National Railway Museum - Corporate & Private Hire

What it’s like

A hired-out corporate and private events venue among the museum's engines, with a VR Flying Scotsman ride and a spin on the miniature railway thrown in.

This isn't a day out you turn up to with the kids. It's the museum's spaces booked out for corporate do's and private functions, dinner among the locomotives rather than a wander round with a pushchair. If you're organising a work event or a private party here, the guests are adults, and the sell is the setting: you're eating your three-course meal with the Flying Scotsman for company, not queuing behind school groups.

The two bits that lift it above a standard hotel function room are a virtual reality Flying Scotsman experience and a ride on the miniature railway, both listed as things your guests can do on the night. You won't get to climb into the real carriages though, the museum keeps those closed off, so the VR headset does the job of getting people inside the cab instead.

Food is proper event catering rather than a buffet table shoved in a corner, with a three-course dinner menu starting at £52 plus VAT a head, and canapés, hot bowls and buffet options if a sit-down meal isn't what you're after. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible, with accessible lifts, audio announcements and accessible toilets and baby changing in the Conference Centre, Great Hall and Station Hall, so it works for mixed-ability guest lists even though this isn't a family visit.

Parking used to be bundled into the package and isn't any more. It's £10 a day, bought inside once you arrive, and the car park shuts at 18:30, so factor that into how late your event can run if guests are driving. Blue badge holders park free in the main car park.

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

£10 per day, purchased from inside the museum

Food

On-site catering available with 3-course dinner menu from £52+VAT per person

Wheelchairs

Fully wheelchair accessible with accessible lifts and audio announcements

• This is a corporate and private hire package, not a standard museum visit
• The museum's own trains and carriages stay off limits even during an event
• Parking is no longer part of the package and costs £10 a day, bought inside
• Wi-fi is free throughout if you need it for a work event
• Blue badge holders get free parking in the main car park

Plan your visit

See all Model Villages & Miniature Railways in York · Things to do in York