Visiting us

The Plymouth and West Devon Record Office is located on the eastern outskirts of Plymouth City Centre and is approximately one mile walking distance from Plymouth Railway Station.

Local bus services stop near to the Record Office. The express bus services from Exeter and Torbay also stop close to the Record Office on their way into Plymouth City Centre.

• Opening times
• Bookings
• Arriving by car
• Arriving by train
• Arriving by bus
• Charges
• Unable to visit us?
• Large print leaflet

Opening times

• Monday - Closed
• Tuesday - 9.30am to 5pm
• Wednesday - 9.30am to 5pm
• Thursday - 9.30am to 5pm
• Friday - 9.30am to 4pm

Please note that we are unable to produce original documents between 12 noon and 2pm although the office remains open during these times.

Bookings

A booking system operates for users of the Record Office. Bookings can be made up to one month in advance. You can book either a table space to look at documents or a microfiche to look at family history records. You can make a booking by using our online form, emailing pwdro@plymouth.gov.uk or by telephoning us on 01752 305940.

New users of the Record Office will need to register when you arrive and provide proof of identity which includes your name and address. Examples of acceptable forms of identification include:

• driving licence
• utility bill
• bank statement
• CARN (County Archives Research Network) ticket

Please bring a pencil (no pens please as these are not allowed in the Record Office). Your signature on the registration form implies an undertaking to observe the rules of the search room.

Arriving by car

• Google map of Unit 3 Clare Place PL4 0JW
• Google aerial photograph of Unit 3 Clare Place PL4 0JW
• Google street view of Unit 3 Clare Place PL4 0JW

We have a free car park at the side of the Record Office.

Arriving by train

Long distance trains to the Westcountry operated by First Great Western or Crosscounty Trains either terminate at Plymouth or stop at Plymouth en route to Penzance or Newquay. A good local train service also operates from stations in Cornwall and Devon to Plymouth.

• Walking and cycling map from Plymouth Railway Station to the Record Office

Arriving by bus

A local bus service stops by Sutton Snax on Sutton Road, about 150 metres from the Record Office.

• 7D (Target Travel) operates hourly (at 15 minutes past each hour from 9.15am) from Royal Parade to Coxside (Sutton Road).
• 7D (Target Travel) operates hourly (at 2 minutes past each hour from 10.02am) from Coxside (Sutton Road) to Royal Parade.

This bus continues to and arrives from Plymstock and Hooe and replaces the service 19 which now only serves Sutton Road during the morning and evening rush hours.

Two long distance buses stop outside the Vue Cinema complex or on Exeter Street (both a five minute walk away):

• X80 (First Devon and Cornwall) operates a hourly service from Torquay, Paignton, Totnes, Dartington, South Brent, Ivybridge, Lee Mill and Plympton to Coxside and Plymouth city centre (bus station)
• X38 (Stagecoach South West) operates a two hourly service from Exeter (bus station), Drumbridges, Ashburton and Buckfastleigh to Coxside and Plymouth city centre (bus station)

For all bus or train enquiries call Traveline on 0870 6082608 or visit the Traveline website.

Charges

It is free to use the Record Office. We have a list of charges for photocopying and for using cameras in the search room.

Unable to visit us?

A list of archive researchers is available for those unable to visit in person.

Large print leaflet

Details about us and how to visit us in large print.

Location map

View Plymouth and West Devon Record Office in a larger map