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Introduction

We have over 500,000 objects in our collection - most of which are housed at the London Transport Museum Depot in Acton, west London. The Depot is a working collection store – a space where our curators and volunteers look after our historic objects and vehicles. It is only open to the public for special events including our pre-booked guided tours and our Depot Open Days.

Our tours, all of which are led by knowledgeable volunteer guides, allow you to go behind the scenes at this working depot and explore this treasure trove of transport history. Discover delights like historic road and rail vehicles, engineering equipment, original artworks and posters, signs and maps, and learn surprising stories about our transport heritage. 

We run a variety of guided tours that you can learn more about below. Tours range from introductory to more specialised:  

These tours have been developed for an adult audience, but older children with a keen interest in transport or design may also enjoy them. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Our new Depot Family Tour is ideal for families with children aged 5-11. 

Interested in private group bookings? Please see below for information on our available private tours.  

You can also explore the Depot at one of our Depot events, and join activities for all the family.

Depot tours video

Tours

Art and poster store tour

Date(s)
Multiple dates from Saturday 30 March 2024 to Saturday 31 August 2024

Immerse yourself in the rich design heritage of London’s transport while exploring a selection of posters from our world-class collection, and rarely seen original artworks.

A tour guide pointing at a display of posters

Depot discovery tours

Date(s)
Multiple dates from Friday 29 March 2024 to Saturday 31 August 2024

Learn about the history of London transport as you take a tour round the Depot to see highlights from our collection, from historic vehicles, signs and maps to some unusual and unexpected items!

Close up of bus fronts

Design icons tours

Date(s)
Multiple dates from Saturday 13 April 2024 to Saturday 17 August 2024

Discover the stories – and the people – behind some of London’s most enduring designs. From the iconic roundel and font to Harry Beck’s pioneering Underground map.

A mounted old tube map

Depot family tours

Date(s)
Multiple dates from Saturday 13 April 2024 to Wednesday 21 August 2024

Exclusively for family groups, join us at our Museum Depot for a highlights tour of our bus and train shed to uncover the stories of some of the very special vehicles in our collection.

Child kneeling up on moquette seats inside a historic carriage in a brightly lit building with a roundel sign

Cab It!

Date(s)
Multiple dates from Saturday 11 May 2024 to Saturday 25 May 2024

Get into the driver’s seat! Guided by our specialist volunteers, experience an Underground train from the driver’s cab and explore a variety of static vehicles built between 1930 and 1983 – including the Museum’s 1938 Tube stock.

Close up of the front of a train in the Depot

Private tours

Take a relaxed, personal tour behind the scenes. Choose between the Depot Discovery tour or Art and Poster tour. Discover highlights from our varied collection, or focus on London’s transport design heritage and explore a selection of posters and original artworks.

Private tours are available on Tuesdays year-round, apart from September and December and dates when we are running special programmes.

  • Depot Discovery tours begin at 11:00 and 14:00
  • Art and Poster tours begin at 11:30 and 13:30.

Pricing

  • 1-10 guests £100
  • 11­-20 guests £200
  • 21-30 guests (Depot Discovery tours only): £280

Book two private tours and receive a 10% discount.

Make a booking

Follow these links to check availability for our private tours, and to book and pay immediately:

Depot Discovery Tours

Art & Poster Tours

If you would like to receive an invoice, or need to reserve a tour and pay at a later date, please download the booking form below and email it to our booking team.

If you would like to ask questions about our private tours, please contact our booking team.

Top things to see at the Depot

Check out our top 20 don’t-miss objects that you have to see when you visit! Discover them through our Google Arts and Culture story below.  

FAQs

Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted anywhere in the Depot.

The Depot is a working store and restoration centre where we allow special access for visitors during guided tours. Some areas cannot be accessed by visitors and these are clearly marked with signage or barriers. Please stay with your guide at all times, and do not go into these areas. 

All tours involve standing and walking for the duration of the tour.  

Please do not touch the objects on display unless specifically invited to do so as part of the tour.

Temperatures in the Art Store are kept between 15-18° to help preserve the more fragile content in our collection. You may want to bring an extra layer with you to ensure that you are comfortable during your visit, particularly during the summer when outside temperatures are warmer.

If you have any further questions, please get in touch via our contact form.

  • How do I get to the Depot?

    Address

    2 Museum Way, 118-120 Gunnersbury Ln, Acton, London W3 9BQ

    By Underground

    The closest Underground station is Acton Town (2 mins).

    By Bus

    The closest bus stops to the Museum Depot are Gunnersbury Lane (Acton Town station) 70 or E3.

    By Car

    There is no parking available at the Depot, except for disabled badge holders.

    Planning your Journey

    To plan your journey to the Museum Depot, we recommend using TfL’s Journey Planner or downloading the TfL Go app

  • I have access concerns; will I be able to go on a tour?

    All tours involve standing for the duration of the tour. Most tours are fully accessible to wheelchair users. Please note, Cab-It is not wheelchair accessible due to the nature of old cabs. Find out more about accessibility at the Depot.

    The Depot is a working building, and whilst we take every care to eliminate all possible trip hazards, there are rail tracks and grooves set in the floor which may not be suitable for those with a visual impairment or general mobility concerns.

    Accessible toilet facilities are located next to the main reception, and service animals are permitted inside the Depot building.

    Visitors who require assistance due to disabilities are able to book a carer/companion ticket free of charge.

  • What age group are the tours suitable for?

    Our tours have been developed for an adult audience but older children with a keen interest in transport or design may also enjoy them. However, please note that anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

    We recommend our new Depot Family Tour, which is suitable for children aged 5-11. To find out more about the Museum’s offer for families at the Depot, see our Depot Events page.

  • Is photography allowed?

    Photography is allowed for private purposes in the main shed only, but tripods are not allowed. We do not allow photography in any of the small stores.

  • Is there somewhere I can leave my things?

    Backpacks, rucksacks and other large bags can be stored in our free lockers, as they cannot be taken into the Depot. Handbags, camera bags, tote bags etc. are allowed into the Depot, or can be stored in the free lockers. Please note that lockers require a refundable pound coin or token.

  • Are toilet facilities available?

    Yes, toilet and baby changing facilities are available. Accessible toilet facilities are located next to the main reception.

  • Is food and drink allowed?

    Food and drink is not permitted inside the Depot, except for still bottled water. This is to protect the collection objects from damage caused by food residue or pests. If you need to eat at regular intervals for medical reasons, please make your tour guide aware of this so they can assist you.

  • Is there a cafe on site?

    There is no cafe on site, but a number of refreshment facilities are available close to Acton Town station. 

  • I’d like to bring a group of people on a tour, how do I arrange this?

    To arrange a private tour, download and complete the request form further up this website page and send it to our Booking office.

  • What is the maximum group size for tours?

    Private group tours are a maximum of 30 for Depot Discovery tours, which will be split into three groups of 10, and a maximum of 20 for Art and Poster tours, which will be split into two groups of 10.

Read more about objects at the Depot

Learn more about ten vehicles at the Museum Depot with some kind of ‘green’ story to tell.

Blog category
  •  Collections

Spiral escalator: An engineering wonder ahead of its time

By Laura Sleath, 2 August 2018

In 1988, the rusty remains of an engineering experiment were found buried at the bottom of a lift shaft at Holloway Road station. Laura Sleath explores more about this engineering wonder ahead of its time.

Construction of the spiral escalator at Holloway Road station, 1906
Blog category
  •  Collections
  •  Museum Depot

Not all London buses are red: discover our green RM2 bus

27 April 2021, 2 minute read

Find out more about our green RM2 bus, on display at the Museum Depot in Acton, in this blog by Depot volunteer Grahame Bath.

A green double decker bus in front of the Museum Depot