Volk's Electric Railway, Black Rock Station

What it’s like

A seafront ride along the coast from Aquarium Station to Black Rock, with a stop at Halfway Station for adventure golf.

You hop on at Aquarium Station, just a few minutes' walk from Palace Pier, and rattle along the coast on what's billed as the oldest operating electric railway in the world. The full route to Black Rock takes about 12 minutes one way, or up to 30 if you fancy the return trip, and there's a Halfway Station stop of around 5 minutes if you just want a taster. Trains run right along the seafront, so the view does most of the entertaining.

The stop worth planning around is Halfway Station, next to Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf and a children's playground. It's the obvious place to break the journey rather than just staying on board for the round trip, especially if you've got a mix of ages who'll want to get off and move about. From Black Rock Station itself it is a five to seven minute walk to Brighton Marina, so you can make a longer afternoon of it.

There is no booking, you just turn up and buy a ticket at the station, which is straightforward but does mean no guarantee of a seat if it is a scorching bank holiday. All stations are step free, though there is a small gap between train and platform to watch, and pushchairs need folding before you get on. Wheelchairs that do not fold will not fit on the trains, which is worth knowing if that affects your group.

It only runs from the Easter holidays through to the end of September, so this is very much a fair-weather outing rather than a year-round fallback. The Milkbar Café at Aquarium Station stays open all year for coffee, pastries and sandwiches if you want something before or after. Dogs travel free on a lead, and food is fine on board as long as you take your rubbish with you.

Facilities

Need to know

Booking

Walk-up tickets only. No advance bookings currently available

Parking

No on-site parking. Public parking available along Madeira Drive near Aquarium Station and in Brighton Marina near Black Rock Station

How long to allow

Approximately 5 minutes for Halfway journey, 12 minutes for full route single, up to 30 minutes for full route return

Food

Milkbar Cafe at Aquarium Station open all year serving coffee, pastries, cakes, daily-made sandwiches, toasties, juices and ice cream

Pushchairs

Must be folded before entering station platform

Wheelchairs

Folded wheelchairs allowed. Unfolded wheelchairs do not fit

Dogs

All dogs welcome free of charge, must be kept on lead

Getting there by bus or train

Brighton railway station 20 mins from Gatwick, under 1 hour from London Victoria, 1 hour 20 mins from London St Pancras

• There is a small gap between the train and platform at every station, so keep an eye on little hands.
• Bikes and scooters are not allowed on board.
• You can break your journey at any station and reboard a later train on the same ticket.
• No smoking or vaping on stations or trains.
• It closes completely from October to Easter.

Plan your visit

See all Model Villages & Miniature Railways in Brighton · Things to do in Brighton