Northampton & Lamport Railway
BEST FOR
Ages 2-17
ENTRY
from £7.50
WHERE
Northampton
What it’s like
A heritage steam or diesel train ride out to Boughton and back, with a buffet and shop at the home station.
The whole point of the day is the ride itself. You get on at Pitsford and Brampton, trundle out to Boughton and back, and the return trip takes about 45 minutes, which is about right for a two-year-old's attention span and not a minute too long for anyone older. Trains leave Pitsford and Brampton on the hour and Boughton on the half hour, so it's easy to plan around without needing a timetable app.
It runs Sundays, 11am to 3pm, with extra Saturdays and Bank Holidays thrown in for special events. Santa Specials and Mince Pie Specials take over in December, and those need booking ahead, unlike a normal Sunday where you can just turn up and buy at the Booking Office. Buy online in advance instead and you get it a bit cheaper than paying on the day, which is worth knowing if you're not fussed about spontaneity.
Money-wise, a child is £7.50 and an adult £8.50, or £25 for a family of four, and if you fancy riding all day the Rover ticket is £17 for an adult and £16 for a child. There's a buffet and a souvenir shop at the home station, plus a bric-a-brac shop on some operating days, but pack for the journey itself because there are no toilets on the train, only at the two stations.
Parking's free and plentiful at Pitsford and Brampton, which takes the sting out of the ticket price a bit. Boughton is the trickier end though, no parking there and no accessible toilet or baby change either, so if you need either of those, do your business before you set off. Wheelchair users get a dedicated compartment with a ramp at Pitsford and Brampton and a foldable one at Boughton, and one carer travels free alongside them.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 2 to 10; the short ride suits toddlers and steam fans alike
- Booking
- Walk-ups accepted most days. Advance online bookings discounted
- Parking
- Free on-site parking at Pitsford & Brampton Station
- How long to allow
- About 45-50 minutes for a return train journey
- Wheelchairs
- Dedicated Accessibility Compartment accommodates 1 wheelchair user + 2 carers, or 4 seated adults
- Getting there by bus or train
- Boughton Station served by Stagecoach Route 14 bus hourly from Northampton town centre (150m walk)
- Worth knowing
- HRA passes accepted for free travel (except some special event days)
- No toilets on the train, so go before you board
- Boughton Station has no parking, no accessible toilet and no baby change
- Santa Specials in December need booking well ahead
- HRA passes get you free travel except on some special event days
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£7.50 for a child, £8.50 for an adult, or £25 for a family of two adults and two children. Book online ahead of time and it works out a bit cheaper than paying on the day.
Do we need to book in advance?
Not for a normal operating day, you can just buy your ticket at the Booking Office when you arrive. Santa Specials and Cream Teas are the exception, those need booking ahead.
How long does the ride take?
About 45 minutes there and back. Trains leave Pitsford and Brampton on the hour and Boughton on the half hour.
What days does it run?
Sundays, 11am to 3pm, plus some Saturdays and Bank Holidays for special events.
Is there parking?
Free parking on-site at Pitsford and Brampton Station. Boughton has none, so use the public Brampton Valley Way car park nearby.
Are there toilets?
Yes, at Pitsford and Brampton Station, including an accessible one and baby changing. Boughton only has a single unisex toilet and there's nothing on the train itself.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's a dedicated Accessibility Compartment for one wheelchair user and up to two carers, with a proper ramp at Pitsford and Brampton and a foldable one at Boughton. One carer travels free with the wheelchair user.
What about food?
Platform 3 Buffet is open on operating days for hot and cold drinks, snacks and hot food.
Can we bring bikes on the train?
There's no facility for that, but there's secure bike storage around the station if you cycle there.
Are there All Day Rover tickets?
£17 for an adult and £16 for a child, buyable at the Booking Office or online ahead of time.
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