Nairobi Railway Museum

Nairobi Railway Museum

Nairobi Railway Museum
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Neighbourhood: Nairobi Central Business District
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  • Maricha v
    Worcester, South Africa201 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Passionate about trains
    In my next life I’m going to be a train driver (engineer) I love trains in all their shapes and sizes. After purchasing our train tickets to Nanyuki we walked down the tree lined avenue to the train museum. I found it interesting, informative and I was inspired by the fact that the museum is still being kept. We met an interesting artist from South Sudan there who is also a train enthusiast and spent a fabulous few minutes chatting with him. A really good attraction to visit.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 February 2024
  • Gavin C
    Australian Capital Territory, Australia27 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Railway museum a perfect visit
    Nice place to visit for an afternoon you are within the capital of Nairobi. The museum has rich exhibits from east Africa's rail history since the early nineteen hundreds. Outside are various locomotive engines and some passenger wagons that were used then. They are well kept and maintained for future generations to View. I highly recommend this visit very interesting and amazing. You will learn more about the Kenya railway. Very interesting and would highly recommend!!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 April 2024
  • ShahLaw
    London, United Kingdom324 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highly recommended
    This is a great attraction that is equally accessible for those with or without an interest in trains. Indeed, the railways are very much part of Kenya's and wider east Africa's history and give much context to the colonial rule by the British. For this reason, a criticism would be that the museum deserves greater prominence and TLC as the artefacts and information on display are crucial to understanding and learning about Kenya's history. Staff were really friendly and a short tour is available. Outside, there are a number of decommissioned trains that you can board. A highly recommended attraction while in Nairobi.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 9 August 2024
  • Connoisseur-of-Life
    Mississauga, Canada1,356 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Often Over- Looked
    On the Sunday morning of our visit, we were the only visitors to this important but neglected historical tribute to the building of a railway which gave birth to Nyrobi/Nairobi and the colonization of Kenya and beyond. It has been in a time warp since my visit in 2018 and the closed gift shop is presumably a victim of low visitor footfalls and funding. There is lots to fascinate and educate but the paper exhibits are deteriorating. The outdoors cabs and cars are also in a state of slow decay. Only the lost UK industrial penchant for solidity and longevity in matters of iron and steel ensure survival of these artifacts. My wife, not a train enthusiast, found our two hours rewarding and fascinating. Recommended for the train enthusiast and historical buff. BTW, also no cafe and hard to find, at least for Uber drivers.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 August 2024
  • jgervil
    Saint-Genis-Pouilly, France123 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    For the story
    I visited this train museum in the heart of Nairobi, because in my country the construction of the railway led to the Kongo Wara. Here, the story was different, either because they were Anglophones or because the populations were different. In any case, it was a nice visit, even if it left me hungry.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 26 August 2024
  • Leigh R
    91 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A little known Gem in the heart of Nairobi
    This is a little known gem in the heart of Nairobi The history of Kenya is tied to the history of the Kenya railways. This is a brilliant day out not to be missed The staff are very helpful and informative and there is a small cafe behind to visit in a railway carriage
    Visited October 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 October 2024
  • Jeff K
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania2,476 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exceeded My Expectations
    My wife and I toured this museum with a guide. I wasn’t expecting much but we thought it was great. We learned a lot about the railroad but also learned a lot about the history of Kenya and Nairobi. I recommend touring the museum with a guide as we learned a lot more than we would have if we had toured on our own.
    Visited January 2025
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles263 reviews
Excellent
98
Very good
98
Average
50
Poor
13
Terrible
4

hschultes
Pelham, NY64 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Couples
Small museum that tells about the evolution of Kenya via building the railways. Gives great info and background on Kenya up until the present day, telling the story through artifacts, pictures, maps, and an AMAZING guide. We got there at 4330, and even though it closed at 5pm, she gave us an intro and highlights. We then checked out the museum and thanked her and went to leave, when she told our driver we still needed to check the outdoor space with the trains. She came and gave us a tour of that pet, explaining the background of the engines. I’m not a train fanatic- but love quirky museums. We were the only ones there and loved every minute of it. Yes, it’s a bit run down, but that’s part of the charm. You won’t regret going at all- it’s a great way to spend an hour or two before a late night flight. Just get there early enough!
Written 19 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SteveK
Los Angeles, CA168 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
Great history significant to Kenya's development. Neat stop.

Museum is dated and worn around the edges, but they do a good job on meager budget. Rail history well-articulated, and its significance to growth of Kenya and relevance within British Commonwealth is clearly presented.

Exterior exhibits (e.g., trains) are unfortunately not comprehensively labeled; it's minimal. But one gets the idea.

VISITED: 1 Jan 2022; nonresident adult 600 KES; credit cards accepted
Written 3 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ceri L
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
This is a very good museum and a bit undiscovered. Not only are there great locomotives to climb on but there is a fabulous archive of old photographs and artefacts relating to the Mombasa/Uganda railway, all well presented and accessible. Our guide Esther was also very good - she was very well informed. A great way to spend about 2 hours and to learn about Kenyan history.
Written 25 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aage F
Boynton Beach, FL42 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Friends
Great Museum, and particularly for railway and history interested people like us.
Naomi guided us around and did an excellent job.
Will bring some children next time to climb in/out of the exposed train in the museum garden
Only negative experience was the rest rooms! Toilet paper and soap needed.
Written 2 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Max
Cambridge, UK28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Solo
Best museum ever. This museum is hard to find but so worth it. Free from western health and safety regulations in the best way possible. Great set of artefacts both modern and colonial and great staff willing to answer questions and get out the lions pieces to show you. Also great small gift shop for souvenirs. There are few places like this where you can get on important trains from the past.

It is a bit run down but who cares it’s great.

I don’t even like trains and I found it interesting.
Written 21 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Phoebe
London, UK20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Couples
Really fantastic museum which has a large range of really interesting things and covers the full history of the railway including the more modern developments. Things could have been a little better labelled, but it didn’t take away from the exhibition too much. The outside area has a great number of trains and carriages to explore. Well worth paying a visit and you could easily spend a few hours here
Written 26 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GILL C
Chichester, UK35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
This is a fascinating place - and should not be missed by visitors to Nairobi - the memorabilia and photographs of the extraordinary endeavour that building this railway represented , and the hardships of those involved are a significant part of the history of the country, and come to life here. Without the supply depot being created here on the way to Uganda,, Nairobi as it is today would not exist. Sadly some of the photos and drawings are becoming a little faded with age and could do with some conservation effort before they are lost forever. The rolling stock surrounded by weeds is evocative of a bygone era but open to exploration in a way that would not be possible in a European museum.
Written 30 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Martin Karari
Nairobi, Kenya221 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
A must visit experience for anyone visiting Nairobi. This museum literally catalogues the birth of Nairobi and Kenya in general. It gives the history of how the Kenya-Uganda railway was built and with it the nation of Kenya defined. It is full of history which every Kenyan should know. You get a chance to see the various train engines used over the years including the hand pushed train wagons.
Written 7 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Granules2013
Darwin, Australia1,920 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Solo
Only a small museum hidden in the city. It’s a bit of an effort to get to and also a bit run down. You pretty much just do an at your own pace tour and wander around yourself reading and viewing everything. Really interesting place though, lots of history and some of the exhibits are really good. Great to walk around and climb into some of the old trains outside.
Written 4 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TartanWanderer
England, UK4,973 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Solo
Foreigners pay 600 Shillings to enter this place. It is sad to see the neglect.

Wooden items left outside. Other things stacked in sheds. I’m the train carriages the lights have been stripped out and sold or put in homes.

They have real history here but are too lazy to protect it. Very sad indeed.
Written 29 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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NAIROBI RAILWAY MUSEUM: All You MUST Know Before You Go (2025)

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