London Post Office Railway: An Impressive Underground Revolution
London has plenty of interesting places to visit, but what’s underneath the city is even more fascinating.
Also known as the “Mail Rail,” the Post Office Railway used to be a revolutionary automatic electric railway. The project started out as the officials’ desire to improve Royal Mail delivery. In order to avoid the traffic of downtown, they decided in favor of underground.
At the beginning of the 20th century, people were still using letters as one of the main sources of communication. However, traffic was also becoming increasingly difficult and it was hard for workers to deliver the mail quickly. Finally, after more than 10 years of planning, the Post Office Railway was officially opened by the end of 1927.
The then-complex revolutionary system was based on a 6,5 mile long underground track, that could transport over 4 million pieces of mail at a speed of 40 miles per hour. Its route started at Paddington and ended at Whitechapel.
The wide tunnels were dug at 70 feet below the surface, with the stations placed a bit closer to the ground, so the mail could be collected quicker. During the middle of the 20th century, this ingenious system beat all records by shuttling over 40 million pieces of mail every single day! But things weren’t going to stay that way for long.
The technological progress (phone, fax and even internet) has gradually led to a decrease in the number of letters sent and received daily. The Post Office Railway functioned few decades. At the dawn of new century, the town officials realized, that it was no longer needed and the expenses exceeded the profit.
In 2003, the railroad was officially closed down and abandoned. For years, visiting it was illegal and nearly impossible for that matter. However, soon it will become London’s latest tourist attraction, as The Mail Rail will be re-opening in July, 2017. Of course, it will not be the same; it will be more like a museum. But, the visitors will appreciate journey through the original tunnels.
Depot: Mount Pleasant Mail Centre
Photos via standard.co.uk
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Mail Rail at The Postal Museum, Phoenix Place, London — map marks the underground railway platform
- Coordinates
- 51.52483, -0.1134
- Access
- Mail Rail and The Postal Museum are in separate buildings across Phoenix Place; go to Mail Rail first for the timed ride. The welcome area is step-free and a lift or stairs reach the lower-ground ride. The compact train enters narrow tunnels 21 m underground with darkness, noise and flashing lights. In an emergency evacuation riders must be able to walk unaided for about 100 m and climb 70 steps; check the operator’s accessibility guidance before booking.
- Admission
- Standard museum ticket: adult £20.50; child aged 2–17 £11. It includes one Mail Rail ride on the first visit and museum access for one year. Children under 2 are free with a booked ticket. Confirm current prices and availability with the operator.
- Time needed
- The ride lasts about 15 minutes including boarding and disembarking. The operator does not publish a recommended total visit duration for the museum and ride.
- Best season
- The operator says midweek outside school holidays is usually quieter; this is a crowd-level tip, not a seasonal recommendation.
- Opening hours
- Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–17:00; last Mail Rail ride at 16:00. Advance booking is recommended; check the operator’s calendar for closures.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-24
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-17
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