The museum is the largest railway museum in the world, responsible for the conservation and interpretation of the British national collection of historically significant railway vehicles and other artefacts. The Museum contains an unrivalled collection of locomotives, rolling stock, railway equipment, documents and records and offers a fantastic free day out for all the family.
Discover over 300 years of history and over a million wonderful objects. Marvel at the record-breaking Mallard, watch engineering work in progress in the Workshop, see locomotives moving on the turntable or let off steam in the outdoor play area.
Admire Mallard, the fastest steam train in the world, take a seat on the futuristic Bullet Train, see the replica of Stephenson’s Rocket or step aboard the footplate of the Chinese locomotive – the largest locomotive in our collection.
Visit the Royal Trains, including a carriage used by Queen Victoria herself.
Explore the open store – home to over 750,000 objects covering every aspect of railway history from dinner services and station signs, to 20th century burger boxes. The Warehouse is also home to the Flying Scotsman Story, a permanent exhibition telling the tale of the nation’s favourite locomotive.
Watch engineers at work in our real railway workshop where we maintain and conserve locomotives, carriages and wagons.
The Museum is home to the nation’s favourite locomotive. She is currently undergoing a full restoration at sites around the country but you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the restoration work in the Workshop. Visit Flying Scotsman pages
The legendary Mallard still holds the record as the fastest steam locomotive. Don’t miss the chance to access the cab and find out more about this amazing locomotive on the daily Explainer tour.
See Stephenson’s Rocket – the locomotive that sparked a revolution! All the world’s steam locomotives trace their origins back to Rocket and our replica provides a vivid impression of what this 1829 masterpiece would have looked like and how it would have worked.
Opening times:
10.00 – 18.00
The Museum is open every day except 24 – 26 December.
Entry is free
By train:
York is half way between London (Kings Cross station) and Edinburgh. It takes less than two hours to travel to York from London with trains every half hour, at least 25 direct trains each week day. There is a rail link to and from Manchester International Airport with trains leaving every hour during the day. Direct rail services also run to York from many of the UK’s regional centres.
The Museum is only a few minutes walk from York railway station. Turn left on leaving the station, pass the Le Meridien Hotel then turn left into Leeman Road. Continue through the underpass to the City Entrance situated on the left as you exit. The route is signposted from the station. There is also a direct route to the museum via the station footbridge (please note that this is not suitable for the disabled or pushchairs).
By car:
For visitors traveling by road York is conveniently located just 20 minutes from the A1(M) motorway and 40 minutes from Leeds/Bradford Airport. The Museum is clearly signposted from all approaches to the city.
The Rawcliffe Park and Ride bus services picks up and drops off just outside the Museum. For further information please visit First Group Park and Ride.
Visitors arriving by car should park in the Visitors Car Park and enter the Museum via the Car Park entrance. At busy times further car parking space is available in the overflow car park opposite (see map below). The daily car parking charge is £7.00.
There are free disabled car parking spaces at The City Entrance in front of Station Hall.
Address:
National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York, YO26 4XJ (Map)
Telephone 08448 153139
Website:
www.nrm.org.uk