
The Postal Museum
With a National Art Pass you get
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.
Look out for The Wild Escape at museums and galleries in the next few months. Many have special events, or you can use our audio introduction to help children get involved at any cultural venue.
Visiting with children?
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.