The Reading Room is usually open on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:00-16:30 (closed between 13:00-13:45)

Please email [email protected] to make a booking, giving at least five working days’ notice. Please note, we may not be able to accommodate bookings on specific dates.

If you have a booking, please arrive at the Visitor Centre by the Christ Church Gate, and make your way to the Archives & Library entrance, through the Cloister. See map.

If you require step-free access via our lift, please let us know when booking or on arrival, as there is an alternate step-free entrance to the Reading Room.

Our reading room regulations are available here.

We can issue a reader’s ticket when you visit; there is no need to apply for one in advance.

Please bring photo ID with proof of your current address (eg UK driving licence).

For information about the Kent Family History Society's (KFHS) Canterbury branch, and other useful information about family history research in the Canterbury area, see the KFHS website.

We offer a range of reprographic services.

Please see our price list.

We also offer self-service photography in our reading room.

Please see the permit application form for further information.

Those wishing to publish images from our collections should complete our permission to publish form.

We will respond to routine enquiries about its collections.

Please contact [email protected]

We aim to respond to all enquiries within 10 working days.

For genealogical research and other detailed research on our collections, please see our Independent Researchers list.