Nottingham / Places / Papplewick Pumping Station

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Papplewick Pumping Station

Rigg Lane, Ravenshead, Nottingham

Papplewick Pumping Station
Courtesy of Papplewick Pumping Station
Papplewick Pumping StationPapplewick Pumping Station

BEST FOR

Ages ages 0+

ENTRY

Free

SETTING

Outdoors

WHERE

Nottingham

WHAT IT’S LIKE

A Victorian waterworks with real steam-powered beam engines, a play area and free parking, best on one of the eight steam weekends a year when everything's actually running.

Papplewick Pumping Station is a preserved Victorian waterworks near Nottingham, built in the 1880s to pump clean water to the city. On static open days (Wednesdays and Sundays, April to October) entry to the grounds is free, with a £4 self-guided tour of the engine and boiler house, and a chance to see the Linby Colliery Winding Engine shed too. Eight weekends a year the Lancashire boilers are fired up and the original James Watt twin beam engines run properly, these steam events add a lot more for kids: RC boats on the cooling pond, the resident blacksmith working the forge, a miniature steam railway (extra charge), underground reservoir tours (extra charge, book on the day), plant sales, and a children's play area. Steam weekends often have themes, motorcycles, carnival, 1940s re-enactors, even a Krampus-run winter event, with live music, food stalls and family workshops. Practically: parking is free, just drive through the main gates. There's a café and toilets, a refreshment kiosk (open 11am–2pm on static days) selling hot/cold drinks, snacks and ice cream, and picnics are welcome. Card only on static open days. Dogs are welcome on short leads. Access is good across most of the site, but the historic Engine House is reached via a small flight of steps with internal stairs to upper floors, so it's tricky for anyone with mobility issues, the accessibility guide has more detail. Under-12s go free at steam events; annual passes mean one ticket gets you into every steam event for the following 12 months. The site also runs an award-winning immersive schools visit, 'A Temple to Water', for Key Stages 2–3.

GOOD TO KNOW

CaféDog friendlyFree parkingGift shopOutdoor playParkingPicnic areaToiletsWheelchair accessible

Experiences

  • A Temple to Water

    ages 7–14

    Award-winning immersive drama-based educational visit for schools (Key Stages 2-3) exploring Victorian water engineering and history.

  • Cooling Pond

    Historic cooling pond used for RC boat sailing and, at the 1940s event, live action skirmish displays.

  • Experience Steam

    Limited special days where visitors can learn to stoke an 1883 Lancashire boiler and run one of the original James Watt beam engines.

  • Forge & Stables

    Resident blacksmith runs the forge during steam events.

  • Galloway Boiler / Lancashire Boilers

    indoors

    Lancashire boilers fired up during steam events, viewable in the Boiler House.

  • James Watt Beam Engines

    indoors

    Original twin beam engines built by James Watt & Co, seen in operation during steam events in the Engine House.

  • Linby Colliery Winding Engine

    indoors

    Historic colliery winding engine housed on site, run in steam during steam events and viewable on static open days.

  • Underground Reservoir Tours

    indoors

    Guided tours of the Victorian underground reservoir built by Thomas Hawksley in 1879, available on steam days for an additional charge.

Areas to explore

  • Children's Play Area

    outdoors

    Outdoor play area for children on site.

Rides

  • Miniature Steam Railway

    thrill 1/5 · outdoors

    Miniature steam railway operating on steam event days, additional charge applies.

What's on

  • Artisan Fair & Steam Event

    Artisan traders, live music and interactive workshops for the family.

  • Carnival & Steam Event

    Family friendly shows, interactive workshops, live music from Fitzy, classic and vintage vehicle display, and artisan traders.

  • Classic Motorcycles Steam Event

    Steam weekend with classic motorcycle display, live music from Dixie Jacks and Moonshiners, and food and drink stalls.

  • Easter Steam Event

    Easter-themed steam event for all the family.

  • Kramplewick! Steam Event

    Krampus-themed event with Whitby Krampus Run, drumming and parades, live entertainment and shopping, plus all engines in steam.

  • Steampunk Steam Event

    10th anniversary Steampunk event with live music from Alice Strange and over 30 trade stalls.

  • The 1940s Steam Event

    17th annual 1940s event with military and civilian re-enactors, encampment displays, period vehicles, trade stalls, and Cooling Pond skirmishes at 2pm both days.

  • Vintage & Classic Vehicles Steam Event

    8th annual display of restored classic cars and vintage vehicles with live music.

Papplewick Pumping Station · Huddlepin