Think a museum about the post sounds a bit dull? Think again! The Postal Museum in London is one of those brilliant hidden gems that completely surprises families every single time. With a secret underground railway, 500 years of communication history, a brand-new interactive exhibition, and a dedicated play space for little ones, this is a day out that genuinely has something for every age. There are fantastic postal museum family exhibits that make this attraction a standout choice for parents and children alike.
TL;DR: The Postal Museum offers a Mail Rail ride, the Jolly Postman interactive family exhibition (running until January 2027), permanent hands-on galleries, and the Sorted! play space add-on for under-8s. Tickets start from £20.50 and include unlimited exhibition visits for a full year.
Whether you’re planning a school holiday adventure or a rainy-day London trip, here’s everything you need to know about what’s on, what’s included, and how to make the most of your visit in 2026.
What Is The Postal Museum?
Located at 15-20 Phoenix Place in London (WC1X 0DA), The Postal Museum tells the remarkable story of Britain’s postal service across more than 500 years. It’s not just a collection of old stamps and letters, though there are plenty of fascinating artefacts on display. It’s an immersive, hands-on experience that brings postal history to life in ways that genuinely engage kids.
Bear with us here! The words “postal history” might not set pulses racing, but this museum covers everything from the world’s very first postage stamp (the Penny Black, right here!) to Victorian Valentine’s cards, Mail Coach robberies, and the extraordinary hidden railway that ran beneath London’s streets for nearly a century. It’s a proper adventure.
The museum spans two connected sites: the main exhibition building and the Mail Rail building next door. Your ticket covers both, and together they make for a visit that typically takes one to two hours, though you could easily stretch it longer with younger children.
Who Is It Best For?
The Postal Museum genuinely works for a wide age range, which is rarer than you’d think for a London museum day out.
| Age Group | Best For |
|---|---|
| Ages 1-8 | Sorted! Postal Play Space (separate ticket) |
| Ages 4+ | Mail Rail ride, interactive galleries |
| Ages 6+ | Jolly Postman exhibition, hands-on displays |
| All ages | Permanent exhibitions, café, gift shop |
The real sweet spot is families with mixed ages. You can add Sorted! for the little ones, ride Mail Rail together, and explore the galleries at your own pace without anyone getting bored.
The Jolly Postman Exhibition (2026)
The headline attraction for 2026 is the Jolly Postman interactive family exhibition, which runs from 14 February 2026 through to January 2027. And the brilliant news? It’s included in your standard museum ticket at no extra cost.
The exhibition celebrates 40 years of the much-loved children’s book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. If you grew up reading about the Jolly Postman delivering letters to fairy-tale characters, this is going to be a wonderfully nostalgic experience for parents, and a magical new discovery for kids!
What to Expect Inside
Families can follow the Jolly Postman’s delivery route through an interactive story world inspired by the classic book. Think immersive sets, storytelling, and hands-on activities woven around familiar fairy-tale characters and their postal adventures.
- Story-led exploration following the postman’s route through a fairy-tale world
- Interactive activities that bring the book’s characters and letters to life
- Perfect for book lovers and children who enjoy imaginative, narrative-driven play
- Included in your ticket – no extra booking required
This is a genuinely special exhibition. The Ahlberg books are beloved across generations, and the museum has done something clever here: it uses a story families already know to make postal history feel personal and exciting. Kids who’ve never heard of the Penny Black will still be completely absorbed.
The exhibition is ideal for children aged 4 and upwards, though younger toddlers will enjoy the colour and characters too. It runs alongside the museum’s permanent displays, so you get a rich mix of old and new on the same visit.
Mail Rail: London’s Secret Underground Railway
If there’s one thing that makes The Postal Museum truly unlike any other museum in London, it’s Mail Rail. This is a real underground railway, built in the early 20th century to carry mail beneath London’s streets, and you get to ride it!
One ride on Mail Rail is included with every standard museum ticket on your first visit. It’s not an add-on or an upgrade. It’s part of the package, and it is absolutely worth it.
What Is Mail Rail?
Mail Rail was a narrow-gauge underground railway that ran for nearly 100 years, carrying post between sorting offices across London without ever surfacing. At its peak, it transported four million letters a day through tunnels that most Londoners had no idea existed.
The museum has transformed the old railway into a 15-minute ride that takes families through the tunnels, with audio-visual shows, restored carriages, and interactive displays along the way. You’ll see the original station platform, engineering depots, and hear the stories of the workers who kept the postal service running underground.
Practical Things to Know
- Height limit: Children must be 90cm or taller to ride
- Duration: Approximately 15 minutes
- Included: One ride on your first visit with a standard ticket
- Book early: Rail ride times are ticketed, so arrive at your allotted time
Key tip: Do Mail Rail first! Several visitors recommend heading to the Mail Rail building as soon as you arrive, before exploring the main museum galleries. The ride fills up quickly during school holidays.
The ride is genuinely exciting for children and adults alike. It’s dark, it’s atmospheric, and it tells a story that feels genuinely surprising. One recent visitor described it as “excellent for old and young – the history and the train ride was fun.”
Sorted! The Postal Play Space
Got little ones aged 8 and under? Sorted! is the museum’s dedicated indoor play space, and it is absolutely brilliant for younger children. It’s not included in the standard museum ticket, but it’s a very affordable add-on and well worth booking alongside your main visit.
Sessions last 45 minutes and are timed, so you’ll need to book your slot in advance. Prices start from £4.50 per child online, with babies under 6 months going free.
What’s Inside Sorted!
The play space is designed as an immersive mini-town where children can role-play as postal workers. It’s the kind of imaginative, active play that younger kids absolutely love.
- Mini streets and buildings to explore and deliver letters around
- Slides, chutes, and pulleys for physical play
- Trolleys and sorting activities for hands-on role-play
- Designed for ages 1-8, with plenty to keep different ages engaged
One thing worth knowing: visitors note that Sorted! is best suited to children aged 3-5. An 8-year-old will still find things to do, but the experience is really designed with toddlers and young children in mind. If you have a mix of ages, pairing Sorted! for the little ones with the main galleries and Mail Rail for older siblings works perfectly.
Can You Book Sorted! Without the Museum?
Yes! You can book Sorted! as a standalone experience without visiting the main museum. However, if you’re already buying museum tickets, the booking process makes it easy to add Sorted! on the next page after adding your main ticket to the basket.
The Permanent Exhibitions
Beyond the Jolly Postman exhibition and Mail Rail, the museum’s permanent galleries are packed with incredible objects and stories. This is where postal history stops being a dry subject and starts feeling genuinely fascinating.
Highlights of the Permanent Collection
The world’s first postage stamp is here. The Penny Black, introduced in 1840, changed communication forever by making postage a sender’s responsibility rather than the recipient’s. Seeing the actual stamp in person is a surprisingly moving moment.
Other standout exhibits include:
- A restored Mail Coach from the 1800s, when armed guards rode shotgun to protect letters from highwaymen
- Victorian Valentine’s cards, some surprisingly extravagant, others hilariously rude
- Interactive displays on how postcodes were invented and how the postal service evolved
- A real lion (yes, really) among the curiosities sent through the post
- Archive and postal history displays including materials spanning 400 years
The galleries use audio-visual shows, interactive touchscreens, and hands-on exhibits throughout, so children are encouraged to touch, explore, and engage rather than just look. Arts and crafts activities are also available during visits, including making animal suncatchers and playing postal-themed games.
The part most coverage misses: your ticket gives you 365-day access from your first visit. So if you live in London or visit regularly, this is genuinely one of the best-value cultural memberships in the city. You can come back for the Jolly Postman, then return again when it changes, without paying again.
Tickets and Prices
You can book The Postal Museum tickets at the best price through Day Out With The Kids, with mobile e-tickets and no printing required.
General Admission (Exhibitions + Mail Rail)
All general admission tickets include the full museum galleries, one Mail Rail ride on your first visit, access to the Jolly Postman exhibition, and unlimited return visits for 365 days from your first visit.
| Ticket Type | Price From |
|---|---|
| Adult (25+) | £17.60 |
| Young Person (16-24) | £12.20 |
| Child (2-15) | £10.00 |
| Disabled Adult + companion | £15.40 |
| Disabled Young Person + companion | £10.00 |
| Disabled Child + companion | £7.70 |
| Adult National Art Pass | £8.80 |
| Child National Art Pass | £5.00 |
Book online in advance for the cheapest prices. Tickets are from £20.50 for general admission when booked through DOWTK.
Sorted! The Postal Play Space (Separate Ticket)
- Ages 1-8: from £4.50 online
- Under 6 months: free
- Sessions are 45 minutes and must be pre-booked
Money-saving tip: D/deaf and disabled visitors can book a discounted ticket with one essential companion included. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the museum.
Opening Hours
The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm). During school holidays, the museum also opens on select Mondays. It’s always worth checking ahead if you’re planning a Monday visit during a holiday week.
Plan Your Visit
A few practical bits to help your day go smoothly!
Getting There
The Postal Museum is at 15-20 Phoenix Place, London, WC1X 0DA. The nearest tube stations are Farringdon, Russell Square, and King’s Cross St Pancras, all within walking distance. Local parking is available for a charge if you’re driving.
On-Site Facilities
- Café serving barista coffee, kids’ hot chocolate, cakes, sandwiches, and snacks
- Gift shop with story books, toys, plushies, mugs, and postal-themed gifts
- Toilets on site
- Full wheelchair accessibility throughout both the museum and Mail Rail buildings (note: the Mail Rail ride itself requires walking 100m unaided)
Accessibility
The Postal Museum and Mail Rail exhibitions are completely accessible to wheelchair users. Wheelchairs are permitted everywhere in Mail Rail except for the ride itself. If a family member cannot take the ride, there is still plenty to see and do in the Mail Rail building at platform level.
Birthday Parties
The museum also offers birthday party packages for children aged 8 and under, held on Saturdays and Sundays. Packages include use of an exclusive party room and party bags, with options starting from £25 per child. It’s a genuinely unique and memorable venue for a celebration!
Our Verdict
The Postal Museum is one of those days out that punches well above its weight. It’s not the biggest museum in London, but it is one of the most surprising. The combination of Mail Rail, the Jolly Postman exhibition, and the interactive galleries makes it a genuinely brilliant choice for families with children of almost any age.
It’s a popular destination for a reason! Check out The Postal Museum on Day Out With The Kids for reviews, visitor tips, and the latest information before you book.