What a fantastic result!

Here's a description of what happened to me, so you too can give it a go knowing what to expect.

First off, I had a look at their web site. It's a very comprehensive site, with details on special events, how to prepare for your fist visit, and an excellent search facility. The search method is the same you'll use once you get there, so it's worth having a few goes to familiarise yourself.

Access to Kew is straightforward. They do have car parking, but I prefer to travel by train in London. Note that Kew Gardens is not an Underground station. It's a 5 to 10 minutes walk to the PRO, signposted and easy to find.

The first thing you have to do on arrival is become a registered reader. There are several PCs in the entrance hall (a large, airy and well-lit foyer) where you can enter some basic details about yourself (name, contact information, nature of research). This is used to produce your Reader's card, which takes about 15 minutes. Then go to the registration counter. You need proof of identity, e.g. passport or driving licence, and you'll be given a card with your name. Hang onto this, you need it when they dish out the Reader's card.

You have a few minutes, so you'll be directed to the locker rooms. You can't take bags into the reading rooms so make sure you have a £1 coin for the locker. You might even have time for a quick browse around the bookshop.

When you return to the Registration desk for your card you then get an induction tour of the facilities. This takes about half an hour and is a great help. Once that is over it's up to you what you do next.

The documents I was looking for all turned out to be on microfilm. Microfilm operates on a self-serve basis, whereas if you need original documents you need to get hold of a pager first - just go to the document collection counter and ask for one. Then you put in a request for the required documents via one of the many PCs (you need your Reader number and pager number to do this). When the document is ready you'll be notified via the pager, so just go to the document collection counter and pick it up.

There is a cafe on site. Expense is relative - I had a hot meal with a drink for under £7, not what I'd call cheap but not bad for London prices. You can take your own food though, but obviously food and drink cannot be taken into the reading rooms.

Other things you can't take; pens, lots of loose paper, pencil sharpeners. There are pencil sharpeners outside the reading rooms.

I hope that's enough to get you interested.