Visit the search room
Limited access to archival records.
Due to ongoing issues at our main off site storage facility, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily cease access to records held at this site. Not all records are held at this site, so our search room will still be open, providing access to core Council records such as Edinburgh Town Council Minutes and accounts up to 1975, Leith Burgh Records, Edinburgh District Council minutes (full Council only) up to 1988, and other records.
This will come into effect at the beginning of July. Last orders for records held off site should be sent to the Archives by close of play on Tues 2nd July, for visits the following week, week commencing 8th July. If you are planning to visit the search room after this date, please do still get in touch and we can tell you if the records can be accessed. Records can also be ordered before 2nd July for visits later in the month.
We hope that this will only be for a short amount of time. Please send any queries to archive@edinburgh.gov.uk
Our public search room is open by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 10am and 4.30pm. We always have an archivist available to assist with any questions you may have. We are unlikely to be able to provide access to the search room unless you have booked a space at least a week in advance. This is because the majority of our collections are stored off-site and must be delivered to the search room before visits.
Email us to book a space
You will be assigned a seat for the duration of your visit and we ask that you do not use hand sanitiser during your visit to the search room as this can damage the records. There will be access to hand washing facilities on site.