This_Is_London_7 December 2018

6
THE POSTAL MUSEUM BRINGS
FESTIVE SPIRIT
The Postal Museum is set to spread
the Christmas cheer far and wide this
December with Mail Rail featuring a
festive twist on its Mail Rail Ride and a
whole host of activities for both kids and
adults to make this yuletide extra jolly.
For a short time only, Mail Rail’s
subterranean ride, taking visitors back in
time to the heyday of the postal railway,
will get a Christmas makeover. From
wartime wives wishing husbands Merry
Christmas from afar, to the broadcast of
the first King’s Speech on the BBC, the
new projection is set to get visitors into
the Christmas spirit in a very unique
way.
As well as the Ride, underground
adventure-seekers will be able to see
Mail Rail’s 100-year-old-tunnels like
never before as part of the network
hidden under our feet is opened to the
general public for guided walks for the
very first time. And there’s plenty going
on above ground too. Whether it’s
wreath-making (pictured), floral centre
pieces, seasonal stationery or
personalised present sacks, visitors will
have the chance to get crafty in artist-led
workshops and join engaging
storytelling sessions across the
Christmas period.
To top it all off, The Postal Museum
will be extending its opening hours on
Saturday 15 December, so that visitors
can enjoy everything the museum has to
offer for longer (from 10.00 until 21.00,
last Mail Rail ride leaves 19.20). All
activities are limited capacity, so book
online to guarantee your place and get a
dose of that fuzzy Christmas feeling.
Activities take place every weekend from
1 December to 23 December with most
included with ticket entry on a first
come, first served basis with the
exception of the wreath and floral
centrepiece workshops and the Mail Rail
tunnel walk, which all require advanced
booking and have an additional fee.
The Postal Museum reveals five
centuries of British social and
communications history as seen through
the eyes of its iconic postal service.
Alongside permanent exhibition galleries
and a temporary exhibition space, Mail
Rail, London’s secret Post Office
Underground Railway, has been opened
to the public for the first time in its 100
year history, including a subterranean
ride through some of the original
tunnels. For further information, visit the
website at www.postalmuseum.org
CHRISTMAS AT PHOENIX GARDEN
A festival of entertainment spanning
the worlds of musical theatre, comedy,
drag, cabaret and more, called 'Christmas
at the Phoenix Garden’ will take place
during December in the beautiful Phoenix
Garden Building. This multi-purpose,
newly built, wheelchair accessible space
features just sixty seats, underfloor
heating, mood lighting and glass wall
overlooking the garden. This is the first
time the venue has been used for an arts
festival.
The Phoenix Garden acts as a much
needed escape from the busy streets of
London’s West End. The festival’s
founders and co-creators of Phoenix
Theatricals, Peter Dunbar and Colin
Savage, are best known as the creative
team behind the multi-award winning
theatrical venue The Phoenix Arts
Club which is celebrating its 30th year
of business.
In a joint statement they said ‘The
Phoenix Garden has been an asset to the
local community for over three decades,
and an escape from the hustle and
bustle of the West End’s busy streets.
There’s nowhere else like it.’
Christmas at The Phoenix Garden will
feature a fully operational bar which will
open 30 minutes prior to showtime, and
close straight after each performance.
Attendees will receive 24 hour access to
the Phoenix Arts Club, located moments
from the Phoenix Garden.
www.thephoenixgarden.org
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • t h i s i s l o n d o n o n l i n e