This summer (23 July – 31 August) families visiting the award-winning London Transport Museum in Covent Garden can enjoy a packed programme of rail-themed family fun, celebrating Railway 200 which marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
From the construction of the world’s first underground railway to the opening of the cutting-edge Elizabeth line, visitors will discover the people and innovations that have kept London moving for almost two centuries.
Families can get hands-on with creative activities that will bring London’s railway history to life, from coding electric toy trains and designing pop-up railways to meeting costumed characters from the past and joining a birthday party for trains. Each day of the week will feature a different activity, with the full programme available on London Transport Museum’s website.
Activities for all ages include:
Imagine what it would have been like a hundred years ago when different lines had to compete for customers in a fun poster-making activity
Become a budding engineer and build a pop-up railway model inspired by the first railway in London
Discover how train carriages have changed over the last 200 years and try designing a carriage of the future
Get creative in a range of arts and crafts sessions run by other museums who will pop-up at London Transport Museum throughout the holidays
Activities for ages 0-5 include:
Discover the different ways to travel around London by train today through exciting games and activities at a birthday party for trains
Activities for ages 3 plus include:
Embark on an imaginative mission to crack the code and discover how to create a signalling system to run trains through a capital city
Look out for costumed characters in the Museum’s galleries and chat to them to discover what it was like to work on London’s railways over the past 200 years
Activities for ages 5 plus include:
Discover what it was like to travel on the world’s first underground Railway in an interactive storytelling session
Tackle a historic challenge – how to reach deep-level Tube platforms – by creating an invention to transport passengers below the surface
During a visit to the Museum, families can also explore historic vehicles, climb aboard mini trains in the All-Aboard play zone, and try driving an Elizabeth line train in the Future Engineers gallery. When it’s time for a break the Museum’s cafe offers delicious food and views over Covent Garden Piazza.
Kids go free! Adult tickets to London Transport Museum include free return entry for a whole year. Concession tickets are also available. Book tickets in advance online here: ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/family-events/summer-holidays-rail-adventures
The family fun continues in London Transport Museum’s Cubic Theatre with the return of Transport Explorers: A Live Show. Packed with live experiments, comedy, and plenty of audience interaction, this 60-minute show puts kids (and their grown-ups) right in the middle of the action as they journey through amazing moments in London’s transport history. A fun and educational adventure not to be missed!
Tickets for Transport Explorers: A Live Show start from £12.00. Book tickets here: ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/family-events/transport-explorers
