Whitwell & Reepham Railway Station
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Norwich
What it’s like
A fifteen-minute heritage train ride out and back, plus engine sheds to poke around and a play area for when the track's quiet.
The ride itself is short, about fifteen minutes from Platform 3 and back again, running alongside the original main line. That's not a criticism so much as a warning: don't build a whole day around it. Build the day around the station instead. There's a play area out the back, a brio train table in the sun lounge for the smaller kids, and if you fancy it you can book a tour of the engine sheds and signal box to see what's behind the scenes.
Steam Sundays, the first Sunday of the month and bank holiday Sundays, are the ones to aim for if you want the steam engine rather than diesel, and they run all day rather than just a timetable slot. A family day rover on those days is £15, or you can just pay for a single ride at £10 for a family, £5 adult and £3 a child otherwise. Sixteen-year-olds can drive the train themselves, and younger ones can ride along in the cab with an adult on the diesel, which is the kind of thing that'll get talked about at school on Monday.
Buggies are a bit of a faff, worth knowing before you queue up. There isn't much room on the brake van, so you leave the pushchair at the bottom of the steps or in the foyer if it's chucking it down. Wheelchairs can't get on the train at all yet, though the station itself has a dedicated accessible toilet and disabled parking. The Sidings does café and restaurant food, burgers and pizza through to a Sunday roast at £13.50, though the kitchen shuts an hour before the station does, so don't leave lunch too late.
It's about ten miles out from Norwich, sat right on the Marriott's Way trail. Dogs are welcome on leads everywhere except the back garden, which they keep clear for weddings and kids playing.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Advance booking recommended for Sunday Roast
- Parking
- Free for customers making purchases
- How long to allow
- Around 15 minutes for a train ride
- Food
- Café, bar and restaurant (The Sidings) with burgers, pizza, panini, salads, vegan options, cakes and hot drinks
- Pushchairs
- Limited space on trains. Buggies can be left at station entrance or foyer
- Wheelchairs
- Limited access. Wheelchairs cannot board trains
- Dogs
- Welcome on leads everywhere on site except back garden
- Getting there by bus or train
- Approximately 10 miles from Norwich city centre
- Parties
- The Sidings available to hire for birthday and kid parties, christenings, weddings, corporate events
- Worth knowing
- Train rides free for members
- Steam Sundays are the first Sunday of the month plus bank holiday Sundays, worth timing your visit around if you want steam over diesel
- The kitchen closes an hour before the station shuts, so eat before you browse the museum
- Bikers' Night runs every Friday evening if you're passing on two wheels
- Opening times can change for functions and bad weather can shut things early
- Train rides are free if you're a member
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
A single family ride is £10, or £5 for an adult and £3 for a child. On Steam Sundays a family day rover is £15, letting you ride as much as you like.
Do we need to book?
For a normal ride you can just turn up and buy tickets from the bar (or the ticket office on Steam Sundays). Driver experiences have to be booked online, and diesel trains during the week need booking by email or phone.
How long does the train ride take?
About fifteen minutes, starting and finishing on Platform 3.
Can my child drive the train?
You need to be sixteen to drive it yourself, but younger children can ride in the cab with an adult on the diesel.
When do the steam trains run?
The first Sunday of every month, plus Sundays of bank holidays and Father's Day. Other days it's diesel on the timetable.
Can we bring a buggy?
There's not much space on the brake van for it, so you leave it at the bottom of the steps or in the foyer if it's raining.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The station has a dedicated accessible toilet and disabled parking, but wheelchairs can't currently board the train.
What's there to eat?
The Sidings does café, bar and restaurant food, burgers, pizza, salads and cakes, plus a Sunday roast for £13.50. The kitchen closes an hour before the station does.
Is there parking?
Yes, free for anyone making a purchase on site.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs on leads are welcome everywhere on site except the back garden.
Can we do a birthday party there?
The Sidings can be hired for birthday parties and other events, with space for up to 200 guests or 120 seated, and an enclosed garden.
What else is there to do besides the train?
There's a play area out the back, a brio train table in the sun lounge, a museum on the Midland and Great Northern Railway, and tours of the engine sheds and signal box.
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