Visitors to the National Railway Museum in York can now reach the site through a temporary entrance on Hudson Boulevard, a pedestrian and cycle route beside the Station Hall building. The new access point replaces a detour of roughly 400 metres that previously sent people past Station Hall to the museum's only entrance on Leeman Road.
How the temporary route works
The Hudson Boulevard entrance provides a direct path through South Yard into the museum. Because it runs through the grounds rather than around them, it avoids the long loop that visitors had to follow before, particularly on wet days when the walk can feel longer than it is.
Visitors can still use the original Leeman Road entrance. The Hudson Boulevard route is an addition, not a replacement, for the time being.
Why the change is temporary
The museum is carrying out building work on its Central Hall, which is why the diversion existed in the first place. The temporary entrance will stay in place until a new permanent entrance opens at Central Hall.
That permanent entrance is scheduled to open in 2028. According to the museum, it will become the main entrance and will provide level access for visitors for the first time in the NRM's history.
What visitors should know
- The temporary entrance is on Hudson Boulevard, a pedestrian and cycle route near Station Hall.
- The Leeman Road entrance remains open.
- The Hudson Boulevard route will close once the Central Hall entrance opens, currently expected in 2028.
The NRM opened in York in 1975 and was the first national museum outside London. Its public programme team says the aim of the new route is to make the visit easier for those who find the long walk tiring, and to cut out the detour altogether while the Central Hall work continues.