What Is the National Railway Museum Website?

The National Railway Museum website (railwaymuseum.org.uk) is the official online home of the National Railway Museum in York, England. It presents the museum as "the home of iconic locomotives and an unrivalled collection of engineering brilliance," and it serves two main purposes: introducing the collection and exhibitions, and helping people plan and book a visit. Entry to the museum is free, and the site invites visitors to book a free ticket; donations are welcomed.

What the site covers

The homepage is organized around a few core areas:

• Museum overview — who the museum is and where it is located.
• Exhibitions and stories — "stories of railways past, present and future."
• Highlights and experiences — bookable activities and galleries.
• Visit planning — practical information for arranging a day out.
• Transformation — the museum describes an ongoing journey "to become a global engineering powerhouse and a reinvented, inspiring 21st-century attraction."

Visitor information you can get from the site

The site also has a dedicated "Getting here" section for planning your journey, and a "Plan your visit" prompt on the homepage.

Exhibitions and experiences listed

The homepage highlights a mix of free and bookable activities:

• Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery — an interactive family gallery, open 10.00–16.30 with last admission at 15.30; booking available.
• Flying Scotsman VR Experience — a virtual reality experience marking 100 years of the locomotive; booking available.
• Miniature Railway — a small-scale ride running on selected dates.
• Afternoon tea aboard the Countess of York — served Friday to Sunday in a restored rail carriage; booking available.
• Ghosts of Station Hall — a special family event running 24 October – 1 November 2026, with activities, storytelling, crafts and "spooky science."
• Young Railway Photographer of the Year — a competition with the Railway Photographic Society, open to young people aged 0–25, running until 4 April 2027.

When this site is useful to you

Use railwaymuseum.org.uk if you want to:

• Confirm opening hours and the free-entry policy before travelling to York.
• Book a free museum ticket or reserve a place at a paid experience such as Wonderlab, the VR experience or afternoon tea.
• Check what special events or competitions are running during your dates.
• Read about the museum's collection and its redevelopment plans.

If you are looking for a specific locomotive, archive item or research service, the homepage alone won't confirm it — you would need to explore the collection and visit sections of the site directly.