Dean Forest Railway (Norchard Station)
ENTRY
from £9
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Lydney
What it’s like
A nine mile round trip through the Forest of Dean on a steam train, with stops to hop out and take photos.
The main event is the train itself: a steam locomotive pulling you through the forest on a nine mile round trip, with a proper 20 minute stop at both Lydney Junction and Parkend so you can get off, stretch your legs and take photos before it sets off again. The whole thing runs about an hour and a half, which is a decent chunk of a morning without tipping into meltdown territory for a younger child. There's a museum, shop and café at Norchard Station to fill in time either side.
Prices are set by age rather than a flat family rate: £18 for an adult, £9 for a child aged 3 to 17, and under 3s travel free. That's a sensible sliding scale if you've got a mixed-age group, though it can add up once you're paying for two adults and a couple of kids. If you fancy pushing the boat out there's a cream tea add-on at £32.50, or the Santa Specials in December at £22.50, which is the one to save for when the little ones are old enough to sit still for a full journey.
Dogs are welcome on board for £2 each, which is a nice touch if you're bringing the whole household. The trains and stations are fully wheelchair accessible, though they ask you to get in touch before booking so they know to have the space ready. One genuine catch worth knowing: a road closure between Norchard and Whitecroft is running until late summer 2027, so access is from the Lydney end only for now.
Booking isn't compulsory but they do say spaces are limited and advance booking is recommended, especially for anything beyond the standard ride like the murder mystery evenings or fish and chip trains. Parking is free at Norchard and it's the only station with proper parking, so if you're driving that's where you want to start and end your day.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Under 3s ride free, and the sit-down journey suits younger children well
- Parking
- Free parking for cars and coaches at Norchard Station
- Food
- Café at Norchard Station offering takeaway options including baguettes, sandwiches, pasties, snacks, cakes and drinks
- Wheelchairs
- Steam trains fully wheelchair accessible
- Dogs
- Welcome to travel on trains at £2 per dog
- Getting there by bus or train
- Lydney Junction Station less than 5-minute walk away, with trains from Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Chepstow
- Parking is only available at Norchard, not at the other stations, so plan your start point accordingly.
- Contact the railway before booking if you need wheelchair access, so they can prepare the space.
- The road closure near Whitecroft means access is from the Lydney end until late summer 2027.
- Explorer activity books with quizzes are available if you want to keep kids occupied during the ride.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£18 for an adult, £9 for a child aged 3 to 17, and under 3s go free. Dogs are £2 each if you're bringing one along.
Do we need to book in advance?
It's not compulsory but they do recommend it, since spaces are limited. Worth doing early if you want a specific date, especially for the special events.
How long does the ride take?
About an hour and a half for the full nine mile round trip, including the stops at Lydney Junction and Parkend.
Is there parking?
Free parking for cars and coaches at Norchard Station. It's the only station on the line with proper parking, so that's where you want to start.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are welcome on the trains for £2 each.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the stations and steam trains are fully wheelchair accessible. They ask that you contact them before booking so they can make sure the space is ready for you.
What food is available?
There's a café at Norchard Station doing baguettes, sandwiches, pasties, cakes and drinks to take away. You can also add a cream tea or afternoon tea onto your booking if you fancy something more sit-down.
Can we get there without a car?
Lydney Junction station is a five minute walk from the mainline Lydney station, with through trains from places like Gloucester, Cardiff and Birmingham. There's also an hourly bus from Gloucester and Coleford to Norchard on weekdays.
Is there anything for older kids or a special occasion?
There are Santa Specials in December, a murder mystery train, and evening fish and chip trains, plus cream tea options if you want to make more of the day.
Are there discounts for carers?
Carer's discounts are available and can be applied to the carer's ticket when you book.
Is the whole line open at the moment?
There's a road closure between Norchard and Whitecroft that's expected to run until late summer 2027, so access is currently from the Lydney end only.
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