You Can Actually Ride London’s Secret Underground Mail Train
Did you know that London has a secret underground mail rail and you can actually ride it? Mail Rail is 70ft (21m) under the ground and it transported letters across London for 75 years.
@urbanadventurerldn Did you know that London has a secret underground mail rail and you can actually ride it? 🚂📮@The Postal Museum Mail Rail is 70ft (21m) under the ground and it transported letters across London for 75 years 💌 It closed in 2003 and re-opened to the public as a visitor attraction in 2017. 💡As the Mail Rail is a popular attraction, we collected some tips to make the most out of your experience and avoid the crowd and school groups 🔗 LINK IN BIO #mailrail #postalmuseum #dayoutwiththekids #kidsactivities #hiddengem
Mail Rail at the Postal Museum London
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Explore a hidden railway that once transported millions of letters across London every day.
The Mail Rail was originally established in 1927 to transport mail beneath London for a smoother and quicker service. It was operating for 75 years and moved 4 million letters daily. The tunnels closed in 2003 but opened to the public as a visitor attraction on the 4th September 2017.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Today you can actually ride on the mini trains and discover the tunnels and platforms once people relied on to deliver their letters before the emails and Internet.
As the Mail Rail is a popular attraction, here are some tips to make the most out of your experience and avoid the crowd and school groups:
Photo: Urban Adventurer
- A standard ticket to the Postal Museum gives you unlimited access to the museum’s permanent exhibition for a full year! Plus, one ride on the Mail Rail.
NOTE: The Mail Rail and the Postal Museum exhibitions are in two separate buildings on Phoenix Place. The buildings are just one 1-minute walk from one another connected by a zebra crossing.
2. Do the Mail Rail ride first and visit the exhibition in the other building later, so you’ll have enough time to see everything.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
3. During your Mail Rail ride, the train will regularly stop at stations where you can see projections on the tunnel walls. Sit in the middle of the train for the best view and use a sideway-facing seat if you can.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
4. Be prepared for having to leave you bag in a locker before boarding. There’s not much space on the mini train, so the staff will ask you to leave your bag (regardless of its size) in the locker. Don’t worry, your belongings are safe! The staff will lock the locker and members of staff are always right next to the locker to keep an eye on everything while you’re enjoying your ride.
5. Make sure you visit the Mail Rail exhibition after your ride. It’s in the same building and contains a lot of interactive elements kids will enjoy, including the moving travelling post office where they can race against the clock to sort mail and a full control panel where they experience what it takes to keep a 10km of line running.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
6. After your ride on the Mail Rail and visiting the Mail Rail exhibition, walk to The Postal Museum’s other building to visit their permanent exhibition. Remember, your ticket gives you access to the exhibition for a whole year, so if you don’t have time to do it today, you can come back any time for 12 months from the purchase of your ticket.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
7. Try all the fun, interactive panels and elements during your exhibition journey. You can write a secret message to a friend and sent it through the pneumatic mail system. You can also try on replica uniforms from the Post Masters wardrobe.
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8. Make sure you stop by at the museum café before leaving for a coffee and a sandwich or a cake and have a look around the shop because there are lots of exclusive gift ideas for kids and adults alike.
Mail Rail Venue Hire
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Did you know that you can even hire the Mail Rail venue for your events?
If you’re looking for a truly unique space for your next corporate event, award ceremony, product launch or presentation, look no further!
What could be more unique than the 100-year-old Mail Rail tunnels that served for over 75 years and was the world’s first driverless electric railway?
Find details here.
Practical Info
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Address
Mail Rail | 15-20 Phoenix Pl, London WC1X 0DL
(The Mail Rail and the Postal Museum’s permanent exhibition are just a 1-munute walk from one another)
Opening Times
Mon – Sun: 10am – 5pm
Tickets
Book your ticket on the Postal Museum’s official website or through Fever
Your ticket gives you access to the museum’s permanent exhibition for a whole year and one ride on the Mail Rail.
Ready for your next adventure? The Chimney Experience at Battersea Power Station gives you an epic view of London from 109 metres high. Complement your experience with a glass of themed cocktail and enjoy the interactive exhibition while waiting for your session to start.
