Mail Rail and the Postal Museum - is it worth a visit

[WesternLancer]

Hi all
Can't find an up to date thread on Mailrail (the post office underground railway now open for visits - to travel on).

But I'm guessing some people here have probably visited.

Would people recommend it, are the permanent exhibitions good, and is the journey on the underground railway as good as it could be?

Any thoughts, views or tips - eg how long to allow for a visit - would be good.

Their website doesn't seem to tell you what there is to see there - beyond exhibitions that are currently open, as if you maybe already know. Unless al there is are the exhibitions and the railway trip? I would have assumed they have some sort of permanent collection.

Thanks in advance.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Severasl years since I visited and I thought it was very interesting. They do indeed have a permanent collection - not all related to Mail Rail, but many other parts of the Royal Mail's history as well. (When I went in 2016, the museum was marking the 500th anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Mail service - initially only for use by the royal Court)

This link https://www.museumslondon.org/museum/223/the-postal-museum is a bit more informative than the Postal Mysueum's own website.

 

[WesternLancer]

Severasl years since I visited and I thought it was very interesting. They do indeed have a permanent collection - not all related to Mail Rail, but many other parts of the Royal Mail's history as well. (When I went in 2016, the museum was marking the 500th anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Mail service - initially only for use by the royal Court)

This link https://www.museumslondon.org/museum/223/the-postal-museum is a bit more informative than the Postal Mysueum's own website.

Many thanks! Sounds +ve

 

[Buzby]

Yep - worth at least 1 visit and a ride on the train. They hike the admission price saying it provides 12 months access, which, I find self-defeating.

 

[Haywain]

They hike the admission price saying it provides 12 months access, which, I find self-defeating.

They don't "hike" the price, it just includes that, in common with many other attractions.

 

[LA50041]

Hi all
Can't find an up to date thread on Mailrail (the post office underground railway now open for visits - to travel on).

But I'm guessing some people here have probably visited.

Would people recommend it, are the permanent exhibitions good, and is the journey on the underground railway as good as it could be?

Any thoughts, views or tips - eg how long to allow for a visit - would be good.

Their website doesn't seem to tell you what there is to see there - beyond exhibitions that are currently open, as if you maybe already know. Unless al there is are the exhibitions and the railway trip? I would have assumed they have some sort of permanent collection.

Thanks in advance.

I would recommend a visit. Went just over a year ago and the interactive ride was interesting.
I spent around an hour there, but if you had to wait for a couple of trains it could take a while longer.
There’s also the postal museum opposite which a visit is included in the ticket but I didn’t do that as I had done it before. 2hours-ish for both sites would probably do it

 

[WesternLancer]

I would recommend a visit. Went just over a year ago and the interactive ride was interesting.
I spent around an hour there, but if you had to wait for a couple of trains it could take a while longer.
There’s also the postal museum opposite which a visit is included in the ticket but I didn’t do that as I had done it before. 2hours-ish for both sites would probably do it

Thanks - helpful to read that - yes, I'd aim to do both as I would think potentially both of interest.

I've read 2 or 3 on line reviews now - but they seem to focus on how good it is for kids - I assume either because those reviewers are just focussed on child interest attractions, or it's only aimed at kids, and as an adult it's too dumbed down but they don't mention that....(the latter being what I started to fear after reading those reviews)

 

[bramling]

Hi all
Can't find an up to date thread on Mailrail (the post office underground railway now open for visits - to travel on).

But I'm guessing some people here have probably visited.

Would people recommend it, are the permanent exhibitions good, and is the journey on the underground railway as good as it could be?

Any thoughts, views or tips - eg how long to allow for a visit - would be good.

Their website doesn't seem to tell you what there is to see there - beyond exhibitions that are currently open, as if you maybe already know. Unless al there is are the exhibitions and the railway trip? I would have assumed they have some sort of permanent collection.

Thanks in advance.

The train ride is worth doing, and the guided track walks even better. The museum across the road I thought was a waste of time though.

 

[LA50041]

Thanks - helpful to read that - yes, I'd aim to do both as I would think potentially both of interest.

I've read 2 or 3 on line reviews now - but they seem to focus on how good it is for kids - I assume either because those reviewers are just focussed on child interest attractions, or it's only aimed at kids, and as an adult it's too dumbed down but they don't mention that....(the latter being what I started to fear after reading those reviews)

Definitely not only aimed at kids, but I think it’s developed in a way to keep young minds engaged whilst still giving a universal interest.

 

[Buzby]

They don't "hike" the price, it just includes that, in common with many other attractions.

Like the London Transport Museum? Both used to be affordable then increased the prices to include ‘free’ revisits for 12months. That’s a price hike and disguised to make it seem a bargain. I’m not fooled by that, but I’m surprised you are!

 

[Haywain]

Like the London Transport Museum? Both used to be affordable then increased the prices to include ‘free’ revisits for 12months. That’s a price hike and disguised to make it seem a bargain. I’m not fooled by that, but I’m surprised you are!

So, what you mean is that they hiked the price some years ago? I've been to both museums with the 12 month deal and have no major problem with the pricing.

 

[WesternLancer]

The train ride is worth doing, and the guided track walks even better. The museum across the road I thought was a waste of time though.

Thanks - will bear this in mind

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 May 2026 ==

Definitely not only aimed at kids, but I think it’s developed in a way to keep young minds engaged whilst still giving a universal interest.

Reassuring - thanks

 

[Buzby]

So, what you mean is that they hiked the price some years ago?

Yup. I cannot recall which ’charitable’ outfit that started the trend in the UK, however it was quantified that by offering inclusive access for 12 months, it takes the sting out of a more than doubling of the usual admission price, a X 2.4 hike was the maximum that could be got away with, with the promise of 12 months of entry. Even the Postal Museum mangles this by insisting you only get a single ride on MailRail. Should you return the exhibition is free but you must pay for the train. If that’s not having your cake and eating it, I don’t know what is!

I suppose it’s fine if you’re a local, but it stiffs the tourists who will only visit once and pay the inflated rate.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yup. I cannot recall which ’charitable’ outfit that started the trend in the UK, however it was quantified that by offering inclusive access for 12 months, it takes the sting out of a more than doubling of the usual admission price, a X 2.4 hike was the maximum that could be got away with, with the promise of 12 months of entry. Even the Postal Museum mangles this by insisting you only get a single ride on MailRail. Should you return the exhibition is free but you must pay for the train. If that’s not having your cake and eating it, I don’t know what is!

I suppose it’s fine if you’re a local, but it stiffs the tourists who will only visit once and pay the inflated rate.

I think in the case of museums that offer this annual entry the matter is possibly mixed up with HMRC Gift Aid rules - where the museum is operated by a charity (some museums that were council run have been hived off to charitable trusts in part for reasons relating to the ability to raise money in ways like this) as a charity can claim Gift Aid but a council or government operated museum can not if I have this correct.

I'm no charity gift aid tax expert but I have read that if a museum wishes to claim Gift Aid it needs to offer something in return over and above the 'normal' entrance fee. I think some museums achieve this by giving annual entry with the one entrance fee, allowing them to claim gift aid by any visitors who are entitled to claim it / agree to the museum claiming their share.
Given this is worth + 25% (?) of the entrance fee to the museum there is a strong incentive to do this, knowing many people will probably only visit once anyway in the year.

This could create the reason for what is referred to as a price hike above.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I'm no charity gift aid tax expert but I have read that if a museum wishes to claim Gift Aid it needs to offer something in return over and above the 'normal' entrance fee.

That is strange. because normally Gift Aid is only available on pure donations, not on any purchase made by the donor. (so whether a charity shop can claim gift aid on donated items depends on whether the donor, not the purchaser, is a taxpayer)

As the treasurer of a musical society, i have to draw a distinction between that part of members' subscriptions that is notionally for "tuition" and that part which is for the other aims of the society (putting on concerts for the education of the general public, etc) - only the latter can be gift aided

 

[35B]

That is strange. because normally Gift Aid is only available on pure donations, not on any purchase made by the donor. (so whether a charity shop can claim gift aid on donated items depends on whether the donor, not the purchaser, is a taxpayer)

As the treasurer of a musical society, i have to draw a distinction between that part of members' subscriptions that is notionally for "tuition" and that part which is for the other aims of the society (putting on concerts for the education of the general public, etc) - only the latter can be gift aided

I am a Gift Aid administrator for my church, and have had to wade through the rules a few times. The general rule is as you suggest, and requires the sort of analysis you describe. However, as HMRC realised that charities running visitor attractions were offering free admission in return for a (Gift Aided) donation worth at least the normal admission price, they changed the rules to regularise matters. They have taken the logic that such charities (e.g. Eden Project, Chatsworth, Twycross Zoo) receive most of their income through admission, and that this admission is by way of a donation to see the work of the charity. Such visitor attractions charity must do one of two things if claiming Gift Aid:
1. Ask for a "donation price" of normal admission + 10%, or
2. Claim Gift Aid on the normal admission on condition that the donor has free readmission for 12 months

It's a long time since I visited the LT Museum, but I don't remember it ever being other than fully priced. I suspect that any price hike that there may have been will have been less about free readmission, and more about balancing the books, especially if TfL support had been reduced.

 

[Belperpete]

Thanks - helpful to read that - yes, I'd aim to do both as I would think potentially both of interest.

I've read 2 or 3 on line reviews now - but they seem to focus on how good it is for kids - I assume either because those reviewers are just focussed on child interest attractions, or it's only aimed at kids, and as an adult it's too dumbed down but they don't mention that....(the latter being what I started to fear after reading those reviews)

I spent a morning visiting both mail rail and the postal exhibition. I have to admit that having seen the post office railway working for real, I was a bit disappointed with mail rail, as it seemed to have lost a lot of the atmosphere of the original, but it was still worth seeing. As was the post office museum. I would also recommend the Bank of England museum, even though they no longer allow you to try pick up a gold bar, and the Tower Bridge exhibition.

 

[Buzby]

Bank of England museum, even though they no longer allow you to try pick up a gold bar,

If your’ re in Edinburgh, try the Bank of Scotland (free) museum on The Mound. They promise to show you £1,000,000 as an attraction. You get there, and discover (a) it’s behind glass, but more importantly (b) all the notes have ‘SPECIMEN’ printed on them! What a swizz….

 

[birchesgreen]

I really recommend the track walking tour at Mail Rail, one of the best railway related things i've ever done.

 

[Forty29]

If your’ re in Edinburgh, try the Bank of Scotland (free) museum on The Mound. They promise to show you £1,000,000 as an attraction. You get there, and discover (a) it’s behind glass, but more importantly (b) all the notes have ‘SPECIMEN’ printed on them! What a swizz….

Probably a reason behind that!

 

[WesternLancer]

I am a Gift Aid administrator for my church, and have had to wade through the rules a few times. The general rule is as you suggest, and requires the sort of analysis you describe. However, as HMRC realised that charities running visitor attractions were offering free admission in return for a (Gift Aided) donation worth at least the normal admission price, they changed the rules to regularise matters. They have taken the logic that such charities (e.g. Eden Project, Chatsworth, Twycross Zoo) receive most of their income through admission, and that this admission is by way of a donation to see the work of the charity. Such visitor attractions charity must do one of two things if claiming Gift Aid:
1. Ask for a "donation price" of normal admission + 10%, or
2. Claim Gift Aid on the normal admission on condition that the donor has free readmission for 12 months

It's a long time since I visited the LT Museum, but I don't remember it ever being other than fully priced. I suspect that any price hike that there may have been will have been less about free readmission, and more about balancing the books, especially if TfL support had been reduced.

Thanks for explaining more clearly what I had seen. Gives me a helpful level of understanding of this.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 May 2026 ==

I spent a morning visiting both mail rail and the postal exhibition. I have to admit that having seen the post office railway working for real, I was a bit disappointed with mail rail, as it seemed to have lost a lot of the atmosphere of the original, but it was still worth seeing. As was the post office museum. I would also recommend the Bank of England museum, even though they no longer allow you to try pick up a gold bar, and the Tower Bridge exhibition.

Thanks for these thoughts - I'm guessing it is very different indeed from seeing the operational Rail Mail back in the day....but at least something still available to see.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Thanks for these thoughts - I'm guessing it is very different indeed from seeing the operational Rail Mail back in the day....but at least something still available to see.

Having been fortunate enough to visit it twice as a scholar when it was really busy with the late afternoon collections pouring in at Mount Pleasant the current operation is nothing like it. But it’s quirky enough to amuse for a couple of hours when combined with the postal museum.

 

[WesternLancer]

Having been fortunate enough to visit it twice as a scholar when it was really busy with the late afternoon collections pouring in at Mount Pleasant the current operation is nothing like it. But it’s quirky enough to amuse for a couple of hours when combined with the postal museum.

Yes, it's no doubt another world...

 

[Ashley Hill]

Is the whole line included on the train ride or just a token mile or so?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Is the whole line included on the train ride or just a token mile or so?

It's just a short distance close to the Museum.

 

[43010]

My friends (not rail enthusiasts) and I really enjoyed our ride on the Mail Rail in February 2025, and found the adjacent Postal Museum to also be very interesting. Whilst the audiovisual sequences would be accessible to and appropriate for children, we didn't find them infantilizing.

 

[chipbury]

I was expecting a much longer train ride rather than the quick loop at mount pleasant.
Probably my fault for not reading up on the museum but I was disappointed.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I was expecting a much longer train ride rather than the quick loop at mount pleasant.
Probably my fault for not reading up on the museum but I was disappointed.

A bit like visiting a brewery and getting a free coupon for a half a pint at the end.

 

[mailbyrail]

I agree the ride wasn't as long as I expected, but there again another 100 meters or even 2 or 3 km of tunnel would have offered little more, there's nothing to see in the straight tunnel. The old rolling stock, track, station and the whole environment make for the experience, not just another stretch of track to bash. The museum might not have much to interest from a rail enthusiast's perspective, it is a postal museum explaining the workings of Britain's post history, but it covers its intended wider brief. The post office has been closely interwoven with railways since the Liverpool & Manchester Railway until very recent times but rail operations have formed only a part of the story.
I went because I was in London and it was an opportunity to be seized, but I wouldn't have travelled 150 miles from home just for visit.

 

[bluegoblin7]

The train ride is about 55ch from the depot, round the far loop at Mount Pleasant and back again. It takes about 15 minutes with the presentations and pauses on the journey. Imo it is more than worth the price with the accompanying exhibitions and displays, both in the former depot and the postal museum itself - it's very well done to appeal to all ages and interests and being in very small tunnels is quite novel.

It might not appeal to the hardcore basher/gricer etc, but it isn't supposed to: ultimately it is a ride that happens to be in an old railway, rather than a 'preserved railway' in its own right. The 'Walk the Tunnels' tours are absolutely recommended if you are able to do them, though - and come with a train ride to boot.