Beech Hurst Park Miniature Railway
WHERE
Haywards Heath
What it’s like
A raised miniature railway with two tunnels to ride through, running on set Saturdays each September.
This is a small ride-on railway, the trains running on 3½ and 5 inch dual gauge track raised up off the ground rather than the sit-astride sort you find elsewhere. The route takes in two tunnels, which from what they list is the bit that'll get pointed at and talked about on the way home.
It's not a year-round thing. The site has trains running on two Saturdays in September, the 12th and the 19th, and then a member's day on the 26th with steam trains running from 2pm to 4pm before it closes for winter. That's a narrow window, so if you fancy a go you'll want to pin down which Saturday you're free rather than assume you can just turn up whenever.
Parking is free in the public car park on site, which is good news for the budget, but it's not run by the railway itself and there's a four-hour maximum stay. That's plenty for a railway visit but worth knowing if you're planning to make a longer day of the park around it. If you're coming by train, Haywards Heath station is about a 15 minute walk, and it's on the line to Brighton, Gatwick, London Bridge and London Victoria, so it works as a stop-off rather than needing a car at all.
Need to know
- Parking
- Free on-site public car park (maximum stay 4 hours)
- Getting there by bus or train
- Haywards Heath station 15 minutes walk away with trains to Brighton, Gatwick Airport, London Bridge & London Victoria
- Trains only run on specific September Saturdays before winter closure, not a daily attraction
- The 26th September session runs steam trains for a set 2pm to 4pm window
- The car park's four-hour limit is set by the council, not the railway
Plan your visit
When does the railway run?
Saturdays 12th and 19th September, then a member's day with steam trains from 2pm to 4pm on the 26th, before it closes for winter.
Is there parking?
Free on-site public car park, but it's not run by the railway and has a four-hour maximum stay.
Can we get there by train?
Haywards Heath station is about 15 minutes on foot, with services to Brighton, Gatwick Airport, London Bridge and London Victoria.
What do kids actually do there?
Ride the miniature trains along a raised track and go through two tunnels on the route.
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