Searchroom visit for July 2025
Oxfordshire History centre searchroom booking.
Select date and time
Location
Oxfordshire History Centre
Temple Road Cowley OX4 2HT United KingdomAbout this event
Opening Hours
Our searchroom is open to the public Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 09:30-16:30 and selected Saturdays. We are closed on Mondays, Fridays and Bank Holiday weekends.
Booking
We recommend advanced booking of a Searchroom session for consultation of all History Centre collections, including access to open shelf volumes and public computers / microfilm readers and printers.
There are two bookable sessions per day, 09:30-13:00 and 13:00-16:30. Bookings can be placed up to three hours in advance of a session, if available. You are welcome to arrive anytime between the start and end of your booked session.
Each person who is visiting should book a seat. There are no limitations on how many sessions you can book. If you are unsure what type of seat you will need, please contact us at oxhist@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
Archives Card
Visitors consulting original documents from Archives collections will be required to present their Archives Card. This has replaced the CARN ticket, which we are no longer accepting. No card is required for accessing Local Studies material (including newspaper /microfilms), open access material or public computers, but we encourage all visitors to apply for an Archives Card
Planning your visit
To help you plan your visit you can check our catalogues online through Heritage Search or Discovery. A guide to our online catalogues can be found here
Oxfordshire Health Archives catalogues are not currently available online. These catalogues are in hard copy (volume) format and can be consulted in the Searchroom.
Photographic collections: Our photographic collections are catalogued online at Picture Oxon. Thousands of photographs are available to view online, but not all are currently digitised. If you wish to consult any undigitised images, please contact us a week in advance of your visit at oxhist@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
Accessing documents: All documents from our strongrooms (archives, library materials and microfilms / fiches) must be ordered in the Searchroom, on arrival or during your visit. We are unable to accommodate advance requests.
More information about visiting Oxfordshire History Centre
Frequently asked questions
Yes, we have a small car park, including a disabled parking space. Please note we are unable to reserve parking spaces in advance
On arrival, you will be asked to sign in at the reception desk and a member of staff will issue you an access card for the searchroom. Please put your belongings into one of the free lockers provided. Use the clear plastic bag inside the locker to take the things you need into the searchroom.
No pens, food, liquids or bags are permitted in the searchroom. You may take pencils, paper, and personal devices (laptop/phone etc) into the searchroom
We have a café selling a small selection of hot and cold drinks and pre-packed snacks. Payment by card is available. Visitors are welcome to eat their lunch in the reception area.
A daily photographic digital permit is available to purchase, in order to take photographs of documents on your own device. Photocopying of certain archival resources is not permitted.
If you have archive, photographic or library material that you wish to deposit with or gift to Oxfordshire History Centre, you must contact us in advance. We will not accept any material brought in without prior agreement and an appointment.
A staff member will be present in the Searchroom to answer any queries you have. Oxfordshire Family History Society provides a help desk on Tuesdays and the first open Saturday of the month
Public areas of the building, including our searchroom, are fully wheelchair accessible. There is a disabled toilet available in reception. An adjustable height computer table is available for use in the Searchroom. Please let us know when booking if you have any other special requirements.