The Middleton Railway
WHERE
Leeds
What it’s like
A short steam or diesel train ride through Middleton Park, with woodland trails and two engine cabs to climb into.
The ride itself is over quickly, about 25 minutes there and back if you do the full return journey from Moor Road to Park Halt. But the ticket's a day rover, so you're not stuck with one go. Get there for opening and you can ride a few times, wander off into Middleton Park in between, then hop back on.
The park is the bit that stretches the visit out. 630 acres of it, with ancient woodland and walking trails, and bluebells if you time it for spring. Kids can also get onto two engine cabs, which is the sort of thing that makes the whole trip for a certain kind of six-year-old, and there are museum displays and Creation Station craft workshops if the weather's against you or you just fancy a break from trains.
It only runs Saturdays, Sundays and bank holiday Mondays between April and October, plus Wednesdays in the Leeds school holidays, so this isn't a spontaneous Tuesday plan. You don't need to book ahead for normal running days, you can just turn up, though pre-booking is pushed for special events. One faff worth knowing: they don't take American Express, so bring another card or cash.
Food-wise there's a café at Moor Road doing drinks, snacks and cakes, and you're allowed to bring your own picnic to eat on the train or at Park Halt, just not in the café itself. Dogs travel free on a lead. Wheelchair access is properly thought through, with a ramp and coaches that take motorised chairs, though some special events swap in goods brake vans that can't take wheelchairs at all.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Walk-up tickets available. Online booking preferred and encouraged for special events
- How long to allow
- Approximately 25 minutes for a full return journey
- Food
- Café serves hot and cold drinks, snacks, crisps, chocolate, sweets and cakes
- Picnics
- Allowed on the train or at Park Halt
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair ramp carried on train with trained guards
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs welcome, travel free, must be kept on a leash and not sit on carriage seats
- Parties
- Reserved decorated coach for up to 40 people, £120 for morning (10:30-12:15) or afternoon (13:30-15:15) session with 3 return trips
- American Express isn't accepted, bring another card or cash
- Own party food can't be eaten in the café area
- Special events sometimes use goods brake vans, which can't take wheelchairs
- Tickets are day rovers, so multiple rides are included
- Online ticket sales for the day stop just after midnight
Plan your visit
How long does the train ride take?
About 25 minutes for the full return journey from Moor Road to Park Halt. Tickets are day rovers, so you can ride more than once.
Do we need to book in advance?
Not for normal running days, you can just turn up and buy tickets from the guard or at the station. Booking is pushed more for special events like the Santa specials.
When is it open?
Saturdays, Sundays and bank holiday Mondays from April to October, with Wednesdays added during Leeds school holidays.
Can we bring a picnic?
Yes, on the train or at Park Halt. Just not in the café area, that one's off limits for outside food.
Is there food there?
The café at Moor Road does hot and cold drinks, snacks, crisps, chocolate and cakes.
Are dogs allowed?
Well-behaved dogs travel free on a lead, but they're not allowed on the carriage seats.
What payment methods do you take?
Cash and most cards work fine, but American Express doesn't.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's a ramp and trained guards to help, plus coaches set up for motorised and non-motorised wheelchairs. Some special events use goods brake vans instead, which can't take wheelchairs at all.
Can you do a birthday party there?
There's a decorated party coach for up to 40 people, £120 for a morning or afternoon session with three return trips. The deposit is £60 and non-refundable, so worth being sure before you commit.
Do we have to start at Moor Road?
You can start at Park Halt and buy your ticket from the guard on board.
Featured in 1 Huddlepin list
See all Steam Railways & Boat Trips in Leeds · Things to do in Leeds
MAKE A DAY OF IT
