The Postal Museum in London: a ticket to ride

[caption id="attachment_4446" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The wall by the Postal Museum[/caption]

As Londoners, we have explored our home city pretty well over the years. We’ve enjoyed big attractions like the Science Museum, and sought out smaller ones like Dr Johnson’s House. We’ve travelled in different directions, from north to Kenwood House, across the river to the glories of Greenwich. So we were pretty excited at the thought of visiting a new museum – especially one with a ride...

The Postal Museum is great – I should say that straight up – and unique. It’s genuinely interesting (I had no idea that post boxes were originally green, for example) and has been very carefully thought out so that the interactive parts work well and also informative. There are loads of interesting exhibits and artefacts, and you can even design your own stamp!

[caption id="attachment_4447" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Mail Rail ride at the Postal Museum,[/caption]

Where is it?

The Museum is on two sites, near the former Mount Pleasant depot in Clerkenwell, London.  The first involves the ride – on a real mail train – and for most people it’s the highlight. I should admit right now, that I could not bring myself to go on this as I don’t like very small enclosed spaces, but Brian, Robert and Jess really enjoyed their 15 minute journey and I could watch it all on a screen just behind the track, so didn’t really feel I missed out.

History in action

I can’t imagine that many people know that a postal railway network operated under London for much of the 20^th century. It distributed letters and parcels across the city, from Paddington to Whitechapel (around 6.5 miles) on specially designed trains, cutting down delivery times dramatically and delivering millions of letters each day.

It was actually the world’s first driverless electric railway when it opened in 1927, and visitors can travel in a specially adapted train into these underground tunnels. They take you back in time, past a dartboard on a wall, which the workers – who loaded the bags of letters - used to play on between shifts, into the Blitz and even a powercut (I was glad not to be on the train for that one.....)

The service closed in 2003 – basically because we’ve stopped sending so much post (damned Internet!)

Once you disembark from the Mail Rail, there’s an accompanying exhibition which is well worth your time. You can see the original trains, try to keep the trains running by controlling the network (this was tricky) and sort the mail while the ground is moving (we all liked this one!).

The second half

After you’ve finished with the Mail Rail part, cross the road and walk up a little bit and you can visit the actual Postal Museum Exhibition. This is small, but really good, taking you right back to the history of the mail service, when Henry VIII was on the throne, to the present day.

You can see an original mail coach, a sheet of Penny Blacks, and the original sculpture of the Queen’s head which has been used on millions of stamps. You can also dress up, and find out about how the post was delivered in war time. I found this really moving.

[caption id="attachment_4449" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Rare Edward VIII stamps on show[/caption]

There’s also a playspace “Sorted” for younger kids.

Robert, aged 13, says:

"I really enjoyed all the interactive activities to take part in that were scattered around the museum. You could make custom stamps that you could decorate with your face and an array of animated decorations. You could also play electronic games, one in which you pick which way to go to complete the quickest delivery route and another in which you make important decisions regarding the safety of the mail, your passengers and your deadline to deliver. Those activities were really fun although they weren’t something you would want to do numerous times.

“However, there was one activity I could’ve kept doing for hours (which I almost did!). It was the pneumatic mail delivery tubes and involved writing messages before placing them in mail capsules and then pushing them into chutes which transported your message all around the exhibition before dropping it off at the alternate station. Whoever was at that station would then write back so you could have a fun conversation with the person the receiving end.”

[caption id="attachment_4450" align="alignnone" width="900"] Postboxes were originally green![/caption]

All in all, we would recommend The Postal Musem as a great day out for all ages. You should book the Mail Rail in advance as it gets extremely popular and afterwards, either eat in the cafe, or take a quick walk to Exmouth Market, which is full of shops and stalls.

Need to know

The Postal Musum is open every day from 10 till 5pm

Entry to the exhibitions costs £11 for adults and is free for children.

A trip on the Mail Rail and the exhibitions is £17.45 for adults and £10.45 for children.

You can find more information on the museum's website.

The new RAF museum - a must-visit

[caption id="attachment_4430" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert sitting in the cockpit of a Spitfire[/caption]

When the kids were small, we would often pop over to the RAF museum, not far from where we live, in North London, to have a look around and take part in some of the children's activities offered there. It was a pleasant day out, a bit old-fashioned, but convenient and good for the children. But it wasn't anything special.

Fast-forward a few years and a multi-million pound transformation has occurred. The new RAF museum (and I'm calling it new, even though it's on the same site) is worth not just taking your kids to, but your teens, your other half and your parents... And it's still free entry.

2018 is the centenary of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the museum is now a great testament to that (it was previously a bit tired). It offers some excellent galleries (including a new one on modern warfare, which contains up to date aircraft plus interactive exhibits including a quiz which I very much enjoyed), brilliant exhibits (including bombs from World Wars One and Two), hundreds of new artefacts and some very clever interactive experiences including the chance to build your own computerised plane (and then to see it fail miserably when tested - or perhaps that was only us).

The space itself (a former air field) is also vastly improved, with a green space in the middle of it and simply more space to breathe. There's also a new restaurant, but it needs more staff (and more panini machines!) to be as appealing as the rest of the site. The only other thing they need to add is a really good audio tour, as it would help you to organise what you should see - there's so much on offer.

Now, that's enough of me. Robert, who's now 13, explains more: 

When a child comes to a museum they are hoping for interesting things to look at and interactive activities to take part in.The RAF museum has always provided awesome vehicles to examine, (planes, tanks, helicopters…) yet the latter was only really provided in a kids' activity centre, not around the rest of the site.

But now, scattered around the different exhibitions are loads of online and real-life activities to have fun with. These include: designing your own plane and then testing it in a series of online challenges (which I really enjoyed and did more than once), a multi-tasking test where you had to complete logic puzzles at the same time as tapping coloured squares, and a screen where you have to put famous events in chronological order. More physical activities included dressing up in the clothes of RAF pilots, placing cogs in a wheel to try and complete a successful engine and a speed test where you had to tap lights as they flashed up. There were also loads of other interactive things to do for both younger and older kids, on top of the old activity centre (which, funnily enough, is one of the things that doesn’t really work that well anymore).

Royal Air Force

[caption id="attachment_4435" align="alignnone" width="1000"] There were so many interesting cut outs of people who had been, or were, in the RAF[/caption]

The Royal Air Force is what the activities and the museum is all about.There are many exhibitions displaying information about times when the RAF was needed and in each hangar there are the different vehicles used at those times; from the spitfire to the German Messerschmitt to the incredible, giant Vulcan. In the first exhibition, “Stories of the air force” there are models of every vehicle for children to sit in.

[caption id="attachment_4436" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Some of the older bombs on show[/caption]

In terms of information there are boards next to the planes explaining what they are, as well as loads of lifesize cut outs of former RAF members with their story printed on the back. These were really interesting and varied - from different times and about many different types of people - and I would recommend reading them. I found the planes and the bombs/missiles they carried really cool to look at although I could see younger children getting bored after a little while.

Add-ons

[caption id="attachment_4432" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert flying a plane (via a simulator...)[/caption]

There are three main experiences that you could pay to take part in at the museum. The first was a flight simulation where you have six minutes to control the plane. You do feel slight vibrations, but it wasn’t as exciting as I hoped – although my dad did enjoy it. This simulator is only for older kids - however I remember the other simulator (the torpedo) being amazing when I was younger so if you go to the museum after it has been fixed, I would recommend that simulator above the newer one.

There was a 4D film in which you “fly” with the red arrows - one of five different films being shown.

The final add on was “The Spitfire Experience” where you get to go inside a real spitfire and press the buttons and pull the levers as if you were flying. I thought this might be a bit boring, but it was really good. A member of staff explains all the bits of the plane to you, and how it worked, and I thought it was the most interesting thing I had done all day. I would recommend trying this - although it costs £10 - for the explanation alone. It was great.

Evaluation

[caption id="attachment_4438" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Standing in the new gallery, which is the story of the RAF from 1980 to the present day[/caption]

Personally, I had a great day trying out all the new activities and looking at the new exhibitions. The day out was a lot more fun than the last time I came so if you haven’t come in a while or are coming to London on a trip then I would definitely recommend a visit!

The RAF Museum is open from 10-6pm daily from March to October. It's free entry, although the add-ons (as mentioned above) cost extra. It's in Hendon, North West London (the nearest tube is Colindale on the Northern Line) and you can find out more about it via its website..

 

Read more:

Top museums for kids in London - by Robert

A visit to the fantastic Spy Museum

London - for any kind of family

[caption id="attachment_3648" align="alignnone" width="1200"] London! As seen from the London Eye (another London trip we would recommend!)[/caption]

We love London - and not only because we live here. We just think there is so much to do in this great city - for people of all ages and with all interests. Today Robert, who's 11, shares his recommendations for different kinds of families who visit London.

1.Thrill Seekers 

[caption id="attachment_3643" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert on a rib boat on the Thames,[/caption]

If you’re in London and love speed and excitement, then I would recommend going on the Canary Wharf Experience. This is a tour down the Thames on one of London’s fastest speedboats. In the 50 minute ride you speed up and down the river whilst listening to commentary from the driver (he was very funny). I found it really exhilarating and at some parts the boat was on its side! I found the actual tour very entertaining as well as interesting and I loved going so fast.

[caption id="attachment_3644" align="alignnone" width="1200"] You see London in a different way on this tour! This is under Tower Bridge[/caption]

Read more about London via rib boat

2. Foodies 

[caption id="attachment_3641" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert drinks bubble tea in Camden, London,[/caption]

If your family are all foodies and love trying weird and exciting foods then Camden Market is the place for you. The busy streets are packed with shops, many selling edible goods, while buying drinks is no problem as there are countless stalls where you can buy freshly made orange juice or lemonade, slushies or delicious bubbleteas. There are many ice-cream shops as well, and at one the ice-cream is moulded into a flower and at another it is made before your eyes. There are shops selling meat, wraps and even cereal, of course I always go to the one that sells Nutella doughnuts! There are so many wacky flavours and cuisines to try so if you love stuffing your face I would recommend stuffing your face at Camden.

[caption id="attachment_3640" align="alignnone" width="1200"] A doughnut stall in Camden![/caption]

3. Culture vultures 

[caption id="attachment_3646" align="alignnone" width="1200"] There is so much to see at the British Museum[/caption]

If you’re a person who goes on holiday and spends most of their days in museums then you’re in luck, London has loads. Although it is the most famous, I would recommend going to the British Museum as there is loads to learn and you can go back again and again. The museum is split up into different sections, each about a different era; my favourite has got to be the Egyptian part as I love looking at the mummies. It is a great place for kids and adults because I love going and so do mum and dad.

4. Young families 

[caption id="attachment_3645" align="alignnone" width="1200"] At Shrek's Adventure,[/caption]

In my opinion, the perfect place to take young kids in London is to Shrek’s Adventure in which you physically travel through a story. Although the queue is quite big it is worth it as the experience includes a 4D ride, mirror maze and loads of funny and cool characters. What is so great about Shrek’s adventure is that you get involved a lot and the whole thing is very interactive. I really enjoyed it when I went and I’m sure younger kids would like it even more.

Read more about Robert's thoughts on Shrek's Adventure

Overall I love London and would recommend it for all ages.

More on London by us!

Jess recommends five cool places to eat in London

Robert picks his favourite museums - for kids