Counting down to the new British Newspaper Archive

July is getting closer, and so is the launch of the new British Newspaper Archive. Here’s everything you need to know about how the migration is going, what happens next, and what (if anything) you need to do. 

The Sphere | 7 December 1963

The migration is on track 

Behind the scenes, our teams have been working carefully to make sure everything is ready for day one.  

Everything is progressing well, and we’re on track for the migration to take place in July. We’ll confirm the exact cut-over date closer to the time and we’ll give you plenty of notice when we do. 

You don’t need to do a thing 

This is the question we hear most: “Do I need to prepare?”

The short answer is no. You don’t need to create a new account, back up your data, or re-save anything. Everything associated with your account your bookmarks, your saved searches, your research will move across automatically. Your subscription will continue as usual with no changes to when renewals or payments are due. 

We’re moving from a .co.uk address to a .com because the British Newspaper Archive is used worldwide

A .com domain is easier to recognise, easier to find internationally, and helps search engines show our content to a wider global audience. 

This change supports our growing readership in the UK, Ireland, the US, and beyond, without changing how you access or use the archive. 

If you’ve bookmarked pages on the old site, those links will redirect to the new British Newspaper Archive, so nothing gets lost. 

Your research is coming with you 

All of your saved material is being carried across as part of the migration nothing is being deleted or left behind. 

On the new site, your saved content will live within a new feature called Workspaces, which give you more flexible, powerful ways to organise and build on your research. We’ll share guidance on how to get the most from this new feature soon. 

Why are we making this move? 

We’ve already published a full blog explaining the reasons behind the migration, and what the new site means for search, usability, and future development. 

More updates on the way 

As July approaches, we’ll keep you informed every step of the way, with updates, tips, and guidance so you feel confident and ready when the new site goes live. 

We’re excited for you to see it! 

Watch out for our next blog on our new advanced search features coming to the site.