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We're open seven days a week. Book your free admission ticket now to visit the museum. 

Schools and groups can book free tickets here.

Please note the museum will close at 15.00 on Monday 18 March.

Station Hall and other parts of our museum are closed, please check the Visit page for the latest info about closures.

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Facilities and accessibility

Find out everything you need to know about our facilities before your visit to the National Railway Museum.

General information

The National Railway Museum is committed to being open and accessible for everyone. On this page you can find out about accessible facilities and resources across the site.

If you have any specific access requirements or would like to request additional information to support your visit, please call us on 033 0058 0058. Lines are open 09.00–17.00 every day.

Museum staff will be happy to help if you need assistance during your visit.

Accessible parking

Accessible parking for blue badge holders is available free of charge in our main car park.

Find out more about getting here and parking.

Please bring your blue badge with you to the museum welcome desk to claim your free parking.

Quiet times and pre-visit information

Our quietest times are weekdays, during term time. Queues rarely form at the entrance to the museum.—see full opening times and dates.

Ear defenders are available to borrow from the welcome desk, which are the first point of entry as you enter the Museum.

For detailed information about accessibility before you visit, please see our AccessAble pages for Great Hall and Station Hall.

VISUAL STORY

We have produced a detailed visual story to help plan visits for people with additional needs.

Hidden Disabilities

We welcome and support visitors who choose to wear a Sunflower item as part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme. Please note that we do not provide Sunflower items.

Find out more about the scheme on the Hidden Disabilities website.

Getting around the museum

Borrow a wheelchair

Wheelchairs are available free of charge at the entrance. We have both ‘big wheel’ user-operable wheelchairs and small-wheeled push chairs. If you require a wheelchair we will ask you to leave your details with us, in case an issue or emergency arises.

Wheelchairs can be pre-booked with the Contact Centre or at the Welcome Desk on the day of your visit.

All areas of the museum have step-free access by lifts or ramps. Station Hall (currently closed) has some level changes which are connected by ramps.

Mobility scooters

Class 2 mobility scooters are available to hire from the Welcome Desk subject to availability. Visitors can enquire about scooter hire on the day or book one in advance with the Contact Centre. Hire costs £10 and is non-refundable. The scooters have a weight limit of 23 stone.

Visitors will be asked to confirm that they are over 18 and have used a mobility scooter previously before payment can be taken and the booking completed.

Toilets, baby changings and accessible changing

Toilets are located by the entrance and in Great Hall.

Baby changing facilities are available—find out more about visiting with babies and small children

Limited accessible changing facilities are available. If possible, please contact us in advance to arrange access or, alternatively, please speak to a member of staff on the day.

The nearest Changing Places facility is at York Station. As part of our future developments at the National Railway Museum we will be adding a Changing Places toilet.
 

Guide and assistance animals

Working guide and assistance animals are welcome at the museum.

They should be appropriately trained, supervised and kept with you at all times, ideally on a leash. Where possible, dog owners should bring their Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) identification book and animals should wear the appropriate tabards or harness, but this is not a requirement for entry.

If you plan to visit with an assistance animal other than an assistance dog, please get in touch to discuss your request with the Contact Centre, so we can pass onto colleagues working on the day of your visit.

Email: info@sciencemuseumgroup.ac.uk

Phone: 033 0058 0058

Please include: 

  • Museum location (We are a group of 5 museums)
     
  • Visit date
  • Visit time
  • Contact details (mobile/email)

Unfortunately, we cannot admit pets to our museums.

Bag storage

Please note lockers are unavailable on Wednesday 17 January.

Lockers are located on the right as you enter Great Hall. £3 per locker, cash only. If you need change, our staff at the nearby ticket desk will be happy to help.

Dimensions: H58cm x W45cm x D45cm

Accessible resources

A fixed hearing loop is available at the welcome desk at the entrance.

A large-print version of our map is available from the reception desk at the entrance.