National Railway Museum to reopen this summer

After 119 days of lockdown, bosses at the National Railway Museum in York have announced plans to reopen to the public this summer.

It will open its doors to the public from Tuesday 4 August.

The site has undergone a rigorous cleaning regime prior to reopening, and additional site-wide cleaning will continue to take place each day.

Visitors will be encouraged to observe social distancing measures and the wearing of facemasks will be recommended.

In a significant change designed to keep the sites safe and comfortable, visitors will be required to book a timed slot in advance.

Tickets will be free and available from the museum websites, but overall visitor numbers will be limited each day to avoid overcrowding.

At York, the Great Hall which is home to world-famous locomotives such as Mallard and a replica of Stephenson’s Rocket, will be first to open.

The main gift shop and the Great Hall café will also reopen from 4 August, although steam rides, the miniature railway and the under-five’s play area will remain closed for the time being. 

In the coming weeks, the remaining museum areas such as Station Hall, the Warehouse and outdoor spaces are also due to reopen.

Judith McNicol, Director of the National Railway Museum:

“We know that our sites – with their large, open buildings, outdoor spaces and car parking, can be great places for people to begin to re-engage with culture with confidence.

We are cautiously reopening in stages, to ensure the safety of our guests and colleagues.

We have dramatically enhanced our cleaning processes and introduced practical measures to allow visitors to maintain social distancing whilst enjoying the best of our collection.

Although visitors may notice a few changes when they return, they can be assured of a warm welcome and the chance to enjoy our unrivalled collection of railway and engineering achievements.” 

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Railway Museum welcomed more than 750,000 visitors each year.

To book a free ticket for the National Railway Museum, visit: www.railwaymuseum.org.uk.

SHARE THIS STORY:

Get our app, and stay up to date!