London Transport Museum

The Basics

London is home to the world’s oldest subway system, and the London Transport Museum pays tribute to its history, as well as the city’s iconic double-decker buses, public-hire bicycles, and more. The LT Museum houses an enormous collection of vintage trams, Underground carriages, retro Tube station signs, historical maps, and even staff uniforms. Book museum admission online in advance; the London Transport Museum is also included in the popular London Pass scheme.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The London Transport Museum hosts a range of special events, from talks and family-friendly workshops to heritage vehicle outings.

• The museum is accessible to visitors with limited mobility, but not all of the vehicles on display can accommodate wheelchair users.

• The Upper Deck café bar serves hot and cold dishes, child-friendly offerings, warm beverages, and beer and wine.

How to Get There

The London Transport Museum is located in Covent Garden. Take the Piccadilly and Northern lines to Leicester Square Station, the Piccadilly line to Covent Garden Station, or National Rail trains to Charing Cross Station. Alternatively, bus routes RV1, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, and 139 serve the area. The museum can easily be reached on foot, by bike, or by car.

When to Get There

The museum is open daily. For those aged 18 and over, the London Transport Museum also hosts Friday Lates events, extending hours later into the night, and offering special entertainment and refreshments.

The Museum Depot

When not on display, objects in the London Transport Museum’s collection of vehicles and memorabilia are kept in the Museum Depot, located in Acton, West London. Though the Depot is not usually open to the public, it does occasionally host open weekends and guided tours.

Ways to explore

Entry is best booked in advance, although there are limited walk-in tickets that you can buy at the door. Tickets have timed-entry slots as the museum gets busy, especially in the summer. While the price may seem expensive, all tickets are annual passes and you can return unlimited times within 365 days from your first visit. No single-visit admission tickets are available.

Museum tours are popular, and visit the transport sites of hidden London—think long-forgotten stations and subterranean war shelters. Or to simply see the museum from outside, London sightseeing tours often stop by to offer insight into the museum’s work and the building’s Victorian architecture—it was once a flower market.

Accessibility

The nearest step-free tube station is Tottenham Court Road, which is within a 15-minute walk. The museum is wheelchair accessible, with elevators, ramps, and accessible restrooms. A wheelchair is available for loan, and induction loops are throughout the museum. The museum also offers the services of a sighted guide, but you must book this two weeks ahead of your visit.

Age limits

Children aged 17 and under enter for free. The site is suitable for all ages, with a playzone for kids under 5.

What to pack

Your timed-entry ticket, either to show digitally on your phone or as a printed copy.

What to wear

Comfortable, flat shoes

Not allowed

Eating, drinking, smoking, and vaping within the museum space.

Amenities

Cafés open from midmorning until late afternoon, coatroom, gift shop, indoor picnic space in the Lower Deck café, information desk, restrooms with baby-changing facilities, stroller park

Address

The London Transport Museum is in Covent Garden, in the heart of tourist London. It’s an easy walk from Leicester Square, the West End theaters, and Trafalgar Square.

Driving

You need to pay the London Congestion Charge and the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) fee, if applicable for your vehicle. Parking nearby is limited, and it’s best to take public transport if possible.

Public transportation

Take the tube to Covent Garden via the Piccadilly line, or Leicester Square via the Northern or Bakerloo lines. Charing Cross station and Embankment Pier for boats are both within a 10-minute walk. Several London buses pass by, with nearby stops on Savoy Street, Southampton Street/Covent Garden, and Lancaster Place.

Best times to visit

If you prefer a quieter experience, come to the museum in the afternoon.

Best days to visit

As with many London museums, weekdays are typically calmer, although school groups may visit earlier in the day.

Best months to visit

The museum in Covent Garden is inside, so the weather won’t impact your trip. It’s fun to see year-round, although you can expect it to be busier in the summer and during any school vacation periods.

Special events

There’s a packed calendar of events year-round. Among the more popular regular happenings are Museum Lates, adult-only evening visits with a bar, music, and themed exhibitions and activities. These usually take place in the summer.