We Take A Journey To London’s Postal Museum And Journey The Mail Rail Underground Railway
Should you fancy dressing up as an old style postman and driving on London’s secret underground mail community, then pay a go to to The Postal Museum and journey the Mail Rail railway.
That is a kind of London museums we’ve which means to go to because it opened, however by no means fairly obtained spherical to (as a result of, properly…).
We have been enticed on this summer season after seeing a tube advert for the museum’s Mail Rail, the place guests get to journey on a prepare by means of the tunnels of London’s outdated underground mail supply community.
What can I say? We simply love public transport.
What Is There To Do At The Postal Museum?
The Principal Museum
The Publish Museum is on the smaller facet of the larger London museums and galleries (assume Florence Nightingale Museum quite than Pure Historical past or the Tate Fashionable). Nevertheless, it packs quite a bit in and my two tween-ish aged youngsters have been entertained for a great whereas.
There’s a medium quantity of postal historical past, and a great quantity of hands-on actions, from put up individual dress-up to a stamp designing pc, and rotary dial telephones. That made me really feel about 100 years outdated.
There’s additionally Postman Pat (in fact!) And I actually beloved the classic put up posters and retro stamp designs.
The Mail Rail At The Postal Museum
Included within the ticket worth is a journey on the Mail Rail, the place you make a journey on a tiny prepare by means of underground tunnels that have been used to ship mail round London.
There’s an audio / visible information instructed from the attitude of an outdated worker, with video projections on the wall of the tunnel. You go previous outdated gear and even see the outdated workers dartboard. As soon as the journey ends, you exit by means of a bit of the museum part that explains a bit extra concerning the background and mechanics of the railway, with a few switching and sorting video games.
We beloved the prepare, and located all of it fairly fascinating. It was in all probability our favorite a part of the museum. However be warned, the prepare compartment is tiny and fairly squashed. In all probability not nice in the event you’re claustrophobic!
The Mail Rail is positioned in a separate constructing to the primary museum, and also you’re given a time slot in your ticket (nevertheless, no-one checked our ticket).
Sorted! At The Postal Museum – Mail-Themed Gentle Play
Sorted! Is the postal place area, in the identical constructing because the Mail Rail. It’s a postal-themed gentle play space of the museum, arrange as a mini soft-play city youngsters can ship put up round. Sorted! is for ages 8 and below, and also you’ll want a separate ticket (you’ll be able to go to Sorted with out shopping for a ticket to the primary museum).
Mine are sadly too huge and much too tall for this bit, nevertheless it appeared enjoyable. On the day we visited there was a giant queue, however in the event you exit of college holidays I believe it will likely be much less busy.
The place Is The Postal Museum?
The Postal Museum is at 15-20 Phoenix Place, London, WC1X 0DA.
The Mail Rail and Sorted! the gentle play space, are each in a separate constructing to the primary museum.
What’s The Nearest Tube To The Postal Museum?
The closest tubes to the Postal Museum are Farringdon and Russell Sq.. We walked from King’s Cross, which took round 20 minutes.
How A lot Are Tickets To The Postal Museum?
Postal Museum tickets price £17 for adults and £12 for kids aged 3-15. It’s on the costly facet in comparison with the larger, free museums. Nevertheless, you save £1 (!) on every tickets by reserving on-line prematurely.
Tickets to the primary museum embrace a journey on the Mail Rail and limitless visits to the museum for a yr.
You should purchase a separate ticket for the Sorted! gentle play space, which is £5 (adults don’t want a ticket).
What Are The Postal Museum Opening Instances?
The Postal Museum opening instances are Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 – 17:00.
Is There A Café?
Sure, there’s a café on the postal museum. There’s additionally an small indoor and outside seating space. And there’s a present store in each buildings.
Do You Want To Ebook Tickets To The Postal Museum In Advance?
The web site advises that you just e book prematurely, and also you do save £1 from every ticket. Nevertheless, I’m fairly positive you’ll be able to simply flip up and also you’ll be OK.
How A lot Time Do You Want At The Postal Museum?
Should you’re heading to the Sorted! gentle play, you then’ll be given a forty five minute play slot. The Mail Rail takes about half-hour in whole in the event you hang around after. The primary museum stored mine occupied for some time (nevertheless, it’s fairly small, so in the event you zip by means of museums you’ll be able to in all probability do it faster),