Railways
Over 150 heritage railways in the UK for a great family Railday out!
- All
- Funicular / Cliff Railway
- Standard Gauge Railway
- Narrow Gauge Railway (15”+)
- Heritage Centre (all one site)
- Miniature Railway (<15”)
- Heritage Tramway
- Museum
- Other

Rocks By Rail
Rocks by Rail is an outdoor adventure, cast in an ironstone quarry. Covering 19 acres of reclaimed quarry, railway tracks and nature trails, Rocks By Rail is a journey back in time. It’s an unmissable opportunity to experience an awesome industrial landscape. Explore fascinating nature trails. Take a train trip. Drive a classic loco. Tour the workshop and loco yard. View the ironstone exhibition and learn about its importance throughout history. Then sit back with a cuppa in a 1960s style café, or browse the Museum shop. Rocks By Rail is a big value day out. Whether you’re a family seeking informative fun, a rail and digger enthusiast, or a teacher looking for ways to bring lessons to life – you’ll find the living ironstone museum so involving you’ll wonder where the hours went!
- Location
- Ashwell Road, Cottesmore, Rutland, LE15 7FF, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Heritage Centre (all one site)
- Website
- http://www.rocks-by-rail.org
What's Nearby?
Nene Valley Railway
Ferry Meadows Miniature Railway
Railworld Wildlife Haven

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
Known as "Kent’s Mainline in Miniature", our world famous one-third full size steam & diesel locomotives have powered their way along the 13½ miles of track from the Cinque Port town of Hythe, terminating in Dungeness; a National Nature Reserve. With 4 stations in between, all within walking distance of a beach, our railway provides you with an opportunity to explore this unique corner of Kent. Coast & country walks, with all manner of wildlife & flora to be seen, cycle rides, medieval churches and iconic lighthouses are all on our doorstep. With excellent catering facilities available at some stations, our ever-popular Model Railway Exhibition, play parks, good station shops, free car parking and facilities to assist our disabled visitors, RH&DR is the perfect any-weather, all-generations great day out.
- Location
- New Romney Station, Littlestone Road, New Romney, Kent, TN28 8PL, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Narrow Gauge Railway (15”+)
- Website
- http://www.rhdr.org.uk
- Phone
- 07592 760 607
What's Nearby?
Kent & East Sussex Railway
East Hill Cliff Railway
West Hill Cliff Railway

Romsey Signal Box Working Museum
Romsey Signal Box is a building from 1873 and a working museum which gives an insight into the life of a railway signalman. As well as the main attraction, the site has visitor centres containing a miniature signalbox where working demonstrations are run most open days, along with restored artefacts, photographs and information about the history of the restoration. There are also picnic and garden areas. There are modest charges to enter the site, the funds from which are used to continue with our restoration projects. The site is accessible by wheelchair, although the working floor of the signalbox can only be accessed by climbing the authentic steps. However, a CCTV link has been established linking the box to the pavilion for wheelchair users and visitors who are not confident using stairs.
- Location
- Romsey Signal Box, Brick Lane, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8LG, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Museum
What's Nearby?
Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway
Hythe Pier Railway
Royal Victoria Railway

Royal Deeside Railway
The original Deeside Railway opened on 8th September 1853 and reached Ballater some 13 years later. It amalgamated with the Great North of Scotland Railway in 1876. The line was regularly patronised by the Royal Family and other visitors to Balmoral Castle until it closed in 1966 as a result of the notorious Beeching Report. Thirty years later, the Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society was formed and the work of restoring part of the line commenced in 2003. We now have about a mile of track in passenger service and are gradually extending the line along the original trackbed until we reach Banchory, which will give us a running line of just over 2 miles.
- Location
- Milton of Crathes, Banchory, Kincardineshire, AB31 5QH, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Standard Gauge Railway
- Phone
- 01330 844 416
What's Nearby?
Caledonian Railway
Keith & Dufftown Railway
Strathspey Railway Company
Royal Gunpowder Mills
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a narrow gauge railway was used to transport materials around the site. Over the past decade a dedicated team of volunteers have constructed a 2 foot 6 inch gauge railway, reflecting this history. The Gunpowder Railway completed its first full running season at the end of October of 2022, transporting over 1500 passengers!
- Location
- Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1JY, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Museum
- Phone
- 01992 707370
What's Nearby?
East Herts Miniature Railway
Epping Ongar Railway
Mail Rail - The Postal Museum

Royal Victoria Railway
The 10 1/4 Railway was started in 1995 and now covers approximately 1 mile of track with unrivalled views of Southampton water. A new station building and a 3/4 mile extension are under construction. Home to a large variety of steam and diesel locomotives. Open every weekend and all school holidays.
- Location
- Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 5GA, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Miniature Railway (<15”)
- Phone
- 023 8045 6246
What's Nearby?
Hythe Pier Railway
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway

Ruislip Lido Railway
Woody Bay station is beside the beach & children’s splash pad, and it is the oldest terminus on the line. The other station is Willow Lawn station, located next to the car park and nearby the ‘Waters Edge’ pub & carvery. At Willow Lawn station, passengers can observe the locomotive being turned on the turntable, before the train heads back to Woody Bay. All our trains are wheelchair, pushchair and buggy friendly. The service is normally operated by one of our large diesel locomotives. On weekends and Bank Holidays, our steam locomotive 'Mad Bess', which is a half scale version of the Ffestiniog Railway locomotive 'Blanche', may pull the train.
- Location
- Reservoir Road, Ruislip, HA4 7TY, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Miniature Railway (<15”)
- Phone
- 01895 622 595
What's Nearby?
Bekonscot Model Village and Railway
London Museum of Water & Steam
Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway

Rushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway
Rushden Transport Museum is in East Northamptonshire close to the county borders with Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
- Location
- Rushden Transport Museum, Rushden Station, Station Approach, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0AW, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Standard Gauge Railway
- Website
- http://www.rhts.co.uk
- Phone
- 0300 302 3150
What's Nearby?
Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum
Northampton & Lamport Railway
Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway

Saltburn Cliff Tramway
On June 28 1884 Saltburn’s unique funicular Cliff Tramway opened to the public replacing the vertical hoist. Still in use today, this incorporates the same ingenious system of counterbalancing water tanks. Two cars each fitted with a 1500 litre water tank, run on parallel tracks, the carriage at the top of the 71% incline has its tank filled with water until it over balances the weight of the carriage 120ft below and gently descends while the lower car ascends. When the carriage reaches the bottom its water is re-pumped to the top and the process begins again. The entire operation is controlled by the brake man from the cabin at the top station of the tramway.
- Location
- Lower Promenade, Saltburn, TS12 1HQ, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Funicular / Cliff Railway
- Phone
- 01287 622 528
What's Nearby?
Saltburn Miniature Railway
Head of Steam - Darlington Railway Museum
North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Saltburn Miniature Railway
We have been here since 1947 and it is entirely manned by dedicated volunteers. We are open afternoons between 1 pm and 5 pm from Good Friday until the last weekend of September.
- Location
- Saltburn Valley Gardens, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, TS12 1HA, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Narrow Gauge Railway (15”+)
- Phone
- 01287 622 712
What's Nearby?
Saltburn Cliff Tramway
Head of Steam - Darlington Railway Museum
North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Scarborough North Bay Railway
The Scarborough North Bay Railway is a great way to travel to Scarborough Sea Life Centre with our regular public transport service train. More than just a railway, bring your family to explore the Sky Trail, experience the thrill of the historic Water Chute, face the challenge of the Water Balls or take things more leisurely on the boating lake. Our seaside attraction is family friendly and accessible for pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters. 100% dog friendly and you are welcome to travel on the train with dogs for a small fee but we do ask you keep your dog on a short lead.
- Location
- Burniston Rd, Scarborough, YO12 6PF, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Narrow Gauge Railway (15”+)
- Website
- http://www.snbr.org.uk/
- Phone
- 01723 368 791
What's Nearby?
Central Tramway Scarborough
Scarborough Spa Cliff Lift
North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Scarborough Spa Cliff Lift
The lift was designed by a Mr Lucas, a consulting engineer of Great George Street, Westminster and built by the Crossley Brothers of Manchester. The Metropolitan Railway Company of Birmingham supplied two cars designed to run on a Funicular system, in which a cable attached to both cars on the rails would move them up and down a very steep gradient, the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalancing each other. Each car was capable of carrying 20 passengers. The covered-body carriages of the cars were mounted on a triangular sub-frame that housed a water tank. The original hydraulic operating system pumped water through the central pipe by two gas engines, filling the water tank of the upper car. With the weight of this car now much increased, when the brakes were released gravity ensured that the upper car descended, whilst at the same time the lower car with the empty tank ascended. On reaching the bottom, the car’s water tank would be emptied, and the process would begin again with the car now at the top. The gas engines did not prove satisfactory and were replaced in 1879 by coke-burning steam pumps which remained until a major refurbishment in 1934-35 by Hudswell, Clarke & Company. These works included the replacement of the two 19th century cars, with new cars that have changed very little to this day, and the installation of a 90hp electric winding motor replacing the hydraulic system.
- Location
- Scarborough Spa, South Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2HD, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Funicular / Cliff Railway
- Phone
- 01723 376774
What's Nearby?
Central Tramway Scarborough
Scarborough North Bay Railway
North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Seaton Tramway
The coastal resort of Seaton is now a gateway town to the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whilst the historic town of Colyton is described as "Devon’s Most Rebellious Town" for its part in the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685. Be sure to pay us a visit!
- Location
- Harbour Road, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2NQ, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Heritage Tramway
- Website
- http://www.tram.co.uk
- Phone
- 01297 203 75
What's Nearby?
Beer Heights Light Railway
Bicton Woodland Railway
Devon Railway Centre

Severn Valley Railway
As part of the experience, make a stop for discovery at The Engine House, our indoor visitor centre at Highley, home to our reserve collection of full-size steam locomotives. Take a fascinating journey behind the scenes, explore the interactive exhibits, let off steam at our outdoor play area and meet the locomotive that collided with a camel. If you are a railway enthusiast or simply looking for things to do with the family a trip to the Severn Valley Railway will provide fun for the whole family.
- Location
- One Comberton Place, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 1QR, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Standard Gauge Railway
- Website
- http://www.svr.co.uk
- Phone
- 01562 757 900
What's Nearby?
Kidderminster Railway Museum
Black Country Living Museum
Bridgnorth Cliff Railway
Sherwood Forest Railway
The route we now take was part of the flood dykes, an irrigation system built between 1819 and 1838 by the Duke of Portland who spent almost £40,000 on a 7.5 mile irrigation scheme to create water meadows on the dry and sandy land. Huge amounts of earth were moved to smooth the fields and move the river, with an irrigation canal being excavated along the top between Mansfield Woodhouse and where we are now. This was partially drained in the fifties to allow development but provides us with a stunning valley to run around and a level course to continue along for future extensions. The railway is a family concern and we would like this opportunity to thank all our hardworking volunteers, without whom, we wouldn’t have the fantastic little railway we have today.
- Location
- Gorsethorpe Lane, Mansfield, NG21 9HL, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Narrow Gauge Railway (15”+)
- Phone
- 07871 126074
What's Nearby?
Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre
Golden Valley Light Railway
Midland Railway - Butterley

Shipley Glen Tramway
Your journey starts at the upper station where there is an 'olde-world shoppe' selling sweets and confectionary items. The ride travels through the beautifully scenic woods down the glen and ends at our museum area where you can see some of the history of the tramway. Here you are just across the road from Roberts Park (Saltaire) with pleasant walks through the gardens to the River Aire and various picnic areas.
- Location
- Prod Lane, Baildon, Shipley, BD17 5BN, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Funicular / Cliff Railway
- Phone
- 01274 589 010
What's Nearby?
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Middleton Railway
Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway

Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway
The line which is built to a gauge of 2 6, continues to use the steam engines and rolling stock that were supplied to operate the railway in its working life prior to preservation in 1969.
- Location
- The Wall, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2XD, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Narrow Gauge Railway (15”+)
- Website
- http://www.sklr.net
- Phone
- 01795 424 899
What's Nearby?
Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust
Southend Cliff Lift

Snaefell Mountain Railway
The Snaefell Mountain Railway takes you on a journey winding high up into the Manx Hills to the Islands Highest Summit; Snaefell Mountain 2,036 feet above sea level. Along the journey unrivalled views of Laxey Valley and the Great Laxey Wheel can be taken in from the railway. At The Bungalow the railway crosses the world famous TT and MGP course. As the railway climbs higher the mountain scenery opens up as the railway spirals around Snaefell with far reaching views of the Sulby Valley and northern plains. Upon reaching the Summit you can take time to relax inside the Snaefell Summit Hotel or take a short walk to the peak of the Summit for a view of the ‘Seven Kingdoms’, The Kingdom of Mann, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and The Kingdoms of Heaven and Neptune.
- Location
- Laxey Station, Laxey, Isle of Man, IM4 7NY, IM
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Narrow Gauge Railway (15”+)
- Phone
- 01624 662 525
What's Nearby?
Great Laxey Mine Railway
Groudle Glen Railway
Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

Snowdon Mountain Railway
You can relax in our flower-lined forecourt, taking in the views of the surrounding mountains, before they begin their journey up through the clouds to Yr Wyddfa, Snowdon. Our station gift shop is housed in the original Booking Hall from 1896. The original beams are exposed, and Victorian shop fittings were sourced to enhance the stations heritage. The shop has a selection of authentic Welsh products including locally crafted ales and spirits, unique Snowdon Mountain Railway souvenirs, clothing and Celtic jewellery. Our fully licensed Station Buffet and Platform Grill serve a tasty variety of hot and cold snacks from burgers, hot dogs and fries to delicious sandwiches. Hot and cold drinks and a selection of cakes from the local bakery are also available throughout the day, you can even enjoy a Whippy or soft scoop ice cream from our vintage ice cream tram.
- Location
- Llanberis, Gwynedd, LL55 4TT, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Narrow Gauge Railway (15”+)
- Website
- http://www.snowdonrailway.co.uk
- Phone
- 01286 870223
What's Nearby?
Llanberis Lake Railway
Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

Somerset & Dorset Heritage Railway
At Midsomer Norton you will find the restored station buildings, signal box, goods shed and also two museums: one in the original Victorian Stable Block and the other in our WWII Pill Box (a candidate for the smallest museum in Britain). We have two diesel locomotives, a fully restored Sentinel 0-4-0 vertical-boiler steam locomotive, plus freight and passenger rolling stock and a static buffet coach open for refreshments. Visit the station gift shop and the second-hand bookshop while you are there and enjoy the atmosphere and exhibits on this once-proud and much-loved holiday route.
- Location
- Midsomer Norton South Railway Station, Silver Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2EY, GB
- Distance
- Railway Type
- Standard Gauge Railway
- Website
- http://www.sdjr.co.uk
- Phone
- 01761 411 221