Description

Postman Pat may be Britain’s favourite postal delivery man, but there's a secret that's well before his time! Established in 1927, London’s Mail Rail network has been a vital artery in Britain’s communication network for more than 75 years. Employing over 220 staff and operating for 22 hours a day, the tiny trains were responsible for delivering around 4 million letters to expectant Londoners. The once-vital communications technology have withstood the terrors of two world wars, including the catastrophic Blitz bombing of World War Two.

Though its postal delivery came to a halt in 2003, the rail network remains a 6½ mile stretch of fascinating history, waiting to be discovered. For the first time in over a decade, the Postal Museum is allowing the public to view the abandoned labyrinth of criss-cross tunnels. Having reopened in the summer of 2018, the London Postal Museum was one of five museums shortlisted for the £100,000 Art Fund Museum of the Year prize, the largest museum prize in the world.

Begin your underground adventure touring The Postal Museum, filled with interactive displays of its 500-year old history. Discover incredible objects of the trusted Royal Mail, including cryptic Victorian Valentine cards and sunken, forgotten letters recovered from a shipwreck. Then it’s time to descend 70 feet into the former engineering depot of Mail Rail – the one hundred year old Post Office railway. Starting at Mount Pleasant, one of the largest sorting offices in the world, enjoy 15 minutes of interactive fun as you chug along for one kilometre in a miniature train.

Look out onto immersive audio-visual presentations of the underground world in its heyday, passing the remains of a "train graveyard" and two ghostly abandoned platforms. You’ll hear the personal stories of those that built and kept the “first social network” coursing through London for 22 hours every day. A glimpse into their underground life may give you a whole new respect for our efficient postal system today!

As the end of your historical journey comes to an end, it’s time to rejoin the streets of London with an insatiable meal at one of the city's hottest dining destinations - Galvin La Chapelle. Brought together by Chef-Restaurateur brothers, Chris and Jeff Galvin, this classical French dining spot has been received with critical acclaim. So much so that the restaurant won eight top awards in its first year of opening, including AA London Restaurant of the Year. In 2011 the brothers were awarded their first Michelin star, an honour they have proudly retained since.

The interior of Galvin La Chapelle is as impressive as its food. Housed within a former Victorian chapel, the dining rooms boasts vaulted ceilings, grand buttresses and leather furnitures. Though the decor may sound a tad ostentatious, the Galvin brothers have managed yet again to create a warm dining experience, barring any pretentiousness. For your seven-course menu gourmand, you can look forward to classical French cuisine with a pronounced modern edge, made from the finest seasonal British ingredients.

From discovering London’s mysterious underground world to finishing with world-class cuisine, it’s full steam ahead for a totally unforgettable experience.