Haven Street Station
ENTRY
from £26
WHERE
Ryde
What it’s like
A steam train ride out to Wootton and back, with a Discovery Centre where kids can dress up as driver or guard.
The train ride is the main event: a proper steam engine pulling Victorian and Edwardian carriages, with the round trip taking about an hour. Before or after, the Train Story Discovery Centre lets kids climb aboard a carriage and pretend to drive it, or dress up as a driver or guard, which is where the photos will come from. There's also a climbing frame and swings shaped like a steam train outside, and a Woodland Walk if anyone needs a change of pace.
Allow at least 3 hours all in, once you count the train journey plus a proper look round the museum and the restoration workshop. Tickets aren't cheap: £26 for an adult booked online, £10 for a child aged 5 to 17, and it jumps a few pounds if you buy at the gate on the day, so booking ahead saves you money as well as a queue. Under-fives travel free, which softens the blow if you've got a toddler in tow. There's a first class option too, and a hamper experience at £79 if you fancy making a real occasion of it.
Food-wise there's a proper Station Restaurant serving hot meals from 11am, a Barn Café for lighter bites, and an ice cream kiosk for the walk back to the car. Worth knowing the carriages themselves have no toilets, just traditional compartments, though there are toilets at Havenstreet and Wootton stations and the longest gap between stops is about 20 minutes. Parking is free and on site, and dogs travel free too if yours is coming along.
If you're not driving, the Fast Cat from Portsmouth or the hovercraft from Southsea both connect to the Island Line train, which drops you at Smallbrook Junction for a cross-platform change straight onto the steam railway. It's a nice way to arrive without a car, and probably half the fun for a train-mad kid before they've even boarded the steam engine.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- 4.30pm
- How long to allow
- At least 3 hours including 1 hour train journey
- Food
- Station Restaurant with hot and cold meals from 11am
- Picnics
- Own food can be eaten on site
- Wheelchairs
- Standard-class wheelchair accessible compartments on all trains
- Dogs
- Allowed. Free travel
- Getting there by bus or train
- Fast Cat ferry from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head, then 8-9 minute Island Line train to Smallbrook Junction
- Booking online is noticeably cheaper than paying at the gate
- Infants under 5 travel free
- The hamper experience in first class is £79 an adult if you want to push the boat out
- Last entry is 4.30pm
- Membership options exist if you think you'll be back more than once
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
£26 for an adult and £10 for a child aged 5 to 17 if you book online, a bit more at the gate. Under-fives go free.
Do we need to book ahead?
Booking online is cheaper than paying at the gate, and tickets are for a specific train so arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. No refunds if you miss it.
How long does a visit take?
They recommend at least 3 hours, including the hour-long train journey plus time in the Train Story Discovery Centre and museum.
Is there a toilet on the train?
No, the carriages are traditional compartments with no toilets on board. There are toilets at Havenstreet and Wootton stations, and the longest stretch between stops is around 20 minutes.
What is there to eat?
The Station Restaurant serves hot and cold meals from 11am, the Barn Café does lighter snacks, and there's an ice cream kiosk most days.
Can we bring our own food?
You can eat your own food on site.
Is there parking?
There's a large free car park at Havenstreet station. Allow 30 minutes to park and collect tickets before your train.
Can you get there without a car?
The Fast Cat from Portsmouth Harbour or the hovercraft from Southsea both connect to an Island Line train to Smallbrook Junction, with a cross-platform change onto the steam railway.
Are dogs allowed?
Dogs are welcome and travel free.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Standard-class wheelchair accessible compartments are available on all trains, with an alternative walking ramp and a complimentary ticket for a personal assistant.
Do you offer group discounts?
Pre-booked groups of 12 or more get discounted rates, £18.95 for an adult and £9 for a child. You book these directly through the Havenstreet Station Booking Office.
Is there a gift shop?
A gift and model shop with books, DVDs and model railway products, plus a used-book shop for rare finds and bargains.
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