Oldland Common Railway Station (Avon Valley Railway)
BEST FOR
Ages 5-15
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
Steam or diesel trains rattle six miles round trip through the Avon Valley, with free parking and a buffet at the home station.
The main event is the train itself. You board at Bitton, right in the middle of the line, and head north to Oldland Common before doubling back and running south to Avon Riverside. It's a three mile line each way, so a six mile round trip, and the whole journey takes about fifty minutes. That's a decent chunk of time for a five-year-old who's never sat on a steam train before, and long enough that you'll want snacks sorted beforehand since food isn't served on the regular trains.
Under-fives travel free, which softens the blow if you've got a toddler tagging along even though the ride itself suits five to fifteen best. Kids get to watch the engine work, hear the whistle, and if you fancy the splurge there are footplate rides where they can stand up front with the driver. That's the bit worth saving for last if your child's old enough to sit still for a proper look at the controls, and it needs booking ahead rather than turning up on spec.
Trains only run about 120 days a year, mostly weekends with some school holiday weekdays thrown in, so it's not a place you can just decide to visit on a random Tuesday. Walk-up tickets work fine on ordinary running days from the booking office roughly half an hour before the first train, but school holidays get busy enough that pre-booking is sensible, and dining trains, Santa Specials and footplate rides need booking regardless.
Back at Bitton there's a buffet doing hot and cold food plus ice creams, a gift shop, and free parking, so the practical stuff is sorted even if the buffet's closing time shifts through the year. Wheelchair users get ramped access into a converted carriage and there's a disabled toilet in the buffet building, though it's worth calling ahead if you need to plan the visit properly.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 to 15, though under-5s ride free and can tag along
- Booking
- Pre-booking essential for dining trains, footplate rides and Santa Specials
- Parking
- Free parking at Bitton Station
- How long to allow
- About fifty minutes journey
- Food
- Buffet serving hot and cold food, drinks, snacks and ice creams
- Wheelchairs
- Ramped access to converted carriage
- Dogs
- Welcome on station site and trains most days
- Parties
- Birthday parties available. See events section for details
- Footplate rides let a child stand with the driver, but you'll need to book that in advance
- Gift shop and toilets both run 10:00 to 16:30 on train days, so don't leave the shop till the last minute
- Dining trains including Sunday lunches and murder mysteries run separately from the regular timetable
- Under-4s travel free on normal days but not on Santa Specials
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Entry is free and you pay for the train fare itself. Children aged 5 to 15 pay a child fare, under-5s travel free except on Santa Specials.
Do we need to book ahead?
Not for ordinary steam or diesel days, you can buy from the booking office about 30 minutes before the first train. School holidays and busy periods are best pre-booked, and dining trains, footplate rides and Santa Specials need booking every time.
How long is the train ride?
About fifty minutes for the six mile round trip from Bitton up to Oldland Common and back down to Avon Riverside.
Is it running today?
Trains operate roughly 120 days a year, mostly weekends with some school holiday weekdays. Check which days before you set off.
Can we get food there?
The buffet at Bitton Station does hot and cold food, drinks and ice creams, but there's no food service on the regular trains unless you're booked on a dining experience.
Is there parking?
Free parking at Bitton Station, no charge at all.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's ramped access into a converted carriage and a disabled toilet in the buffet building. Give them a call ahead if you need to plan the visit.
Are dogs allowed?
Dogs are welcome on the station site and on trains most days, but they're not allowed on dining trains or some family events.
Can you do birthday parties there?
Yes, birthday parties are available, worth looking at the events section for what's on offer.
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