Sight guide · York · United Kingdom
Visiting National Railway Museum
Behind York station, the free national museum fills vast halls with locomotives and carriages, including Mallard, the fastest steam locomotive in the world, royal carriages used by Queen Victoria, and a Japanese Shinkansen bullet train.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: webbedduck, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
National Railway Museum is a museum in Leeman Road, York. Allow 2–3 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- Leeman Road
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, kids, rainy day and history
- Best months
- January and October–November
About National Railway Museum
Behind York station, the free national museum fills vast halls with locomotives and carriages, including Mallard, the fastest steam locomotive in the world, royal carriages used by Queen Victoria, and a Japanese Shinkansen bullet train. There are outdoor play areas and a turntable demonstration.
Tip: Walk from the station via the footbridge in about 10 minutes, and check for turntable demonstrations on arrival.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Leeman Road.
Best time to visit National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- January: 7°C (45°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, very quiet crowds.
- October: 14°C (57°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- November: 10°C (50°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit York has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day York itinerary visits National Railway Museum on day 2, together with York City Walls and JORVIK Viking Centre.
- No. 5 of the 15 sights in our York things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in York.
- One of the picks in museums in York.
- One of the picks in york on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in York.
- A family favourite in York with kids.
If you like National Railway Museum
- York Minster — Minster Quarter, 2–3 hours with the tower
- York City Walls — City Centre, 1–2 hours
- The Shambles — Minster Quarter, 30 minutes
- JORVIK Viking Centre — Coppergate, 1.5 hours
Staying near National Railway Museum
Where to stay in York compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at National Railway Museum?
Plan 2–3 hours.
+Is National Railway Museum free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit National Railway Museum?
January and October–November, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Walk from the station via the footbridge in about 10 minutes, and check for turntable demonstrations on arrival.
+Do I need to book National Railway Museum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is National Railway Museum good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in York. York is one of England's best small cities for children: the free National Railway Museum, JORVIK's Viking ride, Clifford's Tower, ghost walks and the walls themselves turn history into an adventure, and the centre is compact and flat.