| The National Archives of Scotland (NAS) has two buildings in central Edinburgh, General Register House and West Register House. Currently all records will be consulted at General Register House, except maps and plans in some cases.
Two search rooms are housed there: the Historical Search Room and the Legal Search Room. Both search rooms have the same
opening hours and are closed on
some public holidays.
For access to maps and plans see our maps and plans guidance page. |
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Before you visit
Due to records moves during 2011, we suggest readers contact us in advance of any visit so we can advise on availability of records.
If you have never visited the NAS search rooms before
please consult our preparing to
visit section and how
to find us. The NAS provides disabled
access at General Register
House, where there are wheelchair lifts.
Please note that if you wish to be accompanied by a child under the age of 16 years you must contact us in advance.
Please be aware that increasing numbers of NAS records are being made available digitally in the search rooms. You can ascertain whether the record you would like to see has been digitised through the NAS Catalogue. If you feel that your research would benefit from viewing the original, please make application as far in advance as possible, using the form below.
Application Form for Access to Original Records– Acrobat PDF 31.1KB, new window
Application Form for Access to Original Records – Rich Text Format 1.51MB, new window
Completed applications forms can be returned by post or email
The National Archives of Scotland
Historical Search Room
HM General Register House
2 Princes Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3YY
Email:
enquiries@nas.gov.uk
A project to digitise the valuation rolls (NAS ref. VR) is underway which means that some volumes will be removed from public access for a short time. For more details go to the guide to valuation rolls.
Opening hours
The
NAS search rooms are open Monday to Friday 09:00-16:30.
The latest time for
ordering records is 15:45.
The latest time for ordering copies of records
is 15:45.
No appointment is necessary except to consult adoption records. We do not operate an advance seat booking facility and seats are filled on a first come, first served basis. Note
that some material is outstored and requires 24 hours notice for production
in the search room. Please contact
us in advance if you need any special advice.
CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR 2011-12 - RESTICTED SERVICE
Please note that the Historical Search Room will be open on 28, 29 and 30 December 2011 but no productions of records will be made from off-site. Advance orders for records for consultation during this period should be made by 22 December at the latest. Access to records stored at General Register House and the Virtual Volumes system will be unaffected. Entry to the building will be via the main entrance to General Register House on Princes Street. The Historical Search Room will be closed on Monday 26 December 2011, Tuesday 27 December 2011, Monday 2 January 2012 and Tuesday 3 January 2012.
Public holidays 2011- 12
- Good Friday: 22 April 2011
- Easter Monday: 25 April 2011
- May Holiday: Monday 2 May 2011
- Edinburgh Autumn Holiday: Monday 19 September 2011
- Christmas Holidays: Monday 26 December 2011 - Tuesday 27 December 2011
- New Year Holidays: Monday 2 January – Tuesday 3 January 2012
StocktakingThe
NAS search rooms no longer close for annual stocktaking.
Which search
room should I go to?
Due to records moves during 2010-2011, we suggest readers contact us in advance of any visit so we can advise on availability of records.
General Register House (GRH) can be found at the east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh's city centre. Two search rooms are housed there: the Historical Search Room and the Legal Search Room. The Historical Search Room is used for researching family, local, national and international history. The Legal Search Room is used for certain types of legal and commercial research, primarily using the public registers and adoption records (for more details see the Legal Search Room page).
How to find us
See the How to find us page for maps showing the locations of our buildings.
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