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British postal communications helped to shape the modern world. The British Postal Museum & Archive illuminates the lives of people in the Post Office, the messages carried by Royal Mail, the history we all share. Our history through the post.

Designation logoRecords in The Royal Mail Archive are Designated as being of outstanding importance. Find out more about Designation...

Site highlights

Icon for the London 2010: Festival of StampsLondon 2010: Festival of Stamps

Find out more about this exciting year-long programme of exhibitions, events and activities to mark the centenary of the accession of George V, the philatelist king.

Image of an owlPress centre

The first port of call for all press enquiries, the Press includes Contact details, Events, Press releases, Press images, Press quotes, General information.

Image of the front cover of the Night Mail DVDBPMA online shop

Browse and purchase items from our broad range of products, including DVDs, stationery, books, homeware and clothing.

The Penny Black Changed the World logoPhillips Collection online

The Penny Black Changed the World project means that 2,000 album pages from the Phillips Collection of Victorian philately are now online; plus a free KS2 education pack for teaching Victorian history.

Image of 4 natioanl flagsPages in other languages

Provides a summary of essential information about BPMA for French users, German users , Spanish users, and Welsh users

External links

Royal MailRoyal Mail

Use the Royal Mail website for postcodes, delivery information, stamps to buy.

Post OfficePost Office

For the little things that make the big things happen.

24 Hour Museum24 Hour Museum

Britain's virtual museum. Event listings, heritage trails and more.


News

  • BPMA staff changes

    03 Oct 2008

    We welcome Garth Stewart, Jenny Karlsson and Richard Wade, and say goodbye to Lucy Shepherd and Rhiannon Looseley

  • Objects from the BPMA on loan to Dr. Johnson's House

    03 Oct 2008

    The BPMA is delighted to have been able to loan an addressed envelope and an important handstamp from our collection to Dr Johnson's House. These items will form part of the fascinating exhibition Tea and Coffee in the Age of Dr. Johnson.

  • Films from the GPO Film Unit released on DVD

    26 Sep 2008

    The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) has, in partnership with the BFI and BT Heritage remastered films from the old GPO Film Unit. Addressing the Nation, the first of three DVDs, has now been released.

  • The BPMA finds a new home in Swindon

    25 Sep 2008

    The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) is delighted to announce its choice of a site at Churchward Village, Swindon, to create its new museum and archive centre.

  • Grant awarded for construction of Victorian post office

    27 Aug 2008

    We are pleased to announce that the BPMA and The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust are to receive a £126k grant for the construction of a replica of a working Victorian post office.

News Archive

What's on

  • Events at a glance 2008

    Everything from walking tours, family events and lectures to classic film screenings, exhibitions and Discover sessions.

  • Museum Store Open Afternoons 2008

    First Wednesday in the month, March - October 2008

    An opportunity to view our extensive museum collections