Family history at the Archives Centre

The City of Westminster Archives Centre holds many sources to assist you with your family history research. 

Most of our records cover the area of the Current City of Westminster, which includes the former Metropolitan Boroughs of Marylebone and Paddington.  

Our knowledgeable staff can advise on your research and you will have access to a wide range of material both in our collections and online.

Family history resources

We have a wide variety of books and family history magazines to help you get started.  

Search our library catalogue.

Family history reading list (PDF)  

Research guides

There are a number of other research guides coming to this website that will help you understand more about our most popular family history records, such as census returns, parish records, and school records.  

Family history online

There are lots of records online which will help you get started with your family history research.  

Westminster Libraries provides free on-site access to both Ancestry and Find My Past.  

You must be in a library or at the archives centre to access these sites, either on a library computer on or your own device via the libraries' wifi.  

Ancestry

Ancestry contains records for the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States, amongst other.  

The records span from the 14th century almost up to the present day. 

Ancestry is also the digital home of the Westminster parish records. 

Findmypast

Findmypast is an online family history resource available for free within all Westminster libraries.   

Go to Findmypast 

Hiring a researcher

If you are unable to undertake research at the archives centre yourself, please see our research services page (internal).