The Postal Museum and Mail Rail Ride

Explore History and the beginning of the post through this interactive display! The exhibition includes 20^th century graphic art, quirky vehicles used to deliver mail, mysterious Valentine cards and a whole sheet of Penny Blacks (the first adhesive postage stamp).

Don’t take yourself too seriously, dress up in postal worker costumes and send your own secret messages using pneumatic tubes. Learn how an escaped lioness attacked a mail coach or about the post office cats appointed to reduce the “mouse problem” in the London offices.

Finally, travel back in time and enjoy a 15 minutes ride on the 100 years-old underground Post Office railway.

Upon booking, you will receive an immediate confirmation of payment from VisitBritain. If your preferred date and time are available, you will then receive a separate email from the Postal Museum within two working days confirming your visit.

Operating dates and times:

Open daily from 10am – 5pm

• Exhibitions start to close at 4.45pm
• Entrance to the First Mail ride starts at 10am (last entry at 4pm)
• The Counter Café and the Shops open at 10am and close at 5pm

Closure dates:

• 24-26 December
• On rare occasions, the museum may need to make cancellations to bookings due to changes in its operations

How to get there:

Address: 15-20 Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DA

By tube:

• The nearest Tube stations are Farringdon, Russell Square, King’s Cross and Chancery Lane

By train:

• King’s Cross St Pancras and Farringdon stations are both less than a mile away

By bus:

• Routes 17, 19, 38, 45, 46, 55, 63, 341 stop near The Postal Museum

Additional information:

• Please note the prefered selected time is your chosen time for the ride
• Please ensure you arrive at least 10 minutes before your time slot 
• The Mail Rail ride experience lasts 15 minutes
• You will be able to visit the Postal Museum exhibition (included in the ticket price) at your leisure before or after the ride
• Bring your ticket with you (on mobile or printed). Failure to present a valid ticket will result in not being admitted

Accessibility:

The museum is set over 2 sites, The Postal Museum and Mail Rail, separated by Phoenix Place, a public road.

• Assistance dogs are welcome at the museum
• All spaces in The Postal Museum have step-free access
• All spaces in the Mail Rail building have step-free access except for the ride
• Wheelchairs are available to borrow from the museum, on a first-come first-serve basis

“Favourite family outing so far. This was by far the favourite London attraction for our two children aged 6 and 9 (even beating the London Eye and Tower of London!). Riding the mail train was a highlight for all, but the exhibits themselves were also highly engaging…”– TripAdvisor April 2019

“This is a brilliant little museum. Being able to ride on a section of the Rail Mail and learn about that “hidden” part of London is fantastic, and a real one-off experience.” – TripAdvisor June 2019

“Outstanding. This is a hidden gem, well worth the time to visit this outstanding museum. The underground ride was a real highlight, showcasing when the mail was moved through London on its own tunnel rail system.” – TripAdvisor May 2019