Best for
Families, transport and rail enthusiasts, anyone wanting an unusual London experience
Time needed
2–2.5 hours
Worth it?
Yes — the Mail Rail ride is genuinely unlike anything else in London
Skip if
Postal history alone (without the Mail Rail ride) doesn't interest you
About Postal Museum & Mail Rail
The Postal Museum tells the story of over 500 years of British postal history, from the earliest Royal Mail routes to the Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp, issued in 1840. Interactive galleries let visitors sort mock mail, design their own stamps and explore how a handwritten letter once made its way across the country and empire.
The real draw, though, is across the road: Mail Rail, a narrow-gauge driverless underground railway built in 1927 specifically to move post beneath London's traffic-clogged streets, in operation until 2003. Visitors now ride the original miniature trains on a 15-minute loop through the actual tunnels, with an accompanying soundscape recreating the network at its 1930s peak, when it moved four million letters a day.
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The museum and Mail Rail sit in Mount Pleasant, once the site of the world's largest sorting office, and the ticket includes a year's unlimited return access, which suits families or repeat visitors well given how much there is to take in across both sites.
While the postal history galleries appeal mostly to a niche audience, the Mail Rail ride itself is a genuinely unusual London experience that works well for children and adults alike.
What to See: Highlights
- 1A 15-minute ride on the original 1927 driverless Mail Rail trains
- 2The Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp
- 3Interactive galleries on 500 years of postal history
- 4A soundscape recreating the tunnels at their 1930s peak
- 5Included unlimited return access for a full year
- 6A genuinely unusual underground experience for families
Skip the Queue — Book Tickets Online
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Insider Tips
Book the Mail Rail time slot in advance — it operates on a timed schedule
The ride isn't wheelchair accessible; ask staff about alternative arrangements
Budget 2–2.5 hours to see both the galleries and ride Mail Rail
Younger children particularly enjoy the ride and the mail-sorting interactives
Combine with the British Library, a 15-minute walk away
Book a Guided Tour
Get the most from your visit with a local expert guide.
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Getting There
15–20 Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DA
Open in Google Maps →- 1Chancery Lane (Central line) or Farringdon (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Elizabeth line) — both roughly a 10-minute walk.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want a genuinely unusual underground railway experience
- You're travelling with children who enjoy hands-on, interactive museums
- You have an interest in industrial or transport history
- You want a rainy-day activity that isn't a standard art or history museum
Skip if...
- You need full wheelchair access — the Mail Rail ride isn't accessible
- Niche transport and postal history doesn't appeal to your group
