Containing over 200,000 items on the history of the borough, the Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre can help you discover the history of your family, the area you live in, local buildings, and more.

Our address

picture of holborn library
Holborn Library in 1960 © Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre

2nd Floor
Holborn Library
32-38 Theobalds Road
London
WC1X 8PA

Our opening hours

Monday: 10am to 6pm
Tuesday: 10am to 6pm
Thursday: 10am to 7pm
Alternate Saturdays: 11am to 5pm

Kindly note we will be closing at 6pm on Thursday 7 December for a special event. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Local Studies and Archives Centre opening hours over Christmas and New Year:

Monday 25 December 2023 – CLOSED
Tuesday 26 December 2023 – CLOSED
Wednesday CLOSED as usual
Thursday 28 December 2023 – OPEN 10am to 7pm
Friday CLOSED as usual
Saturday 30 December 2023 – OPEN 11am to 5pm
Monday 1 January 2024 – CLOSED

We will return to our usual opening times on Tuesday 2 January 2024

Note: From Monday 8 January to Thursday 18 January 2024  we will be closed for essential behind the scenes collections work. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. 

The Saturdays we will be open in 2023 are: 

December 2, 16 and 30 

The Saturdays we will be open in 2024 are:

January 27
February 10, 24
March 9, 23
April 6, 20
May 4, 18
June 1, 15, 29
July 13, 27
August 10, 24
September 7, 21
October 5, 19
November 2, 16, 30
December 14, 28

Consultation of archives is by prior appointment.

To make an appointment or if you have an enquiry, contact the Local Studies and Archives Centre:

Email: localstudies@camden.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7974 6342

 

Hidden Voices Project

Volunteers are wanted to participate in an exciting new project to unearth Camden's hidden Black history. Participants will receive training in oral history and historical research.

Full details of Hidden Voices Project

If you are interested please email the project manager, Emily Momoh at emily.momoh@camdenbbh.org

Our catalogue

Search the catalogue of our collections

Oil paintings online

You can view our oil paintings collection online.

Local history links

Links to websites containing information on local history and archives