Behind the Scenes: Store Tours – SOLD OUT

Discover the larger-than-life history of the post in a behind-the-scenes Store Tour.

A view of the British Postal Museum Store in Debden. Alongside the historic telephone kiosks a number of vehicles can be seen, including the Morris Eight hybrid van from 1938, and a 1961 Morris Minor Van,

What to expect

From the ‘Victorian hyperloop’ built to send the mail speeding under London’s streets, to quad-bike riding posties of the 21st century, our collection is full of surprises.  

Now, we’re opening up The Postal Museum Store for exclusive, behind-the-scenes tours. Our expert curators will show you another side to our collection.  

You’ll see vehicles too big to display at our central London museum and witness 150 years of postal history on ‘pillarbox row.’  

Your visit will consist of an hour-long tour, followed by half an hour of free time to explore the store. 

Know before you go

This is a rare opportunity to visit a working museum store. As such, there are fewer signs and captions than you might expect in a museum setting, but our team of curators will be on hand to answer your questions. 

Unlike in our London museum, the objects are not behind glass; this is a great opportunity to get up close and take photographs of historic objects, but we ask that you don’t touch or lean against items on display.  

Please be aware that the Postal Museum Store has limited heating so please dress for the weather. Refreshments are not available on-site, so we encourage visitors to bring drinking water. 

Getting here

The Postal Museum Store, Loughton, IG10 3UF  

By Tube

The store is approximately a 10-minute walk from Debden Underground Station on the Central Line (Eastbound towards Epping). 

By bus

Debden station is served by the 16C bus from Waltham Cross to Loughton, the 17 from Debden to Loughton, the 18 and 18C from North Weald or Ongar to Loughton, and the SB09 from Bournebridge to Loughton. 

By car

There is a 206 space car park by Debden Station. 

By foot from Debden Station

When you exit Debden Underground Station, turn right and cross the bridge over the railway tracks. Once you have descended the stairs on the other side, turn left and continue down the path that runs parallel to the train tracks. You will then see storage units on your right and a car park. Our museum store is located beside this car park. 

FAQs

Access information

Please contact us if you are unsure if the tour will meet your specific access requirements and we will be happy to help. You can also contact us if you would like to request an essential companion ticket to support your visit by emailing [email protected] or calling +44 (0)300 0300 700. 

How long is a Behind the Scenes Store Tour? 

Store tours last around an hour and a half. Expect an hour– long guided tour, and half an hour for self-guided exploration of the store.  

Will there be toilets available? 

There is one toilet available on site.  

Can I take food and drink with me on a store tour? 

You can bring a water bottle with you, but this will need to be left at the entrance. As this is a working museum store, we ask that you don’t bring food or drink into The Postal Museum Store.  

Can I cancel my ticket if I change my mind?  

Tickets are non-refundable unless the museum cancels the tour due to unforeseen circumstances. In this case, you will be given the option to move your ticket to the next available date or receive a refund. 

Can I visit The Postal Museum and Mail Rail exhibitions?  

The Postal Museum Store is located around 20km away from our central London museum. To book The Postal Museum and Mail Rail exhibitions, please book a ticket here.  

Can I bring a group on a tour or book a private tour? 

To book a private Behind-the-Scenes Store Tour, please contact [email protected].