The Postal Museum
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Bringing five centuries of communications history to life, The Postal Museum tells the surprising story of Britain's postal heritage.
Spanning over 500 years of history, with tens of thousands of objects and millions of stamps in its collection, the museum explores the history of the postal service since Henry VIII first wanted a network to serve his court in the 16th century to its relevance in today's technological age.
Visitors can explore the collections and temporary exhibitions, discovering everything from the rare Penny Black – the world's first adhesive postage stamp – to cryptic Victorian Valentine cards. Immersive activities include fending off highwaymen in the mail coach game and sending secret messages across the room in pneumatic cannisters.
There is also the opportunity to ride on Mail Rail, a theatrical experience in the original tunnels and station platforms underneath Royal Mail's Mount Pleasant sorting office.
Why you should go
Learn about the postal service from its beginnings in ancient times to the present day
Ride the Mail Rail, an underground railway that was used to transport mail around London
Interactive exhibits including sorting mail and designing stamps
