Full steam ahead! 6 of the best heritage railways in Britain
From the Hogwarts Express to five-star style, the best steam train journeys in the UK
I recently took my daughters down to the Kent coast and caught the adorable mini-steam railway from Dymchurch to Dungeness. It’s a steam train but in miniature, and Peppa Pig aficionados will spend the whole journey chanting in their heads, “It’s a miniature locomotive”, a la Grandpa Pig. In a couple of weeks’ time, we’re also catching The Polar Express, from Tunbridge Wells, so it’s full steam ahead in our family.
The UK is full of heritage railways, with steam and diesel trains running on old branch lines all over the nation. It’s a lovely side trip for anyone visiting an area, so look out for your nearest one, from Scotland, to Yorkshire, Devon to Wales. Here’s six sensational journeys to make…
1. North Yorkshire Moors Railway
This popular railway runs a 24-mile route that includes the Grosmont station – aka Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade. This line takes you from Whitby on the coast, to Pickering, with its 1930s-themed station and travels through the beautiful North York Moors. Visit nymr.co.uk
2. Swanage Railway
We’ve taken this charming train, too, which is straight out of the Famous Five, as it goes from Corfe Castle, where Enid Blyton based many of her adventures. The line goes from Wareham to Swanage, for around 10 miles, through Dorset’s National Landscape. Visit swanagerailway.co.uk
3. Bluebell Railway
One of the first preserved heritage lines, the Bluebell Railway in Sussex is super-popular. It runs from Sheffield Park station, near the glorious National Trust Sheffield Park and Garden, for 11 miles, to East Grinstead. Visit bluebell-railway.com
4. Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
Wales has more than its fair share of heritage railways – see here – but one of the most popular is the Ffestiniog which goes on a 13.5 mile route from the harbour in Porthmadog to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Visit festrail.co.uk
5. West Highland Line
Scotland’s West Highland Line needs no introduction, as it’s one of the most famous railways in the world, thanks to Harry Potter. The Jacobite Steam Train is on my list of things to do – going from Glasgow to Crianlarich, then to Oban or Fort William and Mallaig. Visit westcoastrailways.co.uk
6. Belmond British Pullman
Finally, it’s not a heritage line, but rather a heritage train, which runs from mainline stations. The Belmond British Pullman – as seen in Paddington 2 – is the height of luxury and a great way to take a heritage journey in five-star-style, to some of the UK’s prettiest places, or, like we did, a round-trip dinner with fine-dining, from London’s Victoria. Visit belmond.com