset | Dorset History Centre | Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1RP | +44 (0)1305 250550 |
Durham | Durham County Record Office | Durham County Record Office, County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UL | +44 (0)191 3833253 |
Durham | Teesside Archives | Teesside Archives, Exchange House, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough TS1 1DB | +44 (0)1642 248321 |
East Sussex | East Sussex Record Office | East Sussex Record Office, The Maltings, Castle Precincts, Lewes, BN7 1YT | +44 (0)1273 482349 |
East Riding of Yorkshire | East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service | East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service, County Hall, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU17 9BA | +44 (0)1482 392790 |
East Riding of Yorkshire | Hull City Archives | Hull History Centre, Hull City Council, Worship Street, Hull, HU2 8BG | +44 (0)1482 317500 |
Essex | The Essex Record Office | Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Essex, CM2 6YT | +44 (0)1245 244644 |
Gloucestershire | Gloucestershire Archives | Gloucestershire Archives, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester, GL1 3DW | +44 (0)1452 425295 |
Gloucestershire | Bristol Record Office | Bristol Record Office, ‘B’ Bond Warehouse, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN | +44 (0)117 922 4224 |
Greater London (plus Middlesex records) | London Metropolitan Archives | London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 0HB | +44 (0)20 7332 3820 |
Greater London | City of Westminster Archives Centre | City of Westminster Archives Centre, 10 St Ann’s Street, London SW1P 2DE | +44 (0)20 7641 5180 |
Greater London | Barking and Dagenham Archives and Local Studies Centre | Archives and Local Studies Centre, Valence House Museum, Becontree Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 3HT | +44 (0)20 8227 2033 |
Greater London (some Kent records) | Bromley Local Studies Library and Archives | Bromley Central Library, High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1EX | +44 (0)20 8461 7170 |
Greater London (some Kent records) | Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre | Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre, Townley Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA6 7HJ | +44 (0)203 045 3369 |
Greater London | Brent Archives | Brent Archives, George Furness House, 2-12 Grange Road, Willesden NW10 2QY | +44 (0)20 8937 3541 |
Greater London | Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre | Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre, Holborn Library, 32-38 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8PA | +44 (0)20 7974 6342 |
Greater London | Croydon Local Studies Library | Local Studies Library, Level 3, Central Library, Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, Croydon, CR9 1ET | +44 (0)20 8726 6900 |
Greater London | Ealing Local History Centre | Ealing Local History Centre, 103 Ealing Broadway Centre, The Broadway, London, W5 5JY | +44 (0)20 8825 8194 |
Greater London | Enfield Local Studies Library & Archive | Enfield Local Studies Library & Archive, Thomas Hardy House (1st floor), 39 London Road, Enfield EN2 6DS | +44 (0)208 379 2724 |
Greater London | Greenwich Heritage Centre | Greenwich Heritage Centre, Artillery Square, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, SE18 4DX | +44 (0)20 8854 2452 |
Greater London | Hackney Archives | Hackney Archives, Dalston CLR James Library and Hackney Archives, Dalston CLR James Library, Dalston Square, E8 3BQ | +44 (0)20 8356 8925 |
Greater London | Hammersmith & Fulham Archives and Local History Centre | Hammersmith & Fulham Archives and Local History Centre, Ground Floor, The Lilla Huset, 191 Talgarth Road, Hammersmith, W6 8BJ | +44 (0)20 7332 3820 |
Greater London | Haringey Archive Service | Archivist, Bruce Castle Museum, Lordship Lane, London, N17 8NU | +44 (0)20 8808 8772 |
Greater London | Harrow Civic Centre Reference Library | Civic Centre Reference Library, P.O. Box 4, Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 2XY | +44 (0)20 8424 1055 |
Greater London | Hillingdon Local Heritage | Local Heritage, Uxbridge Library, 14-15 High Street, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 1HD | +44 (0)1895 250702 |
Greater London | Islington Local History Centre | Islington Local History Centre, Finsbury Library, 245 St John Street, London, EC1V 4NB | +44 (0)20 7527 7988 |
Greater London | Kensington and Chelsea Local Studies | Kensington Central Library, Phillimore Walk, London, W8 7RX | +44 (0)20 7361 3010 |
Greater London | Kingston Local History Room | Kingston Local History Room, Room 46, North Kingston Centre, Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 5PE | +44 (0)20 8547 6738 |
Greater London | Lambeth Archives | Lambeth Archives, Minet Library, 52 Knatchbull Road, London, SE5 9QY | +44 (0)20 7926 6076 |
Greater London | Lewisham Local History and Archives Centre | Local History and Archives Centre, 199 – 201 Lewisham Library, Lewisham High Street, London, SE13 6LG | +44 (0)20 8314 8501 |
Greater London | Newham Archives and Local Studies Library | Newham Archives and Local Studies Library, Stratford Library, The Grove, Stratford E15 1EL | +44 (0)20 3373 6881 |
Greater London | Richmond Local Studies Collection | Local Studies, Old Town Hall, Whittaker Ave, Richmond, TW9 1TP | +44 (0)20 8734 3309 |
Greater London | Southwark Local History Library | John Harvard Library, 211 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1JA | +44 (0)20 7525 0232 |
Greater London | Sutton Local Studies & Archives Centre | Local Studies & Archives Centre, 2nd Floor, Central Library, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1EA | +44 (0)20 8770 4747 |
Greater London | Waltham Forest Archives and Local Studies Library | Waltham Forest Archives and Local Studies Library, Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 9NH | +44 (0)20 8496 4381 |
Greater London | Wandsworth Heritage Service | Wandsworth Heritage Service, Battersea Library, Lavender Hill, London, SW11 1JB | +44 (0)20 8871 7753 |
Greater Manchester | Greater Manchester County Record Office | Greater Manchester County Record Office, 56 Marshall Street, New Cross, Manchester, M4 5FU | +44 (0)161 832 5284 |
Greater Manchester | Bury Archives Service | Archives Service, Bury Museum and Archives Moss Street, Bury, BL9 0DR | +44 (0)161 253 6782 |
Greater Manchester | Oldham Local Studies & Archives | Local Studies & Archives, 84 Union Street, Oldham, OL1 1DN | +44 (0)161 770 4654 |
Hampshire | Hampshire Archives and Local Studies | Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8TH | +44 (0)1962 846154 |
Hampshire | Southampton Archives | Southampton Archives, Civic Centre, Civic Centre Road, Southampton, SO14 7LY | +44 (0)23 8083 2251 |
Hampshire | Portsmouth Records Office | Portsmouth History Centre, Norrish Central Library, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2DX | +44 (0)23 9268 8046 |
Isle of Wight | Isle of Wight Record Office | Isle of Wight Record Office, 26 Hillside, Newport, PO30 2EB | +44 (0)1983 823820 |
Herefordshire | Herefordshire Archive Service | Herefordshire Archive Service, Herefordshire Record Office, Harold Street, Hereford, HR1 2QX | +44 (0)1432 260750 |
Hertfordshire | Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies | Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies, Register Office Block, CHR 002, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8EJ | +44 (0)300 123 4049 |
Kent | Kent History & Library Centre | Kent History & Library Centre, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LQ | +44 (0)3000 413131 |
Kent | Canterbury Cathedral Archives | Canterbury Cathedral Archives, The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2EH | +44 (0)1227 865330 |
Kent | Medway Archives & Local Studies | Medway Archives Office, Civic Centre, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 4AU | +44 (0)1634 332714 |
Lancashire | Lancashire Archives | Lancashire Archives, Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2RE | +44 (0)1772 533039 |
Leicestershire | The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland | The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland, Long Street, Wigston Magna, Leicester, LE18 2AH | +44 (0)116 257 1080 |
Lincolnshire | Lincolnshire Archives | Lincolnshire Archives, St Rumbold Street, Lincoln, LN2 5AB | +44 (0)1522 782040 |
Merseyside | Liverpool Record Office | Liverpool Record Office, William Brown St, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 8EN | +44 (0)151 233 5817 |
Middlesex | Middlesex records are in the London Metropolitan Archives | ||
Norfolk | Norfolk Record Office | Norfolk Record Office, The Archive Centre, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2DQ | +44 (0)1603 222599 |
North Yorkshire | North Yorkshire County Record Office | County Record Office, Malpas Road, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 8TB | +44 (0)1609 777585 |
North Yorkshire | York Archives and Local History | Archives and Local History, Acomb Explore, Front Street, Acomb, York, YO24 3BZ | +44 (0)1904 552651 |
Northamptonshire | Northamptonshire Record Office | Records Office, Wootton Hall Park, Northampton, NN4 8BQ | +44 (0)1604 762129 |
Northumberland | Northumberland Archives | Northumberland Archives, Woodhorn, QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF | +44 (0)1670 528080 |
Northumberland | Berwick-upon-Tweed Record Office | Berwick-upon-Tweed Record Office, Council Office, Wallace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1ED | +44 (0)1289 301865 |
Nottinghamshire | Nottinghamshire Archives | Nottinghamshire Archives and Southwell & Nottingham Diocesan Record Office, County House, Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham, NG2 1AG | +44 (0)8449 808080 |
Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire History Centre | Oxfordshire History Centre, St Luke’s Church, Temple Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2HT | +44 (0)1865 398200 |
Shropshire | Shropshire Archives | Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ | +44 (0)1743 255350 |
Somerset | Somerset Archives and Local Studies | Somerset Heritage Centre, Brunel Way, Langford Mead, Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, TA2 6SF | +44 (0)1823 278805 |
Somerset | Bath & North East Somerset Record Office | Bath & North East Somerset Record Office, Guildhall, High Street, Bath, BA1 5AW | +44 (0)1225 477421 |
South Yorkshire | Barnsley Archives and Local Studies | Barnsley Archives and Local Studies, Barnsley Central Library, Shambles Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2JF | +44 (0)1226 773950 |
South Yorkshire | Doncaster Archives | Doncaster Archives, King Edward Road, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 0NA | +44 (0)1302 859811 |
South Yorkshire | Rotherham Archives and Local Studies | Archives & Local Studies, Clifton Park Museum, Clifton Lane, Rotherham, S65 2AA | +44 (0)1709 336632 |
South Yorkshire | Sheffield Archives | Sheffield Archives, 52 Shoreham Street, Sheffield, S1 4SP | +44 (0)114 203 9395 |
Staffordshire | Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service (Stafford) | Staffordshire Record Office, Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LZ | +44 (0)1785 278379 |
Staffordshire | Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service (Burton) | Burton Family and Local History Centre, Burton Library, Riverside, High Street, Burton upon Trent, DE14 1AH | +44 (0)1283 239556 |
Staffordshire | Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service (Lichfield) | Lichfield Record Office, The Friary, Lichfield, WS13 6QG | +44 (0)1543-510720 |
Staffordshire | Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service (Stoke on Trent) | Stoke on Trent City Archives, City Central Library, Bethesda Street, Hanley, Stoke on Trent, ST1 3RS | +44 (0)1782 238420 |
Staffordshire | Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service (William Salt Library) | William Salt Library, Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LZ | +44 (0)1785 278372 |
Suffolk | Suffolk Record Office (Bury St Edmunds) | Suffolk Record Office, 77 Raingate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2AR | +44 (0)1284 741212 |
Suffolk | Suffolk Record Office (Ipswich) | Suffolk Record Office, Gatacre Road, Ipswich, IP1 2LQ | +44 (0)1473 263909 |
Suffolk | Suffolk Record Office (Lowestoft) | Suffolk Record Office, Clapham Road, Lowestoft, NR32 1DR | +44 (0)1502 674680 |
Surrey | Surrey History Centre | Surrey History Centre, 130 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6ND | +44 (0)1483 518737 |
Tyne & Wear | Tyne & Wear Archives | Archives, Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 4JA | +44 (0)191 277 2248 |
Warwickshire | Warwickshire County Record Office | Warwickshire County Record Office, Priory Park, Cape Road, Warwick, CV34 4JS | +44 (0)1926 738959 |
West Midlands | Library of Birmingham | Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham | +44 (0)121 242 4242 |
West Midlands | Coventry History Centre | Coventry History Centre, Jordan Well, Coventry, CV1 5QP | +44 (0)2476 834060 |
West Midlands | Dudley Archives and Local History Service | Dudley Archives and Local History Service, Mount Pleasant Street, Coseley, West Midlands, WV14 9JR | +44 (0)1384 812770 |
West Midlands | Wolverhampton City Archives | Wolverhampton City Archives, Molineux Hotel Building, Whitmore Hill, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV1 1SF | +44 (0)1902 552480 |
West Sussex | West Sussex Record Office | West Sussex Record Office, 3 Orchard Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1DD | +44 (0)1243 753602 |
West Yorkshire | Bradford Local Studies | Bradford Local Studies, Central Library, Prince’s Way, Bradford, BD1 1NN | +44 (0)1274 433686 |
West Yorkshire | West Yorkshire Archive Service (Bradford) | WYAS, Bradford Central Library, Prince’s Way, Bradford, BD1 1NN | +44 (0)1274 435099 |
West Yorkshire | West Yorkshire Archive Service (Calderdale) | WYAS, Central Library, Northgate House, Northgate, Halifax, HX1 1UN | +44 (0)1422 392636 |
West Yorkshire | West Yorkshire Archive Service (Kirklees) | WYAS, Central Library, Princess Alexandra Walk, Huddersfield, HD1 2SU | +44 (0)1484 221966 |
West Yorkshire | West Yorkshire Archive Service (Leeds) | WYAS, Nepshaw Lane South, Morley, Leeds, LS27 7JQ | +44 (0)113 393 9788 |
West Yorkshire | West Yorkshire Archive Service (Wakefield) | WYAS, Registry of Deeds, Newstead Road, Wakefield, WF1 2DE | +44 (0)1924 305980 |
West Yorkshire | Yorkshire Archaeological Society | Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Claremont, 23 Clarendon Road, Leeds, LS2 9NZ | +44 (0)113 245 7910 |
Wiltshire | Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre | Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Cocklebury Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3QN | +44 (0)1249 705500 |
Worcestershire | The Hive | The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, WR1 3PB | +44 (0)1905 822866 |