Nene Valley Railway - (Wansford, Station)
BEST FOR
Ages 1-15
ENTRY
from £4
SETTING
Outdoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
Steam and diesel trains along the Nene Valley, with a miniature railway, playground and museum to fill the gaps between departures.
The main event is the train itself. A full return trip runs about 90 minutes, and you can join or leave at any open station along the way rather than being stuck starting at Wansford. Steam's back on the timetable after the ban lifted, though the site is upfront that which locomotive you actually get isn't guaranteed and can change with no refunds, so don't build the whole day around seeing a specific engine.
Wansford is where most of the extras live: a miniature railway, a garden railway, a model railway, and a playground for when the little ones have had enough of standing on a platform waiting for a whistle. There's a museum too if you've got an older kid who wants the engineering rather than just the ride. On the last weekend of the month it switches to Thomas Branch Line Weekends with themed activities, which is clearly the one to save for if you've got a toddler obsessed with a certain blue tank engine, and there's even a £7 ticket for 1 to 2 year olds on that.
Pricing rewards planning ahead. A pre-booked adult diesel/steam day pass is £20, but turn up on the day and it's £23, and the family day pass jumps from £49 to £57 if you don't book in advance. That's a real difference for a family of five, so it's worth sorting tickets before you go rather than paying at the gate. Dogs travel for £2 and bikes are welcome in the guard's van, both nice touches if that's part of your day out.
Parking's free at Wansford, with donations welcome, and there's a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own food. Buggies get ramp access at the main stations, though you're asked to fold them where possible once aboard. If you need wheelchair access, there's an Accessibility Coach with proper seating and an accessible toilet, but book ahead since seating on it is limited and some of the older station areas have gravel and gradients that aren't fully step-free.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Ages 1 to 15, with Thomas weekends made for the toddler end
- Parking
- Free parking at Wansford with donations welcome
- How long to allow
- Around 90 minutes for full return journey
- Picnics
- Picnic area available at Wansford
- Pushchairs
- Ramp access suitable for buggies at all main stations
- Wheelchairs
- Accessibility Coach with wheelchair seating and accessible toilet
- Dogs
- Allowed on standard services with a £2 ticket
- Book ahead if you can, on the day tickets cost several pounds more across the board
- Locomotive allocations aren't guaranteed and can change without refunds
- Thomas Branch Line Weekends run the last weekend of every month
- The Wansford Refreshment Room is shut Monday and Tuesday
- A platform ticket at Wansford for ages 3 and up is £3 if you just want to look round without travelling
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
A pre-booked adult diesel/steam day pass is £20, £23 on the day. Kids 3 to 15 are £9 pre-booked or £12 on the day, and there's a family day pass for two adults and three children at £49 pre-booked, £57 on the day.
Do we need to book in advance?
You can usually buy on the day at the booking office or on the train, but it costs more than booking ahead. Special events and dining services do need advance booking though.
How long does the train ride take?
A full return journey takes around 90 minutes, depending on the timetable running that day.
Do we have to start at Wansford?
No, you can join or leave the train at any open station on running days, as long as it fits the timetable.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
There's a £7 Thomas Branch Line ticket for 1 to 2 year olds on the themed weekends, held on the last weekend of each month. Outside those, general admission covers ages 3 upwards.
Is there parking?
Free parking at Wansford, though donations are welcome.
Can we bring a pushchair?
There's ramp access at the main stations, but you're asked to fold buggies where possible once you're on board.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's an Accessibility Coach with wheelchair seating and an accessible toilet on most services, but seating is limited so book ahead. Some older parts of the site have gravel or gradients that aren't fully step-free.
Can we bring dogs?
Dogs are welcome on standard services for £2 a ticket, kept on a lead.
What is there to do besides the train?
Wansford has a miniature railway, garden railway, model railway, a playground and a museum, plus a gift shop and picnic area.
Is there a café?
The Wansford Refreshment Room is open on selected days and most running days, and Overton Tea Room opens Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Can we bring bikes?
Bikes travel in the guard's van on Standard Travel services, space permitting.
Featured in 1 Huddlepin list
See all Steam Railways & Boat Trips in Leicester · Things to do in Leicester
MAKE A DAY OF IT
