This lesser-known London museum has been crowned one of the UK’s best for kids

Having only been open for nine years, The Postal Museum in London has just reached a pretty impressive milestone.

Home to 500 years of history, showcasing every chapter of Britain’s postal service, the independent attraction is best-known for its iconic ‘mail rail’ — a miniature underground train that visitors can ride.

Initially designed to transport mail beneath the streets of London, the mini train has become somewhat of an online sensation.

Now, following a vote by children, young people, and accessibility experts, it’s officially made the shortlist for the UK’s best family-friendly museum.

The annual award run by charity, Kids in Museums, celebrates the most welcoming, fun and accessible cultural sites for all ages, with ‘undercover families’ visiting each of the locations over the summer to decide the winner, expected to be revealed in October.

This year’s criteria sees judges looking for museums, galleries, castles, historic homes and heritage sites that have found ‘imaginative, practical ways to make family visits easy and fun.’

And The Postal Museum in London’s Clerkenwell certainly seems to have been developed specifically with little ones in mind, become a cult favourite for parents and earning an impressive 4.6* average rating across 5,686 Google reviews.

The historic exhibitions are of course interesting for visitors young and old, but a number of other elements have proven especially crowd-pleasing.

One of the most popular activities is the dedicated soft play area: ‘Sorted! The Postal Play Space’.

Described by TikToker @TinyLondoner as ‘an interactive mini town where kids can drive vans, sort parcels and role-play as postal workers,’ the mum praised it as ‘hands-on, engaging, and perfect for imaginative play.’

A major bonus is that you don’t need a museum ticket to visit the soft play area. Tickets are £2.50 for adult entry and £4.50 for kids aged between one and eight, while under-1s can tag along for free.

Another highlight is The Jolly Postman — a story-led, interactive experience inspired by the classic children’s book.

Creator @TinyLondoner called this a much ‘calmer space’ that proved to be really helpful in getting the kids to wind down in-between play.

If that wasn’t enough to pique your interests, alongside an array of permanent features, the museum also regularly hosts special family-focused events.

For example, this summer, parents are invited to check out a 45-minute ‘Family Storytelling’ session packed with props, rhymes and hands-on magic moments. Working on a first come, first served basis, these sessions will take place each Thursday in August, with three planned timeslots per day.

Things to know before visiting

If you’re planning a trip to the Postal Museum, here are a few things you should know.

Adult entry to the museum costs £18.50, children’s tickets cost £11.00, and children under the age of two can enter free of charge.

On the website, it’s recommended you block out around two to three hours to spend at the museum.

Located less than a mile away from King’s Cross St Pancras, Farringdon, and Russell Square, when you arrive, head straight to the Mail Rail entrance (you’ll spot it directly across the road from the museum).

After you’ve completed your ride, which should take around 15 minutes, head back over to the museum to start exploring.

There’s a cafe on-site with a wide range of snacks, brunch, an all day menu and drinks on offer.

The Postal Museum also prides itself on being accessible to all, meaning all areas of the museum across both sites have step-free access, via ramps or lifts.

One quick word of warning. If you’re particularly claustrophobic, it’s perhaps worth steering clear of the Mail Rail.

While its been called an ‘amazing’ addition to the museum by guests, a number of visitors online have shared that it can feel quite stuffy.

One user, @Lisa, called the experience ‘rather overwhelming’, while @SusieOwen added ‘If you don’t like small spaces, the train is not for you!’