National Railway Museum, York

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We went here expecting to just use up a spare hour or so as it is free admission but ended up staying until closing time! You don't need to be a trainspotter to enjoy this place as there is so much of interest to anyone with even a passing interest in our heritage and industrial history. Was also quite interesting to see a few items from Harry Potter films here!

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York’s National Railway Museum is the world’s largest museum of its class and the UK’s most popular museum outside of London. The museum was founded in 1975 to join a collection of engines which was loosely displayed all over the city and even in some more distant places. For that purpose, a former British Railway locomotive depot, including a full working turntable, was purchased. Today it houses a collection of over 100 engines and hundreds of other exhibits like passenger cars.
The most famous exhibits are a replica of Stephensons’s Rocket and the Mallard, which has the distinction of being the fastest steam engine ever with a speed of 126 mph. One part is dedicated to all the royal trains from Queen Victoria’s one on. If you have kids, they will surely enjoy it. Not only because all the steam engines, but also because of all the events they have for kids like a playground, drawing and tinkering as well as Thomas & Friends stuff. Entertainment for adults (cursed may be those who think of something wrong now…) is also given in form of turntable demonstrations, engine runs or by seeing people in the workshop restoring the “Flying Scotsman”. If you are a railway enthusiast this is paradise, if not, you will enjoy it too. It is easy to spend a couple of hours in this museum, try to plan at least two. If you still aren’t sure, if this is a right place to go, I would like to add that an Europan Museum of the year award (2001) is not won for nothing. Entry is free. You only have to pay, if you want an audioguide or if you want to use the library for private research.

If you are arriving on train use the rear exit of the train station. The museum is close to the train station, but if you are at the main entrance, you have to take a 10 minute walk around a park and under bridges to reach the museum.

If you have an interest in the history of trains- you can't miss this place. Also its FREE, which is nice especially if you are paying a high exchange rate for everything. They also had one of the coolest collection of stuff in the gift shop of anywhere I went. I learned more about trains than I will ever need to repeat in my life. Also its indoors and there is AC.

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The National Railway Museum is a great Place to visit and is really a day out in itself. It tells the Story of the Railway since it's begining in the 19th century and displays Trains such as the The Rocket, Flying Scotsman and a Japanese Bullet Train. There is a fantastic collection of Carridges as well including some old Royal train carridges.

Free Entrance
Open daily between 10am - 6pm.

The National Railway Museum actually won European Museum of the Year 2001 and it is certainly worth it. You will find trains from all over the UK in the country that invented the railway. I recently returned to see what updates hade been done since I lived in York more than ten years ago, and it has now become even better. The only thing that saddened me was that my favourite sight, the famous record breaking and beautiful engine Mallard was just about to be moved to the railway museum in Shildon further up the country so you will no longer find it here. Things to see still include royal carriages though, and a bit on how the channel tunnel was created, a Japanese bullet train and a lot of beautiful engines in the engine hall, perhaps notably with the beautifully streamlined Duchess of Hamilton as the star exhibit now that Mallard has left.

Not just for train spotters but for anyone with an interest in 19th-20th century life, engineering or travel. Children of all ages will love it too and there is a good shop. Personally, I also like the old carriage that my now husband renovated in his youth :))) Sorry for the poor picture but I haven't been back down there since I became a VT member. The yellow building next to the wheel is the museum.

You do not have to be a train fan to visit here but I guess it helps. The museum is a look at England's railways over the years and is set partly in the old roundhouse of the York engine sheds. The trains are beautifully restored and there is even a Japanese Bullet train to see. Some engines are cut in half so that the workings can be seen.
This is a great museum for children - for example this summer (2009) (and in future summers if I forget to update this updated events) there will be a Harry Potter theme with Orton Hall (the engine that pulls Harry's train) on display and also theatrical productions of The Railway Children.There is a fairground and picnic area with giant games such as Connect 4 and Jenga.
Also new in 2009 and a permanent display is the Learning Platform where you can see the museums new show from Rocket to Bullet - the history of the train.

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The national rail museum at York is great. There are many trains on display including the flying Scotsman and the Japanese bullet. The exhibition is a favourite for children, enthusiasts and anybody with an afternoon to spare. Located next to York railway station it is easy to get to.

Having three young children this is a great place for us to go, especially as my youngest is crazy about trains. Its not always easy trying to keep up with my children as they are so excited to explore the next train, that they hardly have time to see the first one! Lucky for me, we visit York often and this is a place we come every time - and it is equally exciting every time! The discovery/play room is fun and definitely worth a visit - maybe even for adults who like the idea of controlling points!
The café here is in a great location but it is nothing special.