The National Railway Museum (NRM) in York has been included in Time Out’s list of the 20 best museums to visit in the UK for 2026, placed at number 13.
What the museum offers
The NRM is already known for its collection of iconic rolling stock on display. Among the headline exhibits are:
- Mallard, the world’s fastest steam locomotive;
- a Japanese shinkansen (bullet train);
- an Intercity 125;
- opportunities to step inside several of the trains on show.
The museum’s public profile has been sustained by a mixture of high-profile pieces and regular temporary displays, making it a key cultural and tourist asset for the city.
Ongoing redevelopment
The NRM is undertaking a substantial refurbishment that will reshape parts of the museum. Work completed last year remodelled Station Hall into an immersive space at a reported cost of £11 million. The scheme introduced retro packaging and vintage signage, and added restored artefacts including a 1921 WH Smith bookstall originally from Waterloo station.
Attention has now turned to creating a new central hall designed to echo the historic roundhouses once found at rail termini. That hall will physically link the two halves of the museum and, when opened, will include a new Railway Futures Gallery. According to the Time Out coverage, construction on the new central hall is due to begin this year.
Local impact and context
The NRM’s continued investment underlines its role in York’s cultural economy. Developments such as the Station Hall upgrade and the planned central hall are likely to influence visitor flows through the city and may affect partner organisations, local businesses and education providers who use the museum as a resource.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Time Out ranking | Number 13 in top 20 UK museums for 2026 |
| Recent spending | £11 million on Station Hall transformation |
| Planned work | New central hall and Railway Futures Gallery; construction starts this year |
Visitors and local residents who wish to follow the redevelopment progress can check the museum’s official information and event listings for updates on openings and new displays. As the project advances, the NRM’s evolving offer will remain a notable element of York’s visitor attractions.
