The National Archives in Kew has announced it will be open later than usual on Thursdays in May and June.

The news comes one month after the venue got the go-ahead for extended openings hours and to become fully licensed.

See related: National Archives in Kew gets go-ahead to become fully licensed venue

Visitors will be able to stay until 9pm during the trial period, but “there are currently no plans to extend the late opening hours beyond” May and June.

The National Archives said it “aims to establish” whether opening until 9pm “will allow visitors to conduct more meaningful research after a standard working day and to attract new visitors”.

It also wants to assess the impact the change will have on evening events, which start at about 6pm.

The reading room, the library, the shop, the keeper’s gallery, event spaces, and carpark will be open until 9pm, while the coffee bar will close at 8.30pm.

If you want to view documents from the archive you will still have to order them by 4pm.