The Postal Museum

Over het museum

The Postal Museum opened in Clerkenwell, central London, in 2017. It is the public face of the Postal Heritage Trust, an independent charity set up in 2004 to protect and share the history of the postal service. The museum cares for hundreds of thousands of objects and tells the 500-year story of British postal communication,, with objects ranging from mail coaches and pillar boxes to the first adhesive postage stamps.

The visit is split between two buildings facing each other across Phoenix Place. The main museum building holds the galleries, with a mail coach game, a whole sheet of Penny Black stamps, postbuses, pillar boxes, poster art and hands-on displays, including a system where visitors can send messages overhead. Across the road, Mail Rail takes visitors in small carriages through tunnels of the former underground railway that once carried the post beneath London. The ride lasts about 15 minutes, runs around 21 metres below ground and reaches a top speed of 7.5 mph.

The Archive at the museum can be used by appointment for research. Families are catered for with Sorted!, an indoor play space for ages 1 to 8, term-time sessions for under-5s and holiday activities. A ticket includes entrance to the museum for one year and one Mail Rail ride on the first visit.

The museum also hosts exhibitions that change over time, accessible and relaxed events, school learning programmes and venue hire in the Courtyard and in the Mail Rail depot.

Hoogtepunten

• Ride on Mail Rail through the former underground postal railway
• Penny Black stamps, mail coach game and postbuses in the galleries
• Sorted!, an indoor play space for children aged 1 to 8
• Mail Rail Explorer for visitors who cannot take the ride
• Ticket valid for unlimited museum visits for one year
• Research Archive by appointment

Vaste collectie

• The Postal Museum galleries – Galleries on the history of the post, with objects from Penny Black stamps and mail coaches to postbuses, poster art and interactive displays.
• Mail Rail – A ride through tunnels of the former underground postal railway, plus the Mail Rail Explorer exhibition on the lower ground floor.

Opgericht

2017

Beheerder

Postal Heritage Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

A ticket gives unlimited access to the museum for one year from the date of the visit and one ride on Mail Rail on the first visit. Advance booking is recommended; weekends and busy periods can sell out and walk-up tickets are limited. Gift Aid can be added when booking. Tickets are non-refundable but can be moved in some cases.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: niet aanwezig
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie

The museum, the Mail Rail exhibitions and the Archive are step-free by ramp or lift, and wheelchairs are allowed everywhere except on the Mail Rail ride itself, which is not suitable for everyone: riders must walk unaided at least 100 metres and climb 70 steep steps in an evacuation, and get on and off the carriage independently. Visitors who cannot ride can book the Reduced Access ticket and use the Mail Rail Explorer, an immersive space. Wheelchairs can be borrowed. Accessible toilets are on both sites and a Changing Places toilet is on the lower ground floor of Mail Rail. A hearing loop is in the Archive and an induction loop in the Mail Rail Explorer. Most films are subtitled; large print guides, audio-only exhibits and audio-described tours (on selected dates) are offered, and assistance dogs are welcome. There is no parking or drop-off point at the museum; Camden and Islington provide Blue Badge bays nearby. The nearest step-free station is Farringdon, a 15-minute walk.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek
• Kinderfeestjes

Sorted! is an indoor play space for ages 1 to 8, with term-time Post and Play sessions for under-5s, holiday activities and birthday parties. Interactive displays include a mail coach game. Buggy parking is on the ground floor of Mail Rail (pushchairs are not allowed on its lower ground floor). Baby changing and highchairs are provided, and breastfeeding is welcome anywhere.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum and Mail Rail are in two buildings facing each other across Phoenix Place. There is a cycle rack in the courtyard (code from the admissions desk).

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes

The café in the Welcome Space serves snacks and refreshments, has highchairs and holds the Kids in Museums Family Café Standard. There are shops on the ground floors of both buildings, plus an online shop. Lockers are provided for items that cannot be taken on the Mail Rail ride.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Tot 275 personen.

The Mail Rail depot holds up to 275 guests for receptions and meetings (dinners up to 150, wedding receptions 100) and can include a train ride. The Courtyard holds receptions of up to 120.

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