Plan a research visit
Find out everything you need to know about our library and archive facilities before your visit.
Research and archive
Search Engine is currently open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00–12.30 and 13.30–16.30.
On Tuesdays and Saturdays, we are open for books (including our children’s book area), journals, microfilm, films and PC access. Access to our archives is available Wednesday to Friday. Find out more on our Plan a Research Visit page.
We recommend booking your museum admission in advance to save time on arrival.
You will need an admission ticket to enter the museum.
To find out more about our copying service, head to the copying and research services page.
Whatever you're interested in, from engineering and industry to the social history of railways, our research and archive facilities are here to help.
If you're looking for more information about a particular area of railway history and engineering, Search Engine is the place for you.
Navigation links
Science Museum Group Journal
The Science Museum Group Journal presents the global research community with peer-reviewed papers relevant to the wide-ranging work of the Science Museum Group. The journal freely shares the research of the Group's museums, including the National Railway Museum.
