Depot Open Days: Transport and Stories
Event description
Join us at the Museum Depot in Acton, west London for our final event of the year! We’ll be showcasing stories about the city’s public transport, the people who worked on the system and the passengers who travel on our network.
Our working museum store is normally closed to visitors, but for just a few days each year we throw open the doors and welcome you inside to discover this treasure trove of over 300,000 collection objects.
Listen to expert talks, get hands-on in a family puppet-making workshop, explore the largest collection of transport signage in the world, marvel at the vintage poster store and admire the Tube carriages, trains and unique road vehicles from London’s past and present. It’s a fantastic day out with live music, friendly roving costumed actors and delicious street food on offer, all adding to the atmosphere.
Image gallery
What's happening?
Every day
People from the past
Sign Mezzanine and Bus Shed
Meet and chat to our friendly historical costumed characters: look out for Joe Clough, Britain’s first Black bus driver, and Harry Beck, the designer of the iconic Tube map which is 90 years old this year.
Heritage vehicles
Yard
In addition to the incredible collection inside our bus and train sheds, explore out in the Yard too to discover even more heritage vehicles, including a visiting Pride Loco L51.
Take part!
Large Objects Stall / Loading Bay
Contribute to ‘Memory Mile’ by sharing your transport adventures and stories, whether they’re from your daily commute or life-changing brief encounters. Strike a pose at our transport-inspired Selfie Stations as a memento of your day at the Depot - then share the love online using the hashtag #LoveTheTube.
Tube trivia with Hidden London
Under the Sign Mezzanine
Pit your wits against the Hidden London team, who are on hand to share terrific Tube trivia at their interactive stall - and snap a selfie in front of their London Underground roundel.
Workshop: Objects shaped by people
11:30, 12:15, 13:00, 14:30, 15:15 and 16:00, Yard
A facilitated object telling, that will encourage and provoke discussion from guests around objects from our collection. (Workshop lasts 30 minutes)
Signalling live interpretation
Large Objects Store
Enjoy a live demonstration of heritage train signalling equipment.
Poems on the Underground
Portacabin
Admire the lyrical legacy of this much-cherished project, now in its 35th year, with our display of Poems on the Underground posters.
Community Quilt
Mezzanine
Learn about how Textiles adult learners from Meadow Bank Community Centre worked to create a community quilt inspire by transport stories and our Depot’s very own collection.
Book Corner and Soft Play
Portacabin, Yard
Cosy up in our transport themed book corner, or take time out of the hustle and bustle at the soft play area. Recommended for ages 3 and under.
Meet the Friends of London Transport Museum
Bus Shed
Find out more about supporting London’s transport heritage when you visit the Friends desk in the Bus Shed.
Food and drink
Enjoy an authentic taste of the Caribbean with delicious jerk chicken, curry goat and patties from Acton’s legendary Auntie Bonnie’s Jerk Pit, or grab a hot drink and a sweet snack from the Mini Bean Coffee bar.
Shopping
At the London Transport Museum Shop you can buy exclusive gifts and souvenirs from moquette pattern socks, scarves and cushions, to framed posters, limited-edition prints and authentic Underground signs. At the Museum Friends shop, you can also pick up second-hand books, signage, maps, prints, photographs and transport ephemera.
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Thursday 21 September
Miniature Hidden London station tours
Drop-in, all day. Meet under Sign Mezzanine
Take a tour to discover London Underground stations … in miniature! Explore captivating, lifelike models of stations such as Acton Town, Aldwych and Piccadilly with the Hidden London team, who lead guided tours behind the scenes of these real-life Tube stations.
Poster Store mini highlights tour
11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, and 16:00. Meet and sign up by the yellow stairs
Discover hidden design classics and art originals on a mini highlights tour with our knowledgeable guides through the Depot’s world class collections, housed in the Poster Store. Numbers are limited, so please sign up in advance. (Tours last 20 minutes)
Pallet Racking Unboxed
11:30, 13:00 and 15:00, Large Objects Store
Take a one off behind the scenes look through some our special and unique collections objects. Numbers are limited, so please sign up in advance. (Tours last 30 minutes)
Meet the Q Stock volunteer team
Train Shed
Visit our Q Stock carriages in the train shed, and learn more about the current restoration project, supported by the London Transport Museum Friends.
Live music: Busker
12:00-16:00, Yard
Celebrate busking on the Underground and enjoy music by Giulia Marelli out in the Yard.
The Network Network
Holden Room
Meet and chat to representatives from other wonderful rail and transport groups from Epping Ongar Railway, Ruislip Lido Railway and Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.
Expert talks
Listen to stories from people behind London’s transport network, past and present with curator-led talks to ignite your curiosity and spark conversations.
The Q Stock Restoration Project
11:45 and 14:15, Mezzanine
Hear from Geoff Thorne about the restoration project bringing back to life our unique and historic Q Stock cars
London Underground Posters
13:00 and 15:30, Mezzanine
Join our Head Curator Matt Brosnan to hear all about London Underground’s posters.
Film screening: On Broadway
11:15 and 16:15, Mezzanine
A film from our Archives depicting a day in the life of Tooting Broadway station. (10 minutes run time)
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Friday 22 September
Miniature Hidden London station tours
Drop-in, all day. Meet under Sign Mezzanine
Take a tour to discover London Underground stations … in miniature! Explore captivating, lifelike models of stations such as Acton Town, Aldwych and Piccadilly with the Hidden London team, who lead guided tours behind the scenes of these real-life Tube stations.
Poster Store mini highlights tour
11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, and 16:00. Meet and sign up by the yellow stairs
Discover hidden design classics and art originals on a mini highlights tour with our knowledgeable guides through the Depot’s world class collections, housed in the Poster Store. Numbers are limited, so please sign up in advance. (Tours last 20 minutes)
Live music: Busker
12:00-16:00, Yard
Celebrate busking on the Underground and enjoy music by Sherika Sherard out in the Yard.
The Network Network
Holden Room
Meet and chat to representatives from other wonderful rail and transport groups from Epping Ongar Railway, Ruislip Lido Railway and Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.
Expert talks
Listen to stories from people behind London’s transport network, past and present with curator-led talks to ignite your curiosity and spark conversations.
An Introduction to the Emergency Response Unit
11:45 and 13:00, Mezzanine
From stalled trains and fallen trees to major incidents, come and discover the fascinating story of the Emergency Response Unit from Darren Sawyer.
Scarce Skills and Obsolete Parts: Preserving our Heritage Vehicles
14:15 and 15:30, Mezzanine
Join our Senior Curator for Vehicles and Engineering, Katariina Mauranen, to discover how we work with our heritage vehicles.
Film Screening: Lost Property Office
11:15 and 16:15, Mezzanine
A film from our Archives: see behind the scenes of TfL’s lost property office. (10 minutes run time)
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Saturday 23 September
On Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be sharing stories from the Museum’s collection to spark conversations about people and places.
Puppet-making workshops: Journey of the Day
11:00-13:00 and 13:45-16:00, Holden Room
Get stuck into a crafting workshop the whole family will enjoy! Create your very own transport-themed puppet show inspired by your journey to the Acton Depot, or a fantasy journey: what vehicles would you love to travel on?
Art Store highlights tour
11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30 and 16:00, Meet and sign up by the yellow stairs
Discover hidden design classics and art originals on a mini highlights tour with our knowledgeable guides through the Depot’s world class collections, housed in the Art Store. Numbers are limited, so please sign up in advance. (Tours last 20 minutes)
Pallet Racking Unboxed
11:30, 13:00 and 15:00, Large Objects Store
Take a one off behind the scenes look through some our special and unique collections objects. Numbers are limited, so please sign up in advance. (Tours last 30 minutes)
Object handling: Tickets, please!
Bus Shed
Come along to our object handling trolley and try out some of our wonderful collection of ticket machines and tickets through time.
London Transport Miniature Railway
Museum Depot Entrance
Ride on our working 7¼ in gauge London Transport Miniature Railway: it’s based on real London Underground locomotives, carriages, signals and signs (tickets sold separately on the day).
Victoria rig demonstration
By the Large Object Display
Have a go at being a train driver as you step into a Victoria Line driving cab, and learn how trains on the world’s first automatic railway keep their wheels turning.
Poetry performance by Mick O’Flynn and Arji Manelpillai: The things we don’t say
13:10, 13:30, 13:50 and 14:10, Black taxi in the Yard
Reflecting on conversations between a Taxi driver and their passenger, see how a journey is not always about point A to point B but a sense of deeper connection. (Performance lasts 15 minutes)
Meet the Q Stock volunteer team
Train Shed
Visit our Q Stock carriages in the train shed, and learn more about the current restoration project, supported by the London Transport Museum Friends.
Expert talks
Listen to stories from people behind London’s transport network, past and present with curator-led talks to ignite your curiosity and spark conversations.
London Transport’s Recruitment in the Caribbean
11:45 and 14:30, Mezzanine
Head Curator Matt Brosnan discusses the recruitment programme which is now the subject of our popular exhibition Legacies: London Transport’s Caribbean Workforce.
History in Yellow: The mysterious trains that keep London moving!
12:45 and 15:15, Mezzanine
Discover London Underground’s hidden nocturnal train fleet that keep the city moving. You’ll find out everything you need to know from James Northcott about the Tube’s 60-year-old Battery Powered Locomotives and the varied roles that they play after the last train has departed.
Film Screening: The lives of buskers
11:15 and 16:00, Mezzanine
A film from our Archives: hear stories and experiences of buskers on the Underground. (5 minutes run time)
Oral history recording by The Making of Black Britain
Drop-in, Black taxi in the Yard
Take a seat in our black cab to have a go at recording oral histories. Take on the role of interviewer to select from a range of questions to ask, or delve into your own story as interviewee. This activity has limited capacity and places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Please note that this activity is only available for visitors aged 18+.
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Sunday 24 September
On Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be sharing stories from the Museum’s collection to spark conversations about people and places.
Puppet-making workshops: Journey of the Day
11:00-13:00 and 13:45-16:00, Holden Room
Get stuck into a crafting workshop the whole family will enjoy! Create your very own transport-themed puppet show inspired by your journey to the Acton Depot, or a fantasy journey: what vehicles would you love to travel on?
Art Store highlights tour
11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30 and 16:00, Meet and sign up by the yellow stairs
Discover hidden design classics and art originals on a mini highlights tour with our knowledgeable guides through the Depot’s world class collections, housed in the Art Store. Numbers are limited, so please sign up in advance. (Tours last 20 minutes)
Object handling: Tickets, please!
Bus Shed
Come along to our object handling trolley and try out some of our wonderful collection of ticket machines and tickets through time.
London Transport Miniature Railway
Ride on our working 7¼ in gauge London Transport Miniature Railway: it’s based on real London Underground locomotives, carriages, signals and signs (tickets sold separately on the day).
Victoria rig demonstration
By the Large Object Display
Have a go at being a train driver as you step into a Victoria Line driving cab, and learn how trains on the world’s first automatic railway keep their wheels turning.
Poetry performance by Mick O’Flynn and Arji Manelpillai: The things we don’t say
13:10, 13:30, 13:50 and 14:10, Black taxi in the Yard
Reflecting on conversations between a Taxi driver and their passenger, see how a journey is not always about point A to point B but a sense of deeper connection. (Performance lasts 15 minutes)
Meet the Q Stock volunteer team
Train Shed
Visit our Q Stock carriages in the train shed, and learn more about the current restoration project, supported by the London Transport Museum Friends.
Expert talks
Listen to stories from people behind London’s transport network, past and present with curator-led talks to ignite your curiosity and spark conversations.
Secrets of Secrets of the London Underground
11:45 and 14:30, Mezzanine
Meet historian Tim Dunn, the presenter of Secrets of the London Underground to reveal even more of those undiscovered secrets.
Scarce Skills and Obsolete Parts: Preserving our Heritage Vehicles
13:30 and 16:00, Mezzanine
Join our Senior Curator for Vehicles and Engineering, Katariina Mauranen, to discover how we work with our heritage vehicles.
Film screening: What song are you listening to?
11:15, Mezzanine
A film from our Archives: follow passengers at Tooting Broadway station as they answer that all important question – what song are you listening to? (8 minutes run time)
SEND Friendly - Early Explorer Hour
We are reserving the 10:00 time slot on Sunday 24 September during our Transport & Stories Open Days for families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, to ensure a quiet and warm welcome to the Depot.
Explore the Museum’s stores (with over 320,000 objects!) in peace, take part in a small storytelling tour or bring the collection to life by borrowing one of our immersive sensory bags (limited supply).
Advanced booking is essential as places are limited, and must be booked online through the link at the top of this page.
Please note: tickets for the 11.00 timeslot are available for the general public to book.
Video trailer
Location
2 Museum Way
118-120 Gunnersbury Ln
London
W3 9BQ
United Kingdom