The Postal Museum, one of London’s top heritage museum attractions, to reopen on 29 October 2020. Tickets on sale from Tuesday 6 October – pre-book at www.postalmuseum.org now to secure entry
Get ready for a first-class experience as The Postal Museum, including their Mail Rail experience, prepares to re-open its doors, and welcome visitors back, from Thursday 29 October 2020.
Tickets will go on sale on Tuesday 6 October, and with visitor numbers reduced to ensure social distancing, pre-booking is now essential, so don’t miss out!
A truly unique London day out awaits, with an exciting line-up of activities, including the return of the city’s hidden underground Mail Rail ride, the exclusive and expert-guided Tunnel Walks, a brand new ‘Where’s Wally?’ Spooky Halloween Trail in Half Term, and a final chance to see the popular exhibition The Great Train Robbery: Crime and The Post.
As the doors re-open, The Postal Museum will get a stamp of approval with new safety measures in place to ensure an engaging, enjoyable, and safe visit without the crowds for the whole family.
Newly adapted technology has made the Museum as engaging as it was before closure, so visitors can continue to enjoy a hands-on, interactive experience. Buttons have been replaced with sensors, audio points can be enjoyed on visitor’s own devices and visitors will be provided with biodegradable styluses to operate touch screens, guaranteeing an absorbing yet safe visit.
Mail Rail
Visitors will be the first back on the adapted Mail Rail train which runs through the now deserted postal railway tunnels that run beneath London’s streets. The tunnels – so secret they were used to hide the Rosetta Stone during the First World War – were built to transport mail across the congested capital from Paddington in the west to Whitechapel in the East.
Mail Rail has been enhanced for the safety of visitors. It will run on a reduced capacity (hence the need to book early!), with households seated in sections divided by Perspex screens. Additionally, household groups will be boarded and disembarked one at a time. Included in the price of entry, visitors ride Mail Rail first, before exploring the Postal Museum galleries and a temporary exhibition at their own pace.
Tunnel Walks
Those seeking daring exploration can take part in an exclusive and immersive experience walking through the Mail Rail tunnels deep under London, with expert guides. The guides will reveal surprising stories of the underground railway over the course of 100 years – from its construction in the early 1900s, through the heyday in the middle of the century, to the eventual closure in 2003.
Tunnel Walks are always incredibly popular, with tickets selling out almost as soon as they go on sale, so pre-booking is essential. Tunnel Walks will take place throughout November and December, and tickets will be on sale on the website and announced via the museum’s mailing list on 20 October – sign up to be in the know
. https://www.postalmuseum.org/
The Great Train Robbery: Crime & The Post
For the detectives among you, there’s a last chance to get magnifying glasses at the ready, as the popular The Great Train Robbery exhibition will now be extended until 31 December 2020. This display shines a light on the victims of the infamous Great Train Robbery of 1963 and the involvement of the Post Office Investigation Branch in tracing the perpetrators of this notorious case and other crimes, from mass murder to forgeries. Visitors to the exhibition will be immersed in the work of the Branch, stepping into an interactive 1960s postal investigation office and experiencing never-before-seen objects, artefacts and personal accounts including:
- Files and evidence including observation reports detailing the movements of the criminals, their associates and a suspect list.
- Recently released first-hand witness accounts from those onboard the train as the robbery took place.
The exhibition is included in entry to the museum and has been adapted to make sure interactives are safe and enjoyable, with a reduced capacity in the exhibition space.
Where’s Wally? Spooky Museum Search
This Halloween, Wally, the world’s favourite children’s book character – wearing a red-and-white striped shirt and black-rimmed specs – will be travelling the country, appearing in museums, including The Postal Museum. Families will be able to join the search for Wally at The Postal Museum as part of the Where’s Wally? Spooky Museum Search, organised by Walker Books and Kids in Museums. The activity will run from 29 October – 30th November 2020.
Sorted!
The Postal Museum’s popular Sorted! children’s play space will re-open this winter, details will be announced soon.
Laura Wright, CEO, The Postal Museum said:
“We are so thrilled to be able to open to the public again. We have really missed having visitors in the museum and we are very happy to be able to offer both a safe and interactive visit in these new times. The post has connected people during the pandemic and continues to play a vital role. We feel sure that visitors will enjoy finding out about the history of the postal service as it has adapted in its many hundreds of years of existence.”
Times and dates
Re-opening date: Thursday 29 October 2020
Re-opening hours:
Thursdays: 10.30 - 6.30pm (last entry 5pm)
Fridays to Sundays: 10.30am - 5pm (last entry 3.30pm)
Ticket Prices
Tickets include 1x ride on Mail Rail on your first visit and unlimited entry to The Postal Museum’s galleries and exhibitions for one year from the date of your first visit. Pre-booking is essential.
| Online prices | ||
Adult (25+) | £16 | ||
Young Person (16-24) | £11 | ||
Child (3-15) | £9 | ||
Disabled Adult + companion | £14 | ||
Disabled Young Person + companion | £9 | ||
Disabled Child + companion | £7 | ||
Audio Guide (Downloadable in EN, FR, ES, IT, DE. Own smartphone required) | £2.99 |
For more information and to book, visit https://www.postalmuseum.org/
