The Postal Museum

The Postal Museum An independent museum telling the story of postal communication and its impact on global society. Home of Mail Rail, London's secret underground railway.
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A brief snapshot of working life within the Mail Rail tunnels, photographed in the 1960s. Here the driverless, Greenbat ...
27/02/2025

A brief snapshot of working life within the Mail Rail tunnels, photographed in the 1960s.

Here the driverless, Greenbat postal trains can be seen awaiting dispatch at one of the eight stations that stretched from Paddington in the west to Whitechapel in the east. Remarkably, it would have taken just 20 minutes for a train to travel from one side of London to the other without stops.

You can find out more about the remarkable history of Mail Rail by visiting The Postal Museum and riding on our very own mini underground railway.

It's Van of the Week time.Here post vans are unloaded at Victoria Station, photographed in 1935.
25/02/2025

It's Van of the Week time.

Here post vans are unloaded at Victoria Station, photographed in 1935.

If Monday morning was a postcard...Printed by Wrench Postcards in 1904, this used postcard features artwork by Louis Wai...
24/02/2025

If Monday morning was a postcard...

Printed by Wrench Postcards in 1904, this used postcard features artwork by Louis Wain, who is best known for his illustrations of anthropomorphised cats. Wain's art is widely considered as helping to popularise cats as household pets and he was even born just down the road from the site of the museum in Clerkenwell.

This drab February day was lit up by spotting a Penfold pillar box in Walthamstow. In the background is The Ancient Hous...
22/02/2025

This drab February day was lit up by spotting a Penfold pillar box in Walthamstow. In the background is The Ancient House, a former hall house that dates from the 15th century and is believed by some to be London's oldest house!

When it's time for Van of the Week, but it's also the anniversary of the UK's first ever Post Bus, there's only one logi...
20/02/2025

When it's time for Van of the Week, but it's also the anniversary of the UK's first ever Post Bus, there's only one logical choice...

The first ever route set forth from Llanidloes and Llangurig, Wales, on this day in 1967. Services expanded across Britain over the following decades, helping to connect rural communities whilst also delivering the mail. Pictured here is a Post Bus on that very route photographed in 1969.

Find out more about the history of this cherished service below.

👉 https://buff.ly/3EkL8cw

How were Q***r Victorians able to send coded messages in the post? This LGBT+ History Month we explore how Anne Lister a...
19/02/2025

How were Q***r Victorians able to send coded messages in the post? This LGBT+ History Month we explore how Anne Lister and Anne Walker benefitted from the practice of sending cross-written letters at a time when same-sex relationships were illegal.

To find out more and read examples of Anne and Ann's letters to one another, head to the link in our bio to read our latest blog post that looks at the history in more detail.

👉 https://buff.ly/4102xip

A reminder that our next Royal Mail Open Day takes place in just over two weeks time on Sunday 9 March. And remember, Ro...
18/02/2025

A reminder that our next Royal Mail Open Day takes place in just over two weeks time on Sunday 9 March.

And remember, Royal Mail employees past and present can bring friends and family for just £1 per ticket. To book or simply find out more, head to the link below.

👉 https://buff.ly/3Ej8Ju6

Image - Chester Sorting Office, 1937.

In one week's time we say goodbye to Dressed to Deliver, our special exhibition that unthreaded the history behind the p...
16/02/2025

In one week's time we say goodbye to Dressed to Deliver, our special exhibition that unthreaded the history behind the posties distinctive uniform and the changes it's gone through over the course of over 200 years. Swipe to see some of our favourite photographs and artworks that showcase the different styles the British postal uniform has showcased over the years.

If you don't want to miss Dressed to Deliver before it comes to a close on 23 February, make sure you pay us a visit this week.

1 - Oil painting titled A Postman of the City of London by Samuel Harry Hancock, 1911.
2 - Water colour painting of early 20th century postwoman by Ben Maile.
3 - Artwork from song sheet called The Postman's Knock dated.
4 - Photograph of two postwomen trying on Cameron Trousers for the first time, 1941.
5 - A photograph of a postman on delivery in central London, circa 1950.
6 - Postwoman on delivery outside a thatched cottage in Cornwall, 1984.
7 - Internal GPO poster of a smartly dressed postman with historic postmen in uniform in the background, 1959.

Happy Postbox Saturday!This Edward VII pillar box was photographed outside a historic London landmark, but do you know w...
15/02/2025

Happy Postbox Saturday!

This Edward VII pillar box was photographed outside a historic London landmark, but do you know which one?

Forget sending a Valentine to your beloved. How about sending one to your worst enemy instead?The Victorian tradition of...
14/02/2025

Forget sending a Valentine to your beloved. How about sending one to your worst enemy instead?

The Victorian tradition of Vinegar Valentines made sure everyone was included, even those whom you had a particular contempt for. Find out more about this very Victorian tradition below.

👉 https://buff.ly/40yNiN0

Explore the powerful stories of enslaved people whose labour fuelled 19th century postal ships in our upcoming exhibitio...
13/02/2025

Explore the powerful stories of enslaved people whose labour fuelled 19th century postal ships in our upcoming exhibition, Voices of Resistance.

Voices of Resistance will not only expose this complex history but share how the legacy of Caribbean coal workers are honoured and remembered today, through partnership with St. Thomas based organisation Dollar fo' Dollar.

To find out more about the exhibition, which opens 5 April, head to the link below.

👉 https://buff.ly/3WSbAAn

Image Credit - Backbone: Strong by Ama Dennis, Artist and Cultural Curator. March 2024.

The latest installment of Van of the Week comes from Bideford, Devon. Photographed in 1939.
11/02/2025

The latest installment of Van of the Week comes from Bideford, Devon. Photographed in 1939.

The countdown is on until February Half-Term!As usual, we'll be hosting fun arts and crafts sessions, this time inspired...
10/02/2025

The countdown is on until February Half-Term!

As usual, we'll be hosting fun arts and crafts sessions, this time inspired by the incredible animals that have helped deliver mail throughout history.

Design and create your very own animal postie puppet using a variety of repurposed and recycled craft materials. Find out more by heading to the link below.

👉 https://buff.ly/4fYvdxJ

What's that box? And why is it so controversial?This Postbox Saturday we explore the story of the F-Type pillar box, whi...
08/02/2025

What's that box? And why is it so controversial?

This Postbox Saturday we explore the story of the F-Type pillar box, which didn't exactly go down well in some circles.

Whilst none exist on the streets of London today, you can learn more about their design story below. Would you have liked to have seen them persist to the modern day?

👉 https://bit.ly/3v4TlNO

Properly. Packed. Parcels. Please. 💁‍♀️Artworks by Andre Amstutz and Harry Stevens from the 1960s.
06/02/2025

Properly. Packed. Parcels. Please. 💁‍♀️

Artworks by Andre Amstutz and Harry Stevens from the 1960s.

On World Cancer Day we're celebrating the remarkable work of From Me to You, a charity that uses the simple act of writi...
04/02/2025

On World Cancer Day we're celebrating the remarkable work of From Me to You, a charity that uses the simple act of writing a letter to bring comfort and connection to individuals living with cancer.

Louise has been receiving letters for 4 years thanks to individuals like Steph, who has been donating letters via From Me to You for nearly a decade and the impact they can have is far greater than you might realise.

As Louise explains, letters can be "about anything, absolutely anything... but importantly it's that pinch of positive that takes you away from it. Funnily enough I can't forget that I've got cancer, but these letters make me feel a little bit better in the time it takes to read it."

If you're interested in finding out more about From Me To You or even becoming a volunteer letter writer yourself, head to the link below.

👉 https://buff.ly/3bdccLY

The first February installment of Van of the Week comes with some rather fishy advice. Fish Wharf Post Office, Great Yar...
03/02/2025

The first February installment of Van of the Week comes with some rather fishy advice.

Fish Wharf Post Office, Great Yarmouth in 1936. 🐟

Are you a current or former Royal Mail employee?Have you ever wanted to visit us here in London to learn more about the ...
02/02/2025

Are you a current or former Royal Mail employee?

Have you ever wanted to visit us here in London to learn more about the history of the postal service?

Then make sure you're at our next Royal Mail Open Day on Sunday 9 March, where employees past and present can visit for just £1 per person, including family and friends.

To find out more, head to the link below. And if you can't make this one, worry not as we host multiple days like these every year!

👉 https://buff.ly/3Ej8Ju6

Address

15-20 Phoenix Place
London
WC1X0DA

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+44 (0)300 0300 700

Website

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Looking for a summer postcard? Then look no further. Browse our full collection below. 👉 https://bit.ly/3LJgdHj

Meet John. John became employed as a telegram messenger boy in 1955, a service run by the General Post Office since 1870. Boys between the ages of 13 and 17 were employed to deliver telegrams, a role that for the likes of John, would be the beginning of a long career in the postal service. John would eventually become a Postman, then Assistant Inspector and finally a Delivery Office Manager before retiring in 1992. During his long career, John wore many uniforms and as part of our Dressed to Deliver exhibition, delivered his verdict on what it was like to be a Messenger Boy during the 1950s and the impact the uniform had. #PostalMuseum #PostalHistory #LivingHistory #SocialHistory #Telegram #Postman #Uniform #LondonMuseums #LondonHistory #Museums

Children have been writing letters to Father Christmas for over 100 years. But when and why did Santa start writing back? #PostalMuseum #LettersToSanta #FatherChristmas #Archives #Christmas #Santa

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*TEMPORARILY CLOSED*

The Postal Museum in London reveals Britain's remarkable social and communications history through the eyes of an iconic service. Take a ride on Mail Rail and experience 15 minutes of immersive underground exploration on our miniature trains, now adapted for enhanced safety.