Museums ✓ Detailed listing

Locomotion - The National Railway Museum at Shildon

Shildon

Railway museum, transport museum, collection museum, children's museum, open-air museum in Shildon, United Kingdom

Opening Open daily 10.00–17.00

Price Free entry—donations welcome; Father Christmas experience costs £15 per child (includes gift, mini warming hot chocolate and 10% off in the shop)

Typical visit Not provided yet

Age fit Families with babies and small children are catered for, with baby changing facilities in the unisex accessible toilets and a family visit page for planning; free family activities feature at Christmas.

Setting indoor/outdoor

The experience

About this day out

Locomotion is a museum in Shildon, the world's first railway town, where visitors can get up close to a 200-year-old legend and incredible engineering feats. Entry is free and the museum is open daily from 10.00 to 17.00. The site is partially open-air, with outdoor footpaths up to 1,000 metres to view all buildings.

When to go

Opening calendar

Open daily 10.00–17.00

Check the venue calendar ↗

What it costs

Prices at a glance

Admission: Free entry—donations welcome; Father Christmas experience costs £15 per child (includes gift, mini warming hot chocolate and 10% off in the shop)

Prices can change. Confirm ticket terms with the venue before booking.

Practical details

Facilities & accessibility

At a glance

Museum shopToiletsWheelchair-accessible toilet facilities with hand-rails and emergency cords in Main Hall and New HallChanging Places facility in Main HallBaby changing facilities in the unisex accessible toiletsEar defenders available to borrow from the welcome deskSensory resource packs available to borrow from the welcome deskWheelchairs available for visitors' use"Walk and rest" stools available for useSeating around the museum buildingFree parkingVenue hireGroup bookings

Accessibility: The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, though the site is partially open-air with outdoor footpaths up to 1,000 metres / 3,280 feet in length to view all buildings; there is no access to any of the historic buildings at the western end of the site due to renovation work. Accessible parking is available in the yellow bays in two areas, with all parking free of charge; visitors with limited mobility can be dropped off/picked up by the side of Main Hall. Wheelchair-accessible toilets with hand-rails and emergency cords are in Main Hall and New Hall, and a Changing Places facility is available in Main Hall. Working guide and assistance animals are welcome; monthly Early Bird sessions offer a quieter, more relaxed setting, and a detailed visual story and map are available.
Parking: All parking is free of charge. Accessible parking is available in the yellow bays in two areas—one straight ahead as you enter the car park and one as you turn left after entering the car park; the accessible parking to the left has the shortest safe walking route to the buildings. Drop off/pick up for visitors with limited mobility is by the side of Main Hall (no parking in that area).
Dogs: Working guide and assistance animals are welcome; pets are not admitted to the museum.

Getting there

Where you'll find it

Reviews coming soon

Been here? Be the first to share your experience when reviews launch.

Is this your attraction? Claim this free listing to manage your details, add photos and see who's viewing you — two months of premium insights included.

Claim this listing →