Foxfield Steam Railway
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Stoke-on-Trent
What it’s like
A steam train ride through the countryside on a heritage line that only runs Sundays, with a locomotive museum to poke around too.
The main event is a 50 minute steam train ride out through the countryside, pulled by proper working locomotives rather than anything diesel or pretend. If the driver's happy and the footplate crew say it's safe, you can even step onto the engine footplate for a closer look, though the cabs are hot, dirty and involve careful climbing, so it's not one for a toddler in a pushchair. If that sounds like too much faff, the museum has a viewing platform where you can see inside the cab of Henry Cort any time the railway's open, no queuing for a driver's permission required.
Entry itself is free, which is rare for a day out involving an actual working steam train, and parking's free too. It only runs on Sundays though, 10am to 5pm, so this isn't a spontaneous Tuesday plan. The Mark 1 coaches fit around six adults comfortably or up to eight kids in a compartment, and they've got toilets on board, though the older Victorian "Knotty" wooden coaches don't, so use the station ones first if you end up on one of those.
There's a station buffet doing breakfast, lunch and a bar menu, plus a separate bar for the grown-ups fancying a local ale, and gluten free and vegan options if you need them. The whole site is step-free, with ramp access onto the historic coaches and wheelchair spaces on the trains, which is a genuinely nice touch for a heritage railway of this size.
If you're planning a birthday or bigger celebration, they'll host up to 100 people across the buffet and a marquee, with food from £12 a head. Worth knowing tickets are final once bought and can't be transferred, so check your Sunday's free before you commit.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Free parking, level access, disabled bays next to station
- How long to allow
- 50 minutes for a steam train ride
- Food
- Station Buffet with breakfast, lunch and bar menu
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair spaces on trains, ramp access to coaches, accessible toilet facilities at station
- Dogs
- Registered assistance animals welcome
- Getting there by bus or train
- Nearest bus stop at Blythe Bridge, 15 minutes walk
- Parties
- And celebrations hosted
- Only open Sundays, 10am to 5pm, so plan around that
- Tickets are final and non-transferable once bought
- Assistance dogs are welcome but pet dogs aren't allowed on Afternoon Tea experiences
- The nearest bus and train station is Blythe Bridge, about a 15 minute walk
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Entry is free. Parking's free too, so the main cost is whatever you spend on the train ride, food or the gift shop.
What days is it open?
Sundays only, 10am to 5pm.
How long does the train ride take?
About 50 minutes through the countryside.
Can we go on the footplate of the engine?
On regular running days, if the driver thinks it's safe and practical, just ask the crew. You can also view a locomotive cab from the platform in the museum any time the railway's open, no asking required.
Are there toilets on the train?
The Mark 1 coaches used most days have toilets. The older wooden Knotty coaches don't, so use the station toilets before you board those.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs and buggies?
The station and car park are step-free, and there's ramp access onto the historic coaches with wheelchair spaces on trains. There are accessible toilets at the station too.
Can we book a birthday party there?
Yes, they host parties and celebrations for up to 100 people across the buffet and marquee, with buffet food starting from £12 a head.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The station buffet does breakfast, lunch and a bar menu, and there's a separate bar for drinks and snacks. Gluten free and vegan options are available.
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