About National Railway Museum
Explore Britain's railway heritage through impressive locomotives and interactive exhibits where young visitors can operate signal controls, all within a fully accessible venue welcoming families with pushchairs and wheelchairs.
What's nearby
- Leeman Road Auto Services next door
- Howarth Timber & Building Supplies York 300m away
Distances as the crow flies, via Google
Good to know
Parking
- ✓Paid car park
- ✓Free street
- ✓Paid street
Accessibility
- ✓Accessible parking
- ✓Accessible entrance
- ✓Accessible toilet
- ✓Accessible seating
Payment
- ✓Contactless
Details via Google — worth confirming with the attraction before you travel, especially for access needs.
Photos
Photos via Google
Facilities
Opening hours
- Monday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.
What visitors say
Amazing place. Free. So either donate or spend in the shops/cafe etc. Large area to explore. Two main halls. Toilets clean and accessible. Easy to move about. Advise going just after opening with pre ordered tickets... very quiet. Highly recommend coming here. For me it's the smell! Engines and oil. Amazing. And I found each Engine had a personality. Almost real.
· via Google
A fantastic museum and an absolute must-visit for anyone interested in trains, engineering, or transport history. In fact, it's worth making a stop in York just for this museum. It's only about a 15-minute walk from the railway station, and admission is completely free. You're welcome to leave a donation if you'd like to support the museum. The collection is enormous, with locomotives and railway vehicles covering different eras of British railway history. The only disappointment was that the museum's most famous exhibit, the Flying Scotsman, was touring the UK during our visit, so we didn't get a chance to see it. That said, there are still incredible highlights. You can see Mallard, the world-famous steam locomotive that set the speed record for steam engines at over 200 km/h, one of the few Shinkansen trains displayed outside Japan, and even the tunnel boring machine used to excavate the Channel Tunnel. There's also a nice café on the platform in the second hall if you need a break, and the museum is currently building a new connecting gallery, so it should become even better in the future. Highly recommended.
· via Google
This was an excellent venue for families and train enthusiasts to visit. We could not believe entry is free, but you do need to prebook your free tickets. Parking is $10 for the day. Pick up a map in the way in - there is so much to see in the side areas. We spent an easy 2.5 hours wandering and reading the excellent information boards. I LOVE TRAINS!!!!!
· via Google
I had the opportunity to visit this museum, and I found it amazing and full of stories about trains. It is also free to visit by the way! I saw many different train models from various eras. There's a play area for children, and many adults enjoyed the informative atmosphere, learning new things and sharing with friends, including myself. I explored the train carriages, enjoyed tea and pastries at the cafe in the center of the museum, and bought souvenirs from the gift shop. For me, this is a place well worth visiting. 🇬🇧🤍
· via Google
Visitors say this museum offers a vast and impressive collection of historic trains, including iconic locomotives like the Mallard and the Japanese Shinkansen, with many opportunities to see them up close. They also highlight the free entry, making it excellent value, and appreciate the friendly, knowledgeable staff. Guests mention the clean facilities, including restrooms, and the engaging interactive exhibits, especially for families.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- Leeman Road, York, YO26 4XJ Get directions
- Category
- Museums & Galleries
- Guest rating
- 4.7 / 5 (31,914 reviews)
- Suitable for
- All Ages
- Suggested visit
- 3-4 hours
- Setting
- Indoor
- Good for children
- Yes
- Toilets on site
- Yes
- Destination
- York