The National Archives of Scotland (NAS) is keen to ensure that
its services are fully accessible by people with disabilities.
If you are a person with disability we recommend that you contact
us in advance of a visit so that we can advise you further about
access and ensure that records required are available.
Staff will help readers with disabilities where possible. However, we cannot provide dedicated aids to help with research. If you feel that you will require assistance, then we recommend that you bring a friend or assistant along too.
Reader’s ticket
In order to use the archives, you and any friend or helper will have to be issued with a reader's ticket. For this you should both bring proof of identity (photographic identification and proof of current address) plus two colour passport- sized photographs on the day of a visit. Acceptable forms of identification include photographic driving licence, passport, student matriculation card and national identity card. For proof of current address acceptable forms include a recent bank statement, utility bill and insurance documents. Further information about applying for a reader's ticket can be found in the preparing to visit section of our website.
Cloakrooms
All external coats and bags (larger than 20cm x 15cm) must be placed
in lockers. Lockers operate using
a one pound coin, which is refundable.
How to get to the NAS
For more information on how to get to the NAS and parking, please see our section marked Getting to the National Archives of Scotland.
General Register House
In General Register House, there are two search rooms, the Legal
Search Room and the Historical Search Room both of which are on
the first floor. Access to both search rooms is via the side entrance
on the West side of General Register House, off West Register Street,
where there is a lift available. As this lift is not always switched
on you should ring the bell next to the lift to notify staff of
your arrival. On arrival a member of staff will take you up to the
Historical Search Room on the first floor.
If you need assistance, our staff will help
you.
Services for wheelchair users
Both search rooms offer height-adjustable tables and the use of a manual wheelchair if required.
Our microfilm readers
are not on height-adjustable tables. If you think you will require
the use of a microfilm reader, contact
us in advance of a visit and we will arrange for a reader
to be moved to an adjustable table. Please note we no longer have a microfilm reader/printer and are unable to provide paper copies from microfilm.
Services for the hearing impaired
If you have hearing difficulties, we have an induction loop system
in our search rooms and a number of members of staff who are able
to sign. Please contact us in advance if you require a member of staff who can sign.
Services for the sight impaired
Should you need a magnifying glass we will happily provide you with one on request.
If you are using the online resources you can enlarge the text size by using your browser options on your own computer.
You can adjust the text size on computers in the search rooms. All our digitised records are available from computers in the Historical Search Room and the associated software allows a user to zoom in and magnify the images.
Our microfilm readers can magnify images between 10-24 times the original film size. Please note we no longer have a microfilm reader/printer and are unable to provide paper copies from microfilm.
Unfortunately, we do not allow guide dogs in the search rooms. Individuals with little or no sight are advised to bring an assistant to assist in the absence of a guidedog and to read the documents.
We do not hold braille versions of the records or publications.
If you require information about our services in large print or other formats these can be made available on request (contact us).
Emergency procedures
In the event of an emergency, wheelchair users and visitors who have
mobility problems will be taken to a place of safety until the fire
brigade arrives. Contact will be maintained via phone or by a member
of staff (voluntary) staying with any disabled visitors until the
fire brigade arrives.
If you require help leaving the building, contact a member of staff who will
help escort you out of the building.
Getting to the National Archives of Scotland
By Train
General Register House
Waverley Station
Waverley Station is 0.1 miles from General Register House. For disabled access information at this station, please contact National Rail (link available under ‘Other websites’ on the left-hand side of this page).
Haymarket Station
Haymarket Station is 1.2 miles from General Register House. For
disabled access information at this station, please contact National
Rail (link available under Other websites on the left-hand side
of this page).
Disabled parking
General Register House
There are two disabled parking bays in the court yard of General
Register House and New Register House. Access to the court yard
is gained from West Register Street which is off St Andrews Square
(How to find us).
There are currently a number of diversions in the City Centre due
to the tram works which includes restrictions on access to St Andrew
Square. Information on current street closures can be found on the
Trams for Edinburgh website (link available under Other websites
on the left-hand side of this page).
Two disabled parking bays are available between 08.45 and 17.00
hours in the Register House Courtyard. These parking bays are for
both NAS and Scotlandpeople visitors. A parking bay can be booked
by emailing enquiries@scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk
or phoning 0131 314 4300. Please provide your name, car registration
number, model and colour of car, your expected arrival time and
duration of visit (if possible). You will need to show appropriate
documentation on the day. If the disabled parking bays are full,
there are two further public disabled parking bays outside the court
yard on West Register Street.
Buses
General Register House is within easy
reach of local bus stops on Princes Street. For information on disabled
access on bus services to Princes Street, contact the local public
transport providers for Edinburgh City Council. Contact details
can be found on the Traveline website (link available under Other
websites on the left-hand side of this page).
If you are coming from further afield and are travelling by coach.
Edinburgh Bus Station is located off Elder Street. Access to the
Station is via either Elder Street or St Andrew's Square. The St
Andrews Square entrance has a lift or escalator down to the main
concourse. The Bus Station (from St Andrew's Square Entrance) is
0.2 miles from General Register House.
Taxis
There is a taxi rank at platform level at Waverley Station and at street level at Haymarket. When leaving The National Archives of Scotland you can ask a member of staff at reception to call you a taxi.
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