From Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September London Transport Museum is hosting its last Museum Depot open days event of 2026 inviting the public to go behind the scenes of its working collection store in Acton Town, west London. Visitors will be able to discover the Museum’s vast collection of more than 320,000 objects not on display in the Covent Garden Museum.
September’s event celebrates London transport’s much-loved design classics which include the world-famous Tube logo or ‘roundel’, the iconic London Underground map, Tube seating fabric or ‘moquette’, iconic historic vehicles and its extensive collection of vintage publicity posters.
Adults and curious young minds can enjoy a line-up of inspiring talks from a range of topics including architecture on the Piccadilly line which celebrates its 120th anniversary this year, Art on the Underground and inclusive design delivered by curators, historians, Transport for London design experts and museum volunteers. Families can take part in a variety of hands-on activities inspired by this autumn’s design theme such as a match the moquette kid’s quiz and designing your own transport poster.
Guests will also be able to get up close to objects in the collection and watch live demonstrations of historic equipment. Alongside the lively programme, visitors can climb aboard historic trains such as the 1927 standard stock and 1938 stock trains, get up close to the pioneering RM1 and RM2 buses and explore rare signalling equipment, models, maps, station architecture and the Museum’s world-renowned art and poster collection.
The Depot open days programme includes:
Talks (select days and times)
Talk: Welcome to the Depot
Ages: all ages but best suited to an adult audience
Description: Enjoy a short talk and discover the Museum Depot’s purpose and find out more about a few collection favourites to look out for during your visit. This talk will last approximately 15 minutes.
Talk: Signalling Spotlights
Ages: all ages
Explore highlights from the signalling area and hear from the Museum’s Signalling Volunteers about developments from the York Road Lever to the Jubilee Extension Line back up desk, both in the Museum’s collection at the Depot.
Rail Shed talks: a history of the underground in 10 minutes
Ages: all ages
Join one of the knowledgeable Museum volunteers for a whistle stop talk on the history of London’s Underground.
Activities for families and big kids (select days and times)
Match the Moquette quiz. Think you know your Elizabeth line moquette from your Barman? Test your knowledge of a variety of famous moquette patterns, past and present, that have been an icon of TfL.
London 2126: Posters of tomorrow workshop. Take inspiration from posters from the Museum’s collection to design your own poster telling people how to get around the city in 2126!
Design a Roundel Workshop. Create your own roundel using different colours, logos and patterns and make a unique roundel as original as you.
Heritage demonstrations, displays and stalls (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
Creative workshop: drop in to the creative space and create your own Tube map designs inspired by the museum’s design collection, hosted by London Transport Museum’s Young Volunteers.
Poetry in Motion: Stories from London’s Transport Network. Celebrating 40 years of Poems on the Underground, read poetry created by Young Leaders of the Anti-Tribalism Movement, a local community organisation committed to combating tribal discrimination and promoting a fairer and more equitable society.
Tickets Please! Object handling. Come along to the Depot’s Object Handling Trolley and try out some of the wonderful collection of ticket machines and tickets through time.
Signalling demos. Learn more about the Museum’s heritage train signalling equipment with live demonstrations.
Miniature railway. Kids can hop on board a small train in the Depot grounds
Q Stock restoration. Visit the Museum’s Q stock carriages in the Rail Shed and learn more about the current restoration project.
SEND-friendly hours: for one hour only on Saturday. Aimed at visitors who prefer a calm environment with fewer crowds and reduced noise including those with sensory needs.
Supporting heritage. Find out more about supporting London’s transport heritage by visiting the London Transport Museum Friends desk
Other activities
Visit the Museum Depot shop for exclusive gifts and souvenirs – from moquette pattern socks, scarves, and cushions, to posters, prints, and authentic Tube station signs and collectables
Enjoy tasty food and drinks from Benugo, Mini Bean Coffee, Crepe Salut and Well Nice Food.
Experience music out in the Yard to celebrate TfL’s Busking Scheme, first introduced in 2003
The Depot open days: design classics event takes place on 25 to 27 September 2026. Adult tickets cost £19.00 and £10.00 for children. Kids aged 3 and under go free.
Concessions are available including local resident tickets for residents of Ealing and Hounslow. See the full programme and book in advance online: www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/depot-open-days/design-classics
