Visit Southampton Archives

Address: Southampton Archives, Lower Ground Floor, Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LY.

The What3words location of the main entrance to the Civic Centre is pads, wins, pace.

After entering the Civic Centre, staff at main reception are able to direct you or alternatively signage can be followed down to the lower ground floor and subsequently on to the reading room. The lower ground floor is accessible both by stairs and lift.

Plan your journey using My Journey or find parking.

The reading room is the main space visitors will use when viewing materials within our collection. As most of the records in our care are irreplaceable, there are some necessary rules we ask visitors to follow to help us preserve Southampton's archives for future generations:

• Visitors are required to sign-in
• On arrival in the reading room all bags and cases (with the exception of small handheld bags) must be placed in the lockers provided
• Only pencils are permitted in the reading room. These are available to borrow if needed
• Please do not bring anything to eat or drink. A refreshments room is available, should you want to take a break from your study/research
• Photography is only permitted with the permission of the Archivist on duty and requires purchase of a permit
• We request that noise is kept to a minimum to avoid disturbing other researchers. Phones and other smart devices should be silenced

See inside the reading room

• Accessible toilets
• Hearing loops (available on request)
• Magnifiers and other visual aids (available on request)

Southampton Archives works closely with the Local Studies and Maritime Library. The library houses the local history, maritime and family history collections of Southampton. It provides information on all aspects on the history of Southampton and Hampshire, including books, periodicals, newspapers, directories, maps and illustrations. Appointments made for Southampton Archives services on Wednesdays will take place in the Local Studies and Maritime Library.

We encourage all visitors to contact us prior to visiting.

If you need to get in touch with the Southampton Archives please visit the Archives contact us page.