National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided York audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~90 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type museum
- Suggested visit ~90 min
- York York guide
About National Railway Museum
One of the world's great railway museums, free to enter beside York's station, home to Mallard, holder of the steam speed record, and the only Japanese bullet train in Britain.
The National Railway Museum, beside York railway station, is one of the largest railway museums in the world and the largest of its type in Britain. Part of the Science Museum Group, it opened in 1975 and has been free to enter since 2001. Its great halls hold more than 100 locomotives and much other rolling stock, among them Mallard, the streamlined steam locomotive that set the world speed record for steam, 126 mph (203 km/h), in 1938; a Japanese Shinkansen 'bullet train', the only one in Britain; a working replica of Stephenson's Rocket; and a collection of royal carriages. The museum also owns Flying Scotsman, though as a mainline-operational locomotive it is often away running on the network. Its principal spaces are the Great Hall and Station Hall. It lies just outside the historic walled city of York.
Did you know? The streamlined blue locomotive Mallard set the world speed record for a steam train, 126 miles an hour, on a July day in 1938; the record has never been beaten, and the engine sits here still.
How long should you spend at National Railway Museum?
Plan about ~90 min at National Railway Museum. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is National Railway Museum worth visiting?
National Railway Museum is one of the 18 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in York, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in York
Hear the story of National Railway Museum
Preview the York tour free in the Gingerguide app.