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Steam Railways & Boat Trips in Birmingham
Snow Hill station in the city centre is the cheapest way in, with kids on the £1 family travelcard and the trains themselves doing the entertaining. Out at Brownhills West in Walsall, Chasewater Railway runs a proper steam ride on nearly four miles of track, with a museum and model railway for the wait between trains. A drive out to Warwick brings you to Hatton Locks, a free towpath walk past 21 locks stacked up a hillside, flat enough for buggies. If you'd rather be on the water than beside it, Jones Family Cruising in Penkridge and Rose Narrowboats in Rugby both put you at the tiller, taking turns working the locks over a weekend or a week. Bancroft River Cruises in Stratford-upon-Avon runs a private charter through town and out into open country, with food available if you book it. For a free morning, Coventry Canal Basin or Hatton Locks cost nothing but your legs, and toddlers will do best at Snow Hill or the towpaths, saving the longer narrowboat trips for older children with the patience for locks.
9 places 2 free to visit
Ashby Boat Company
Nuneaton
Hire a narrowboat and pilot it yourselves along the Ashby Canal, a stretch with no locks to fumble with.
from £4.50Bancroft River Cruises
Stratford-upon-Avon
A private boat charter along the Avon through town and out into open countryside, with catering laid on if you want it.
Accessible toiletAllergy awareBooking requiredDog friendly+3 more
from £3.50Birmingham Snow Hill
Birmingham
A working railway station where kids travel for £1 on the family travelcard and the trains themselves are the entertainment.
Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféGift shop+5 more
from £6Chasewater Railway - (Brownhills West,Station)
Walsall
A proper steam train ride around Chasewater on nearly four miles of track, with a museum and model railway to fill the gaps between trains.
Accessible toiletCaféDog friendlyFree parking+5 more
FreeCoventry Canal Basin
Coventry
A free wander along the towpath and old canal buildings, good for stretching legs without spending a penny.
ParkingToilets
FreeHatton Locks
Warwick
Free canal walk past 21 locks stacked up a hillside, with a flat towpath that's easy going for buggies.
CaféParkingToilets
from £45Jones Family Cruising
Penkridge
Hire a narrowboat for the week and let the kids take turns steering and working the locks on the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal.
Booking requiredFood on siteToilets
Rose Narrowboats Ltd
Rugby
Take the wheel of your own narrowboat for a weekend, a week or a whole season, or gather a group of up to twelve for a day out on the water.
Booking requiredGroup bookings
Stratford Town Walk - 365 days a year!
Stratford-upon-Avon
A guided walk through Stratford's Shakespeare sites, told in stories rather than plaques, running most afternoons.
Booking required
Good to know: steam railways & boat trips in Birmingham
Are any of them free?
Yes, Coventry Canal Basin and Hatton Locks are free to visit.
What does a paid visit cost?
Paid entry starts from £3.50 at Birmingham Snow Hill. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.
Which ones are indoor?
Bancroft River Cruises is indoor, good to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day.
Whereabouts are they?
You'll find steam railways & boat trips in Nuneaton, Stratford-upon-Avon, Birmingham, Walsall, Coventry and 3 more. Every place we list is in or around Birmingham, and each listing has the full address and directions.
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